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Chapter 41 - Chapter 38 PART 2

Chapter 38 PART 2

"By the way, I heard some interesting news while in England," Yang Hao said, shifting the conversation.

"What news?"

"A Russian billionaire is in the process of acquiring Chelsea."

Cerezo, Miguel Gil, and the other executives exchanged puzzled glances.

So what if Chelsea were being bought? What did that have to do with Atlético?

Yang Hao couldn't help but feel exasperated. Deep down, however, he had to admit: Roman Abramovich had single-handedly ushered European football into the era of big money.

"He's said that if the acquisition goes through, Chelsea's summer transfer budget will exceed £150 million—with no upper limit."

The room fell silent as everyone processed this staggering figure.

£150 million? That's roughly €250 million!

This was absurd.

Miguel Gil and the others were visibly shaken. Their immediate thought was a pressing question:

Would Atlético become a target for Chelsea's poaching spree?

After all, even Inter Milan's triple swoop on Atlético last summer had been a shock.

But how much had Moratti actually spent?

Now, this Abramovich character was about to pour in €250 million. How could anyone compete with that?

Transfer fees were only part of the picture.

Such a massive budget also hinted at astronomical wages—Atlético's Achilles' heel.

The club had always been cautious about wage spending, which made poaching Atlético players an appealing proposition for wealthier teams.

"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?" Miguel Gil asked, sounding almost desperate.

Yang Hao chuckled. "I thought you already knew."

The room grew tense. It was indeed absurd that such critical information had eluded them. Their intelligence gathering clearly needed improvement.

Internally, Yang Hao found the situation amusing. Of course, there was no widespread news about this in England. He only knew about it because of his past life.

Still, Abramovich's acquisition of Chelsea was real and verified information.

"So, what do we do now?"

Miguel Gil looked at Cerezo, then the other department heads, all of whom seemed equally at a loss. Finally, all eyes turned to Yang Hao.

"Keep calm," Yang Hao replied.

Everyone froze.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Let them poach whoever they want—as long as the price is right."

"But what about the team's competitiveness? Aren't we aiming for another title next season?"

"Oh, you're ambitious now?" Yang Hao teased, glancing at Miguel Gil.

The room burst into laughter, despite their underlying concerns.

Miguel Gil's usual refrain was that he had no interest in football operations or team results; he just wanted to manage his farm.

"Alright, quit joking and give us a straight answer," Miguel Gil said, exasperated by Yang Hao's humor.

"There's nothing much to say," Yang Hao replied. "I'll handle the results on the pitch. Your job is to act quickly and ensure that if anyone tries to poach our players, we get the best possible price."

This wasn't about sentiment—it was business.

Fernando Vázquez from the finance department was the first to grasp Yang Hao's meaning. Nodding, he said, "Understood. I'll get on it right away."

The other departments followed suit, voicing their agreement.

Yang Hao wasn't entirely sure whether Chelsea would target Atlético players.

But as the saying goes: better safe than sorry.

The dismissal of Vicente del Bosque and the departure of Fernando Hierro shocked the global football community.

Although unsurprising in hindsight, Real Madrid moved swiftly to stabilize the situation. They announced they were close to finalizing David Beckham's transfer from Manchester United, with only a few formalities remaining.

Shortly after Del Bosque's exit, Real Madrid confirmed Carlos Queiroz, Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United, as the new head coach of Los Blancos.

In a matter of days, Real Madrid had bid farewell to two legends and welcomed two newcomers, demonstrating their trademark precision and ruthlessness.

Florentino Pérez addressed the media, stating that after signing Beckham, the club would remain active in the transfer market.

"If exciting players become available, we will certainly consider them," he said.

Meanwhile, Ronaldinho was reportedly edging closer to a move to Manchester United.

But as these events unfolded, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich completed his acquisition of Chelsea.

Abramovich's Arrival

The first press conference following the purchase was held at Stamford Bridge, although Abramovich himself was absent. New Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck revealed that Abramovich was dissatisfied with Stamford Bridge's facilities, and the club would soon launch plans to rebuild the stadium.

The budget?

Unlimited. The only demand was that it be the best football stadium in the world.

British media reported that the day after the acquisition, Abramovich inspected Chelsea's training ground near Heathrow Airport. Disappointed, he allegedly remarked that it resembled an abandoned warehouse rather than a training facility.

Abramovich immediately announced plans to identify suitable land for a state-of-the-art training complex.

The budget?

