At the airport in Paris, Arsène Wenger and Pat Rice stepped off the plane.
"This trip to Costa Rica went perfectly!" Pat Rice said, a broad smile lighting up his face.
Just thinking about securing Navas had him practically glowing.
This signing had been no small feat—taking the Costa Rican goalkeeper from Real Madrid was like snatching food from a tiger's mouth. Real Madrid wasn't about to give him up easily. But thanks to Wenger and Rice's persistent visits, Navas finally agreed to the move.
Of course, Navas had been tempted by Real Madrid. In the football world, who could turn down a club with the most Champions League titles? For any ambitious player, joining Madrid was more than just a dream—it was a badge of personal validation.
Yet Real Madrid hadn't been decisive, leaving Arsenal a narrow window to act. Arsène Wenger had offered Navas generous terms: a slightly higher salary than Madrid's and, most importantly, a guaranteed starting spot.
Next season, Navas is Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper.
Wenger thought with satisfaction.
Meanwhile, the Szczęsny situation was already on Wenger's mind. Even though the young keeper had quit smoking, his performances still didn't earn Wenger's full trust. Compared to Szczęsny, Navas simply fits better. Arsenal was being rebuilt from the ground up—there could be no compromises.
And it wasn't just Navas. Di Maria's transfer had been finalized, too. The Argentine winger would join next season, giving Arsenal a serious boost up front. Suarez, Walcott, and Di Maria leading the attack, Kai and Cazorla controlling midfield—the squad was beginning to take the shape Wenger had envisioned. Hope and ambition filled the air; everything was moving in the right direction.
Wenger tilted his head, squinting at the hazy Paris sky. "Nice weather today," he said casually.
Pat Rice hauled his suitcase up the curb and frowned at the same sky. "I… guess?"
They had arrived at a hotel near the tower, needing to spend the night in Paris before catching a connecting flight to England. After checking in, the two stepped into the elevator.
A tall man already stood inside. He flinched slightly at the sight of Wenger, but the manager merely glanced at him and moved in.
Oddly, the man didn't leave the elevator as it rose. Silence fell. When the doors dinged again, Wenger and Rice picked up their luggage, ready to step out.
"Arsene! I want to talk."
Wenger turned, raising an eyebrow. "About what?"
The man stepped forward—it was Rio Ferdinand, currently a Manchester United defender. Their heights were similar, and Ferdinand met Wenger's eyes evenly.
"I'm leaving Manchester United," he said steadily. "And if you're willing, I'd like to join Arsenal."
Wenger and Rice exchanged surprised glances. While the rivalry wasn't as intense as some, United fans would surely call this defection. Wenger, however, said nothing, merely asked, "Why this idea?"
Ferdinand clenched a fist, a spark of excitement in his eyes. "Arsenal isn't what it used to be. You're at a pivotal moment, and you lack experience in certain areas. I've seen it all at Manchester United—I can help."
"I can still play. Yes, I'm getting older, but you have young defenders. After Kai makes his runs, someone has to organize them. In tough situations, I can guide them. I can be very useful to you."
He paused, then looked at Wenger earnestly. "You need experience. I need a job. This could work for both of us."
Arsène Wenger paused, then said firmly, "That's not enough."
Rio Ferdinand's mind raced. "I… I can help stabilize the locker room."
Wenger smiled slightly. Pat Rice's corners of his mouth twitched too.
"Arsenal's locker room is very stable," Pat said confidently.
Rio shook his head. "I understand, but you don't get my point. No offense, but… except for Kai, most of the squad is soft. Kai needs a helper. When he's fouled, he's always the one charging forward—but he's the captain. He can't do that every time."
He pointed at himself. "I'm very good at these things. I can put pressure on the referee, stand up for teammates, and—without picking up cards. Of course, if really needed… I can do crazy things with Kai. You understand, yes?"
Wenger went silent, taking it in.
Rio watched nervously. Leaving Manchester United as a free agent, he could go anywhere. But he didn't want to play for mediocre clubs. After everything at United, failure wasn't acceptable—and the current Arsenal was the only team that could keep him from it. He had offered himself for this chance.
Finally, Wenger looked up. "Give me your number. I'll consider it."
Rio's eyes lit up. "You will not regret it."
He scribbled it down and even escorted both Wenger and Rice to their room door. From the little things, it was clear he wanted this role badly.
Click!
The door closed behind them.
Pat Rice shook his head. "Do you really want that 'old guy'? He won't be around for many more years."
Wenger shrugged. "He's still very capable, and we need depth. Rio knows the Premier League pace, and he can slot in as part of the bench."
Pat raised an eyebrow. "He'd be okay being a substitute?"
"Remember," Wenger emphasized, "rotation. Arsenal's defense won't have fixed starters. Even if they do, whoever performs plays. Koscielny, Sagna, Mustafi, Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Gibbs—they all need competition."
He paused and sighed. "Besides, we lack good defenders and funds. Rio is a free transfer. That's very tempting."
Pat nodded. "Alright… It's a good choice. The free transfer alone makes it worthwhile."
Ding!
Wenger's phone sounded a message. He glanced at it and laughed, unable to hold it in.
Pat leaned over. "What's so funny?"
"Someone beat us to a pre-season training call-up," Wenger said, still chuckling.
"Huh?" Pat frowned, peering at the phone.
It was a Twitter post—from Arsenal's number four, username 'Kai.' The picture showed N'Golo Kanté sprawled on the ground, drenched in sweat, eyes closed, gasping for air. Le Kai crouched beside him, making a peace sign over Kanté as the background.
Caption: "Even the substitutes are training hard… where are our starters?"
Cazorla and Suarez were the first to like, retweet, and comment.
Cazorla: "Back tomorrow!"
Suarez: "Me too, tomorrow!"
A few seconds later, Chamberlain grumbled in the comments: "What is this? Not even letting us enjoy vacation? Why does everyone work so hard? Annoying!!!"
Likes and retweets poured in. Some starters, some subs—the club buzzed with activity. Le Kai's influence was clear. As captain, even a small nudge from him couldn't be ignored.
That night, Arsenal players from all over the world began packing, preparing to return to London.
...
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