Chapter 91: Signing and Snatching! We're Moving Into Wembley Stadium!
Before Andrey Arshavin's parents divorced, before his mother passed away, and before he ever touched a football, he had a deep love for checkers. His dream was to become a professional player.
That was a distant, blurry memory.
But it left him with a profound understanding.
In checkers, the most important thing is choosing your route—what move to make first, and what comes next. You have to consider the whole board.
Your opponent will block you.
That's when you need to know how to build bridges—and borrow them.
If you want to move quickly and jump far, your vision must look ahead, far ahead.
These life lessons learned from playing checkers had always had a lasting impact on Arshavin.
Not just on his life, but on his football too.
So before he became a professional footballer, he was a student at a university in Saint Petersburg.
He was a rare breed at Zenit—a university student.
Unfortunately, due to football, he never graduated. But he did gain a lifelong partner.
In Russia, Zenit Saint Petersburg had never really been considered a powerhouse.
On the contrary—they were poor.
So poor that every season they relied on selling players just to survive.
In December 2005, Gazprom began acquiring shares in Zenit.
Rumors circulated that the energy giant would inject capital into the club and help them rise.
But so far, nothing concrete had happened.
No one really knew what the future held.
Due to geographic and climatic factors, the Russian Premier League's schedule differed from most of Europe.
Their season ran from mid-March to November.
Because Zenit were playing in the UEFA Cup, they had matches through December.
Their 2006 season would begin in mid-February.
Last season, Zenit finished sixth in the league, but thanks to a strong first half of the campaign, they secured a spot in the UEFA Cup.
This was Arshavin's second time playing in the competition.
The first was in 2002, when Zenit were eliminated in the first knockout round by Switzerland's Grasshoppers.
Unlike his smooth ascent at Zenit—where he had become club captain—Arshavin's journey with the Russian national team was much bumpier.
At 21, he was called up to the national squad by then-coach Oleg Romantsev, but he didn't make the final roster for the World Cup in Korea and Japan.
It wasn't just that his technical style didn't mesh with the team—it was also his personality.
The next head coach, Valery Gazzaev, also left Arshavin out of the squad entirely.
That second-rate coach nearly cost Russia a spot in Euro 2004.
Thankfully, he was replaced by Georgi Yartsev.
Being overlooked by the national team filled Arshavin with a burning desire to prove himself.
To show the world—Romantsev and Gazzaev had both been wrong!
He poured all his energy into performing for Zenit.
Finally, after Euro 2004, thanks to his outstanding club performances—and the retirement of several national team veterans—Arshavin became a regular in the Russia squad and soon emerged as its core.
But with constant transitions in the national team, Russia ultimately failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
And because of that, Zenit became Arshavin's most important "bridge."
He had worked tirelessly for years, just to use this bridge to leap out of Russia.
He longed to go abroad—to explore, to take risks.
Just like many young Russians.
Cruyff's Barcelona Dream Team had always been Arshavin's favorite.
His dream was to play for Barça.
But before that, he knew—he needed one more bridge.
Late January 2006.
A man named Mike Rigg from England, braving the snowstorms of Saint Petersburg, got through to Andrey Arshavin on the phone.
Although Gazprom had acquired shares in Zenit the previous December, the internal restructuring was still underway.
There had been no clear updates.
Would they actually inject funds?
No one knew.
So Zenit took any Premier League offer very seriously.
Their plan was simple: sell Arshavin for a high price, then buy cheaper, high-potential replacements from Eastern Europe or Brazil to balance the books.
Arshavin's transfer valuation was based on Spartak Moscow center-back Nemanja Vidić, who had just transferred to Manchester United for £7 million.
Vidić had been the best defender in the Russian league and was named Serbia's Footballer of the Year in 2005.
He led the Serbian national team to a historic run in World Cup qualifiers, conceding only one goal in ten matches—earning praise from FIFA itself.
And yet his transfer fee was just £7 million.
So what about Andrey Arshavin?
His estimated value was €9 million—around £6 million.
Sure, he didn't have as many accolades as Vidić.
But he was an attacking player and the captain of Zenit.
After many rounds of negotiation, including Adam Crozier personally flying to Saint Petersburg,
Bayswater Chinese FC's CEO finally hammered out the deal.
£6 million.
...
"Sign him!"
Back in his London office, Yang Cheng picked up the call from Adam Crozier and immediately gave the go-ahead.
"I've also spoken to Arshavin," Crozier reported from Saint Petersburg. "He and his family are really excited about moving to London."
"The main issue is that he's still studying at a university here, and his English isn't great. He'll need to work on that quickly."
Yang Cheng nodded. "Make sure to communicate with him and see what he needs. Whatever it is, we'll help on our end."
"And also—pass on a message from me: I have full confidence in him. I believe he'll improve our team and succeed in the Premier League."
"Got it."
After hanging up, Yang Cheng couldn't help but chuckle.
Already a university student, and still not good at English?
It reminded him of another Russian player—one of the legendary FM goalkeeping gods: Igor Akinfeev.
In Yang Cheng's previous life, back in 2009, Manchester United seriously considered signing Akinfeev as a replacement for van der Sar.
But Akinfeev turned them down.
His reason?
He didn't speak English—and learning it was just too annoying.
At the time, Russian domestic clubs were flush with cash. Players earned big salaries, which meant that despite their talent, many had no real desire to play abroad.
And ultimately, Akinfeev's career plateaued.
Situations like this were actually quite common in European football.
Fans only see the 90 minutes on the pitch.
But what players face are countless 90-minute stretches—plus all the challenges of daily life.