Again, unlimited. The single condition? It must be the best in the world.

Three days later, Abramovich met with manager Claudio Ranieri aboard his private yacht in Canary Wharf, confirming Ranieri's position for the upcoming season. During their meeting, Abramovich presented a list of potential signings.

Topping the list was Ronaldinho. Abramovich wanted to bring the world's most talented young player to Chelsea, offering €28 million—€3 million more than Manchester United. More enticingly, Chelsea was willing to pay Ronaldinho an annual salary of €6 million and provide his brother-agent, Assis, with a substantial commission.

Other names on the list included:

Alessandro Nesta: £35 million from Inter Milan

Wayne Rooney: £30 million from Everton

Juan Sebastián Verón: £14 million from Manchester United

Christian Vieri: £25 million from Inter Milan

Thierry Henry: £35 million from Arsenal

Emerson: £17 million from Roma

When news of Abramovich's plans broke, the entire European football world was stunned.

The Sun ran a headline declaring Chelsea's ambition:

"God Took Seven Days to Create the World; Roman Needed Only Three to Overhaul European Football."

Importantly, these reports weren't baseless rumors.

Assis confirmed during an interview that Chelsea had indeed contacted them, making initial inquiries.

"We haven't had formal negotiations, but I can tell they're very interested in Ronaldinho," Assis said.

Arsenal's Stand and Whispers About Henry

While PSG was losing control over Ronaldinho's future, Arsenal still had a say over Thierry Henry. The Gunners immediately issued a statement, emphatically declaring that Henry was not for sale at any price.

However, words alone weren't enough to quash the rumors.

Henry's agent, Jérôme Anderson, fanned the flames during an interview with the Sun:

"Football has become increasingly commercialized. Many things are now beyond a player's control."

Anderson drew parallels with Beckham's situation, noting that just months earlier, nobody could have predicted the English icon would leave Manchester United.

"But where is Beckham now?" Anderson asked rhetorically.

These comments sent shockwaves across the Premier League. Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger publicly rebuked Anderson, calling his remarks baseless.

"We all know he's trying to strengthen his position for contract negotiations, but he's crossed the line," Wenger said, adding that he had personally spoken to Henry, who assured him of his commitment to Arsenal.

Still, as fans and pundits pointed out, if Beckham could leave United, what guarantees did Arsenal have that Henry wouldn't leave them?

Yang Hao Observes From Afar

While the football world buzzed with rumors and speculation, Yang Hao was vacationing in Madeira, Portugal, with his girlfriend. When Atlético Madrid sent him a copy of Chelsea's rumored transfer targets, he couldn't help but laugh.

"No Atlético players made the list," he noted.

This wasn't entirely surprising. The biggest star at Atlético was Deco, but his reputation didn't yet match the global allure of players like Verón.

Despite his consistent brilliance, Deco's unassuming demeanor lacked the flash that attracted commercial attention.

"Honestly, if Deco didn't have that serious look on his face, he could fetch an extra €10 million in transfer fees," Yang Hao joked.

But Yang Hao's trip wasn't purely for relaxation; he also hoped to arrange a meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately, Ronaldo was in France, participating in the Toulon Tournament.

When Yang Hao contacted Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, he received a straightforward response:

"Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, AC Milan, Bayern, and Chelsea—all the big clubs are interested in him."

Mendes didn't explicitly rule Atlético out, but his message was clear:

Compared to Europe's elite, what could Atlético Madrid offer?

Yang Hao was beginning to understand why Sir Alex Ferguson disliked dealing with agents like Jorge Mendes.

They were just too shrewd and calculating.

Currently, the hottest prospects at Sporting CP were Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma, both represented by Mendes. Naturally, Mendes was leveraging this opportunity to expand his influence across Europe.

As far as Mendes was concerned, Atlético Madrid wasn't worth much attention. From his perspective, Atlético was stingy when it came to transfers.

"Sure, you're thrifty. But why should I care?"

This reminded Yang Hao of a report he'd read in his past life about how Premier League TV revenue hikes invariably led to significant pay raises for players and agents. Many believed the league was effectively working for the benefit of players and agents.

Yang Hao didn't have time to cater to Mendes' whims and promptly dismissed him.

The truth was, Atlético couldn't afford to.

In Yang Hao's previous timeline, Cristiano Ronaldo's initial valuation in the summer of 2003 for clubs like Valencia and Juventus was around €10 million, a fair price for a young player at the time.

