The story of how Denis Suarez was found and then lost by Manchester City says much about the way the club was five years ago — they had the big money to beat Barcelona to his signature, but none of the know-how to make sure he developed into a first-team regular.
Garry Cook and Brian Marwood, the men in charge of recruitment, pulled off a coup when they beat Barca to his signature when he was 17 years old with an offer of £850,000 in 2011 that saved Suarez's club, Celta Vigo, from bankruptcy, and set his car mechanic dad and hairdresser mum up for life.