“He’s very astute, he has a great understanding of the market and how it changes,” says one source familiar with Txiki Begiristain.



“He’s top. Top,” says another. “Txiki, as a human being, is unbelievable. To find someone with his success and to be humble at the same time, I don’t know many people like that.”



Begiristain has had his critics over the years, but this is a man who helped build not one but two great Barcelona sides, played a huge role in giving Pep Guardiola his big break in management and, since 2012, has helped put together Manchester City’s plans for global domination.



English football is still getting to grips with the idea of a director of football, but by speaking to those who know Begiristain personally, those who have sat across the negotiating table from him and even those in the game who only have his reputation to point to, it is possible to get an idea of the traits required...