But by August, when Ronaldo joined Manchester United, his transfer fee had skyrocketed to €20 million.

How did it double in such a short time?

Atlético simply couldn't afford such inflation. The club's spending was already stretched thin.

Despite their substantial income from selling players in recent years, most of that revenue was tied up in installment payments. The clubs often delayed payments, and sometimes Atlético had to chase them down just to collect.

Inter fans, are you listening? Do you really think Moratti always paid on time?

Meanwhile, the renovation and expansion of the Majadahonda training complex had begun, draining money like a bottomless pit. Construction costs couldn't be delayed, unlike transfer fees.

This bold project was only possible because of Atlético's strong performances in the Champions League over the past two years. Otherwise, neither Enrique Cerezo nor Miguel Gil would have dared to undertake it.

The Champions League provided cash, and UEFA had a reputation for prompt payments. For a club like Atlético, UEFA was the best kind of "sugar daddy."

Beyond the training ground, the club was investing heavily in global marketing, expanding its influence. This required significant upfront costs, with returns only visible over time.

Operational expenses also kept rising. Administrative staff, coaches, and team employees—all their salaries had to be covered.

Last season, Yang Hao had added three new first-team coaches, including a defense specialist recommended by Mauricio Pochettino: Argentine coach Michel D'Agostino.

A former center-back, D'Agostino had played alongside Pochettino at Newell's Old Boys under Marcelo Bielsa. While Pochettino's career flourished, D'Agostino's didn't.

After bouncing between leagues in Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico, he landed in Spain's Segunda División with Compostela in 1999. That club, which had once challenged Atlético in the 1990s, was financially ruined. A year later, D'Agostino moved to Niort in France's Ligue 2 before retiring.

His playing career may have been unremarkable, but his defensive coaching skills were noteworthy. Despite his modest background, he had developed a unique approach to training defenders.

Yang Hao remembered D'Agostino becoming a core member of Pochettino's coaching staff in the future, accompanying him from Espanyol to Southampton, Tottenham, and PSG. The Argentine had a knack for improving defenders.

Pochettino's recommendation was all Yang Hao needed to hire him.

But every hire cost money.

Even though Atlético had sold many players in recent years, the club's wage bill kept rising. Key players like Deco and Lúcio were earning double what they did three years ago. Success came at a cost—pay raises were necessary to keep top performers from leaving.

Yang Hao firmly believed that team management should prioritize interests over emotions. Sentiment could enhance relationships, but the foundation was always financial.

After enjoying a week in Madeira, Yang Hao finally got down to business.

While Cristiano Ronaldo was a secondary objective for this trip, his primary target was Pepe, the Brazilian center-back from Marítimo.

Pepe had returned to Brazil for vacation, but after Atlético contacted Marítimo and received permission, Yang Hao arranged to meet him.

Pepe, accompanied by his agent, arrived at Yang Hao's hotel.

With a stocky build, a buzz cut, and a menacing demeanor, Pepe looked like he'd just been released from prison. He unnerved the hotel staff so much that a young receptionist appeared ready to call security.

Yang Hao came downstairs to smooth things over and invited Pepe and his agent to a quiet corner of the hotel lobby for coffee and conversation.

The 20-year-old Pepe had made his debut for Marítimo during the final games of the 2001/02 season, appearing in four matches. By the following season, he had become a key player for the team.

For many Brazilian players, Portugal served as a gateway to European football. However, the best prospects were typically snapped up by giants like Porto, Benfica, and Sporting CP. Clubs like Marítimo had to settle for less heralded talents.

Pepe's physical prowess and aggression stood out, but his playing style was rough, earning him frequent cards.

"Last season, 29 matches, 14 yellow cards, and 2 red cards," Yang Hao read out loud, shaking his head in disbelief.

Had he not known Pepe's future potential as a disciplined defensive maestro, Yang Hao might have dismissed him as another overly aggressive player.

The Evolution of Pepe

In his prime, Pepe was so highly regarded that even England's Rio Ferdinand once said:

"If I were a coach, I'd compile a video of Pepe's defensive highlights and show it to every center-back at the club."

High praise indeed, but for now, Pepe was still in his early, "rough-around-the-edges" phase—a raw talent with potential but lacking refinement.

Pepe's agent, sensing Yang Hao's concerns, quickly offered an explanation:

"Mr. Yang, many of these bookings were the result of instructions from Marítimo's coach, Vengada. He encouraged Pepe to play aggressively, but at 20 years old, he doesn't yet have the experience to strike the right balance."

Nelo Vengada, Marítimo's coach, had previously worked as an assistant under Carlos Queiroz with Portugal's youth teams.

"He wanted Pepe to use his physicality, which is his greatest strength," the agent added.

Yang Hao nodded, understanding the subtleties of the situation. Pepe was still a work in progress.

One of the tricks many clubs use to sell players is to inflate their value through gameplay strategies.

For example, with strikers, teams might create specific attacking tactics that highlight their strengths, leading to more goals and a higher transfer price. Similarly, with defenders, teams sometimes adjust strategies to make them look more solid.

Yang Hao had even heard stories about clubs staging games to showcase a particular player when they knew a coach was scouting. Teammates would "support" the player to make him look better.

Of course, these setups weren't obvious—nobody wanted to risk making it blatantly fake.

Yang Hao couldn't help but think of Borussia Dortmund, a club notorious for "polishing" their players' stats to perfection. They sold players like Dembélé and Sancho at astronomical prices, only for their performances to dip after leaving.

Before Yang Hao's time-travel, Real Madrid had recently overpaid for Jude Bellingham, and he couldn't help but wonder how that would pan out.

But Pepe, at just 20 years old, was now sitting across from a Champions League-winning coach—someone entirely out of his league. Neither Pepe nor his agent could gain the upper hand in their conversation with Yang Hao.

"I've already talked to Marítimo. Someone will contact you later about your contract details, and then we'll finalize the signing," Yang Hao said, not lingering on this topic. He knew Pepe was still developing.

"But I'll say this: relying solely on your physicality won't get you far. As a defender, you'll need to hone your defensive skills and tactical awareness. Don't worry—our staff specializes in this and will train you accordingly."

Pepe and his agent visibly relaxed at Yang Hao's words.

For them—and for everyone at Marítimo—joining Atlético Madrid was a dream come true, the kind of fortune that only happens once in a lifetime.

"Of course, we'll cooperate fully," the agent eagerly replied.

Noticing Yang Hao's eyes fixed on Pepe, he quickly tugged the player's sleeve.

"I promise, sir, I'll give it my all," Pepe said earnestly.

Yang Hao chuckled. It was often the case that players who were aggressive on the field were surprisingly timid off it. Pepe, who looked intimidating in a match, seemed rather shy in person.

This trait intrigued Yang Hao.

Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, was a classic individualist with a flair for the dramatic. If Pepe had a similar attention-seeking personality, they would inevitably clash. But Pepe's subdued nature made him a perfect complement to Ronaldo's intensity.

Yang Hao also thought of Marcelo, another future star with a vibrant, jokester personality.

In his past life, Yang Hao had only known these players through their on-field performances or media coverage. Now, meeting them in person, he realized they were all complex individuals with their own joys, frustrations, and even mundane problems like buying cars, houses, or dealing with relationships.

"Julio, I don't think he's as intimidating as I expected," Pepe said as they left the hotel.

Turning back, he saw Yang Hao in the lobby, taking a phone call but pausing to wave goodbye with a warm smile. Pepe quickly waved back, feeling a bit flustered.

After all, Yang Hao was the most prominent coach Pepe had ever encountered.

"That's not surprising. I've heard he has a great reputation among players," his agent replied.

"That's a relief," Pepe admitted.

"Besides, there are plenty of Brazilians at Atlético—Lúcio, Alves, Maicon, Kaká, Deco, Marcos Senna. You won't feel out of place."

"And he's right—you need to work on your defensive skills. Look at Lúcio—his progress has been incredible."

"I heard he wasn't that impressive back in Brazil," Pepe said.

"Exactly. Atlético shaped him into one of the world's top defenders. He's in the national team now and even won the World Cup. So, you'd do well to take their advice seriously and focus on your training."

Pepe nodded in agreement. Moving from mid-table Marítimo to La Liga champions Atlético Madrid was a massive leap. Both he and his agent were pragmatic: their priority was to establish him as a regular in the starting lineup.

Without playing time, there would be no opportunity to prove himself.

"I heard Coach Yang is excellent at developing players," Pepe said, his voice full of hope.

Though he was still officially with Marítimo, he couldn't wait to start his journey at Atlético.

"Take it one step at a time. Start by cutting down on those fouls—no more reckless challenges."

"Got it," Pepe said earnestly. Yang Hao had also emphasized the need to improve his discipline and awareness on the pitch.

Yang Hao's concerns weren't just about Pepe's development; they were also practical. Over-relying on physicality not only increased the risk of fouls but also led to frequent injuries, which had already been an issue in Pepe's young career.

"Also," the agent added with a chuckle, "Coach Yang was right—you should grow your hair out a little. The buzz cut makes you look like an ex-con."

That comment had been one of Yang Hao's lighthearted remarks during their meeting, and both Pepe and his agent laughed at the memory. Pepe rubbed his hand over his short hair, which he liked for its spiky texture.

After dropping Jessica Alba off to retrieve her car at the airport, Yang Hao received a call from Miguel Gil and got into his car outside the arrivals terminal.

To his surprise, Enrique Cerezo was already inside.

"What's going on?" Yang Hao asked, puzzled.

"You interrupted my vacation for this?"

On the phone, he'd been told Chelsea had sent a formal inquiry about Atlético players, along with a detailed "shopping list."

It felt more like they were placing a wholesale order at a market.

The list included Fernando Torres, Diego Forlán, José Antonio Reyes, Joaquín, Deco, Xabi Alonso, Lúcio, Carvalho, and Čech.

Hearing this, Yang Hao had burst out laughing.

"Why don't you just tell Abramovich to skip Chelsea and buy Atlético instead?" he'd joked.

Of course, such a scenario was impossible.

Everyone could see that Chelsea's transfer strategy was amateurish—like casting a wide net and hoping for a good catch.

In essence, they were saying: "We're interested in your players. Here's a list. Which ones are you willing to sell?"

Seriously? Was this how the rich operated?

"Cooper's back," Miguel Gil said suddenly.

"Who?" Yang Hao asked, distracted by his own thoughts.

"Héctor Cúper, from Inter Milan."

"What the—what does he want this time?" Yang Hao felt his chest tighten.

"He's targeting Deco and Joaquín."

"Is he insane? Do they even have the money for this?" Yang Hao didn't buy it.

Last year, Massimo Moratti had already poured over 100 million euros into the team. Could Inter really afford another spending spree?

"Apparently, Vieri might be heading to Chelsea."

"What?!" Yang Hao froze.

Vieri transferring to Chelsea? Was this a joke?

"Ranieri is very interested in Vieri. Inter already has Adriano, and Vieri is unhappy with his situation. Moratti is completely enamored with Adriano, so selling Vieri isn't out of the question."

Yang Hao rubbed his temples. This was chaos—complete chaos.

"When did Chelsea decide to buy Vieri? I don't remember hearing this before."

The timeline was too distant for him to recall clearly, and without Google, Yang Hao had no way of verifying if such a move was even on the radar in his previous life.

Wasn't Crespo supposed to be Chelsea's target? The Argentine forward was still at Parma and should've been relatively easy to acquire.

"Rumor has it the deal is worth 40 million euros. On top of that, Inter is selling goalkeeper Frey to Parma for 21 million euros. Plus, with last season's Champions League and Serie A double, they're flush with cash."

Miguel Gil didn't elaborate, but the implication was clear: Inter was still financially strong this summer.

Yang Hao felt a headache coming on. The market was spiraling out of control.

He knew exactly why Cúper wanted Deco.

Inter's biggest weakness last season was their lack of creativity in midfield. Cambiasso had carried much of the load, but the team often relied on Adriano's individual brilliance to win games.

Based on the intel Yang Hao had received, Adriano was almost guaranteed to win the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year this year—a well-deserved honor for his incredible performances.

Yang Hao had even called Adriano to congratulate him and encourage him to keep pushing forward.

But relying solely on Adriano wasn't sustainable. Strengthening Inter's midfield creativity was inevitable.

Deco, with his all-around ability and exceptional creativity, was precisely the type of player Cúper admired.

As for Joaquín, that move made sense too. Inter's left flank had Kily González, but their right side was a glaring weakness. Signing Joaquín would perfectly balance Cúper's 4-2-3-1 formation.

What made things more complicated was that Adriano, Deco, Joaquín, and Cambiasso had all been nurtured at Atlético Madrid.

This left Yang Hao in a difficult position.

A Delicate Balancing Act

In Yang Hao's plans, Deco and Kaká were his double insurance in midfield, with Iniesta set for a bigger role.

Iniesta was only 19 years old, while David Silva and Luka Modrić were just 17. If Deco were sold, Kaká would have to carry the load alone.

As for Joaquín, Real Madrid and Barcelona had made countless inquiries about him.

Even Manchester United, after deciding to sell Beckham, had shown interest in Joaquín. Each time, Yang Hao had refused.

His reasoning was simple: while David Villa and Arjen Robben could play on the right flank, neither were as effective as Joaquín.

Villa was better suited as a forward, and Robben, who had yet to develop his inverted winger skills, wasn't a significant threat on the right wing.

As for Messi, at just 16 years old, he was still too small and underdeveloped to be considered a first-team regular.

Yang Hao's plan was to bring the promising youngsters who had shone in the reserves and youth teams to the United States for preseason training with the first team. At most, they would get opportunities in the Copa del Rey during the upcoming season.

"This is why Serie A clubs are drowning in debt," Yang Hao grumbled.

A goalkeeper valued at over 20 million euros? Ridiculous.

In recent years, transfer fees in Serie A had ballooned to absurd levels.

"Also, Pini Zahavi is here."

"Pini Zahavi?"

"Yes, the Israeli agent. He's representing Chelsea."

Yang Hao felt an immediate headache.

Being the target of a raid wasn't a pleasant feeling.

As he had previously mentioned, poaching Atlético players was a cost-effective strategy for rival clubs.

Atlético's wages were relatively low. While transfer fees could be stretched out over several installments, salaries were an ongoing financial commitment.

In his previous life, fans often asked why successful teams couldn't hold on to their players.

The answer was simple: salaries.

Even Casemiro left Real Madrid for Manchester United because of money. If a club like Real couldn't keep their players, how could smaller clubs hope to compete?

"Our revenue growth is still too slow. At best, we've got three years," Yang Hao said.

"What do you mean?" Miguel Gil and Enrique Cerezo were puzzled.

Yang Hao didn't elaborate—he couldn't.

In three years, players like Messi, David Silva, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modrić, and Iniesta would all mature. Kaká would be in his prime.

If Atlético couldn't match the wages offered by Europe's elite clubs by then, how could they retain their stars?

But the next three years were critical.

There was the training ground renovation, and soon, plans for a new stadium.

While the Vicente Calderón was in a prime location, its transportation links, internal structure, and facilities severely limited matchday revenue.

In Europe, Yang Hao could only think of two stadiums bisected by a major road. Calderón was one of them.

The road running underneath the stands drastically reduced internal space, leaving almost no room for commercial activities.

Fans had to enter the stadium through tunnels, and the cramped layout meant staircases and elevators were crammed into every available space.

This left Calderón with extremely limited commercial opportunities.

Worse still, there was no surrounding land available for development.

In short, Atlético was trapped in their current stadium.

If Atlético Madrid wanted to break free from its constraints, it had two options: build a new stadium or resign itself to the limitations of the current one.

This was why, in Yang Hao's previous life, Atlético was willing to go to great lengths—selling assets, even shares of the club—to construct a new stadium.

More importantly, Yang Hao understood the timing. For now, Spain's economy was still relatively stable. Atlético could potentially follow Real Madrid's model: sell the Vicente Calderón Stadium land to the government for development, receive a significant payout, and relocate to build a new stadium elsewhere.

But the clock was ticking. Within a few years, the subprime mortgage crisis would trigger the Eurozone debt crisis. Spain, as one of the "PIGS" nations, would face significant economic strain. At that point, even if Madrid's city government wanted to help Atlético, they might simply lack the funds to do so.

This gave Atlético a maximum window of three years.

If the club failed to make meaningful progress within that timeframe, it would face an increasingly uphill battle. With Real Madrid's revenues skyrocketing annually and the Premier League's income steadily climbing, Atlético's future would only become more precarious.

Raising stars like Messi and others, only to see them leave for greener pastures, would be a bitter irony.

The Big Plan

"Enrique, do you remember the topic I asked you to investigate last time?" Yang Hao asked suddenly.

Enrique Cerezo paused, then nodded as realization struck. "You mean the possibility of selling the Calderón land?"

"Exactly. What's the city government's stance?" Yang Hao asked.

"We've discussed it. They're interested in straightening the M30 highway that runs along the river, but they're unwilling to pay a high price for the land," Cerezo said, shaking his head.

"How much are they offering?"

"They haven't given a specific figure, but it's far below the 350 million euros you mentioned."

Cerezo and Miguel Gil had always been puzzled by Yang Hao's valuation of 350 million euros for the land. But after internal evaluations and consultations with third-party appraisers, they discovered that Yang Hao's figure wasn't far off the mark.

The Madrid city government had wanted to straighten the M30 for years, but they simply didn't have the budget for it.

Yang Hao thought carefully, then said, "What about Mahou Beer? They've been trying to partner with us for a while, haven't they?"

"Yes, but since 2001, they've been sponsoring Real Madrid, so…"

"If I remember correctly, their old brewery site is just east of the Calderón, right?"

"Technically, northeast. Their site is larger, but there's a high school and an apartment building in between."

"The city government wants to redevelop their old brewery site too, don't they?"

As Yang Hao pieced everything together, memories from his previous life began resurfacing with increasing clarity.

"Yes, they've been wanting to for years, but they've never been able to agree on compensation and redevelopment terms with the MSM Group," Cerezo confirmed.

The MSM Group—Mahou-San Miguel—was a conglomerate formed after Mahou acquired several local breweries.

"Then we'll negotiate with MSM directly," Yang Hao declared.

Cerezo and Miguel Gil's eyes lit up. "Are you suggesting we take on the redevelopment ourselves?"

"Exactly," Yang Hao replied confidently.

"But the funding required would be astronomical. Even if we contribute the Calderón land as equity, just building a new stadium in the city center would cost at least 400–500 million euros," Miguel Gil said, visibly concerned.

Funding was Atlético's Achilles' heel.

In Yang Hao's previous life, the club had purchased the La Peineta stadium in Madrid's eastern suburbs for 30 million euros. Originally built in 1994 for an unsuccessful Olympic bid, the facility had a single west stand and an athletics track, surrounded by vacant land.

Atlético later redeveloped La Peineta into the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, retaining the original west stand to save costs. However, this led to an asymmetry, with gaps between the west stand and the other three sides—a compromise that many Atlético fans lamented.

Even so, the project cost over 300 million euros, with an additional 30 million for land acquisition and commitments to build roads, parking lots, and other infrastructure. In total, the investment exceeded 400 million euros.

And that was for a stadium in the suburbs.

The Calderón, by contrast, was in a prime location just south of Madrid's Royal Palace. While not on the city's main thoroughfares, it was still an excellent site.

A New Vision

"I remember reading that in my previous life, Atlético sold the Calderón land themselves—two plots totaling 198 million euros," Yang Hao mused aloud.

At the time, the redevelopment was part of Madrid's broader urban renewal plans, which included the Mahou Brewery site.

The original proposal involved constructing two skyscrapers, several smaller buildings, and a mixed-use commercial and residential complex. However, local zoning restrictions eventually forced the project to scale down, resulting in significant financial losses.

"Back then, Spain was already one of the PIGS nations. But now it's 2003."

The scale of the project—potentially worth several hundred million euros—left Cerezo and Miguel Gil visibly shaken.

Neither expected Yang Hao's ambitions to be this massive.

Forget the meetings with Héctor Cúper and Pini Zahavi; they pulled Yang Hao aside to discuss this monumental idea in private.

The first issue was funding.

"If we partner with these financial groups, we're talking about an investment of several hundred million euros," Miguel Gil said, his voice trembling slightly. "That's hundreds of millions of euros!"

It was enough to buy several sprawling estates—Miguel's lifelong dream.

Even Cerezo felt his pulse quicken at the sheer magnitude of the numbers.

Yang Hao, however, remained remarkably calm. Whether due to his experience as a time traveler or sheer determination, he viewed the situation as part of a larger game.

"Yes, it will require hundreds of millions," Yang Hao admitted. "But we don't need to pay it all upfront."

He grabbed a pen and paper, sketching a rough map of the Calderón and its surrounding area. He marked out the high school, which separated the stadium and brewery site, as well as the plots of land nearby.

"We negotiate with the MSM Group first. They can demolish their brewery, and we'll build a new stadium here. Once the stadium is complete, we'll relocate our home games, then demolish the Calderón."

"Look here," he continued, pointing at the site along the Manzanares River. "This area has excellent views and a prime location. It's perfect for skyscrapers or high-end residential and commercial projects—much better than the brewery site."

By phasing the project—starting with the new stadium, then redeveloping the Calderón site—they could minimize losses and save money.

"Once we acquire the apartment building and high school in between, we can merge the two sites into a unified development. This would significantly enhance the project's value," Yang Hao concluded.

This building occupies a small footprint and is primarily used for storage and factories. If the project exceeds a billion euros, what's the cost of this minor piece in comparison?

Once it's cleared, the entire urban redevelopment project could move forward with city government support, designed to align with their requirements and planning goals.

In Yang Hao's previous life, this was exactly how things unfolded—except the building in question wasn't demolished, and the original Calderón Stadium site wasn't used for skyscrapers but was instead converted into public housing.

"If you compare your initial plan—selling the Calderón and relocating to La Peineta Stadium—the difference in value is staggering. A rebuilt stadium in the city center would carry an entirely different level of prestige and economic impact," Yang Hao explained.

His reasoning was sound. Miguel Gil and Enrique Cerezo weren't fools; they quickly grasped the significance of what Yang Hao was proposing.

It was like urban redevelopment anywhere—there's a clear difference between relocating to a new site and rebuilding on the original prime location. Which is more profitable? Let the numbers speak.

"If I'm not mistaken, MSM Group must also see the value here. They've likely struggled to persuade the city government to greenlight their plans. But if we execute this strategy, straighten the M30 highway, and include some public benefit projects, the city government would have every reason to approve," Yang Hao continued.

Miguel Gil and Enrique Cerezo were visibly moved by the proposal.

It was a highly feasible plan.

"But here's the question—where will we get the money?" Miguel Gil asked, still stuck on the financial obstacle.

Yang Hao knew this was the crux of the matter.

"By selling players."

Miguel Gil and Cerezo instantly realized that Yang Hao was dead set on this idea.

If they were going to do it, they might as well go all in.

But Yang Hao had no intention of selling players recklessly; the club's competitive success needed to be maintained.

"I can guarantee that in the coming years, our team will consistently qualify for the Champions League, reaching at least the Round of 16 every season. This alone will provide us with stable revenue. Combined with increased commercial income, we'll have enough to fund the project."

Miguel Gil and Enrique Cerezo exchanged glances, reading each other's thoughts.

"And what do you want in return?"

They couldn't believe Yang Hao would take on such a massive endeavor without expecting something in return.

"It's simple—I want to increase my shareholding."

This was only fair.

Why should he work tirelessly to grow Atlético Madrid, only to one day be cast aside like Arsène Wenger?

Yang Hao wasn't that altruistic.

"You've both wanted to reclaim Messi and Di María's rights, haven't you?"

"You've seen their talent firsthand. I can promise you—Messi will become the greatest player in the world."

"Are you serious?"

Miguel Gil and Enrique Cerezo were stunned.

Could Atlético's youth academy really produce the next Zidane? That would be monumental.

"How about this? Let's sign a new agreement. When the new stadium is completed, we'll determine Messi and Di María's value at that time, and you'll compensate me with equivalent shares in the club. How does that sound?"

"During this time, I'll do everything I can to make the team bigger and stronger, ensuring we build this stadium. But when calculating my shares, the new stadium and this redevelopment project won't be included in the valuation. You'll also continue to pay me my salary and bonuses as usual."

The stadium couldn't be factored into the valuation because it would represent years of hard work and added value generated during Yang Hao's tenure.

For example, if Messi and Di María were worth €100 million by then, and Atlético's valuation (excluding the stadium and redevelopment project) was €1 billion, the club would need to allocate 10% of its shares to Yang Hao. If the new stadium and redevelopment project added €500 million in value, the percentage would adjust accordingly.

This dilution of shares would be shared among the three current major shareholders—Yang Hao, Miguel Gil, and Enrique Cerezo.

Both Miguel Gil and Cerezo were savvy enough to quickly realize that this deal wouldn't leave them at a loss.

Yang Hao's brilliance lay in continually expanding the club's value.

Even if Yang Hao's shares increased and theirs decreased, the overall value of their remaining shares would rise. Their financial gains would still grow significantly.

The current dynamic among the three shareholders was quite unique.

Miguel Gil held the largest share but contributed the least operationally. However, he and Yang Hao shared a close relationship. Cerezo managed external affairs, while Yang Hao handled sporting matters.

Yang Hao might appear to be "just" the head coach, but practically speaking, every department in the club followed his lead.

Key figures like Carlos Leo in marketing, Andrés Velasco in PR, and Fernando Vázquez in finance all had strong relationships with him.

In short, the three were interdependent; none could be easily replaced.

And if Messi became what Yang Hao predicted, how much would he be worth?

Even Zidane had sold for over €60 million. If Messi became the best in the world, his value might surpass that—but not by an unimaginable margin.

Even without including the stadium in the valuation, Messi's rising value would drive Atlético's market value higher, making the deal immensely profitable.

This was a deal worth making.

END CHAPTER

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