Any single detail in life going wrong can affect a player's mood, which in turn impacts form and performance.
That's why Yang Cheng had always been puzzled:
Why don't European clubs put more emphasis on player integration and support?
Perhaps in their eyes, players were just high-functioning consumables.
If one fails, just replace him with another.
But Yang Cheng understood:
If you want to mold a team with real fighting spirit, you need to care—care, and then care some more.
That's exactly what Bayswater Chinese FC had been doing for the past two to three years.
With Arshavin, Yang Cheng wasn't just thinking about the present—but also the future.
When he made the decision to sell Aaron Lennon, he had another potential signing in mind:
Nani from Sporting Lisbon.
This winger could practically fill Aaron Lennon's role perfectly—and would cost less than Arshavin.
But in the end, Yang Cheng chose Arshavin.
Because he had a hunch—come summer, it would be very hard to keep Ribéry.
In that case, finding someone capable of replacing Ribéry would be far more difficult for Bayswater Chinese FC.
Once Gazprom started injecting funds into Zenit around mid-2006, prying players away from the Russian side wouldn't be as easy or as cheap.
With that investment, Arshavin's wages would also skyrocket.
Looking at the bigger picture, this was the best time to make a move.
And £6 million—it was the club's record transfer fee.
As for the future, Yang Cheng wasn't worried at all.
Just like Lassana Diarra told him bluntly upon joining the club: one day, he wanted to go to a big team.
Yang Cheng didn't mind.
In fact, he appreciated players like that—those with ambition, hunger, and desire.
Because they had goals—and were willing to fight for them.
Just like Arshavin.
In Yang Cheng's past life, why was Arshavin so brilliant in his first two years at Arsenal, and so mediocre in the last two?
Was the sudden drop in form purely age-related?
Clearly not.
To Yang Cheng, the biggest reason was hunger—he lost the will to fight.
He got older, the Russian national team stopped qualifying for major tournaments, Arsenal were always chasing fourth place, and then they sold Fabregas.
He was surrounded by players who probably wouldn't even make it in the top five leagues.
How do you lead a team like that?
All of that made Arshavin feel that Arsenal had lost its ambition.
And that meant his career had hit a dead end too.
In that mindset, sure, he might still train hard and try on the pitch—but no matter how much he pushed himself, he'd never be the same.
He may have already started to resent football deep down.
Examples like this were everywhere in the professional game.
Which is exactly why Yang Cheng didn't hesitate to sell Aaron Lennon and Chimbonda—and why, in the future, he'd sell Ribéry too.
In the end, whether it was for the players or the club, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
Forcing someone to stay could easily turn into a lose-lose.
But one day, Yang Cheng would turn Bayswater Chinese FC into a club that all professionals dreamed of joining—and never wanted to leave.
...
January 30th was destined to be a busy day.
The day before the transfer window closed, Bayswater Chinese FC and Arsenal both publicly announced the signings of England international Aaron Lennon and France international Pascal Chimbonda.
The news instantly sent shockwaves through the European football world.
The 2006 winter transfer window had been notably quiet, with few big moves across the top four leagues.
The most active club so far had been Manchester United:
£7 million for Vidić, £5 million for Evra.
That was already considered "heavy" spending.
Everyone predicted Ferguson's side would mount a second-half comeback to challenge Bayswater Chinese FC and catch Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Liverpool were also strengthening their squad to secure a top-four finish.
Players like Kromkamp, Daniel Agger, and even Robbie Fowler returned to bolster the team.
In La Liga, it was all about Real Madrid—spending €13.5 million on Cicinho and Cassano.
In Serie A, Inter Milan were the most active, bringing in players like Lazio midfielder César and Ajax left-back Maxwell—both strong additions.
And then came Arsenal.
With a jaw-dropping £35 million splurge, they secured Aaron Lennon and Chimbonda from Bayswater Chinese FC—stunning all of Europe.
Both transfers were massive.
Lennon was an England international—but only 18 years old. Was he really worth £20 million?
Chimbonda had joined from Ligue 2 side Bastia for just £500,000 six months earlier—now he was being sold for £15 million?
That kind of money doesn't grow on trees, does it?
If that's not extravagant, what is?
No one was more regretful than Bastia.
Why hadn't they added a sell-on clause back then?
Heartbreaking.
After selling two key starters to Arsenal, Bayswater Chinese FC announced their first incoming transfer that afternoon:
Andrey Arshavin, signed from Zenit Saint Petersburg for £6 million.
But no one knew who he was.
All the public knew was that he'd played in the UEFA Cup this season—which meant he was cup-tied and couldn't play in that competition again.
Then, on the morning of January 31st, Bayswater Chinese FC made another announcement:
A £4 million signing from AS Monaco—Brazilian right-back Maicon, nicknamed "Little Cafu."
Why "Little Cafu"?
Because Real Madrid had just signed Cicinho—whose nickname was already "Cafu Jr."
And Maicon, considered slightly below Cicinho in terms of talent, was thus dubbed "Little Little Cafu."
Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport even revealed that Maicon had originally been on Inter Milan's radar.
Negotiations with Monaco had already begun, and both clubs had agreed on a summer transfer.
Then came a twist.
"Just before the finish line, English side Bayswater Chinese FC came storming in with a wave of Premier League cash and whisked the Brazilian away."
But there was one major hurdle left if Maicon wanted to play in England:
A work permit.
...
Maicon hadn't even arrived in London.
He hadn't had his medical.
Yet Bayswater Chinese FC were already moving full speed ahead.
The match schedule was brutal. There was no time to waste.
While Maicon and Arshavin were both ineligible for the UEFA Cup, they were still badly needed for the Premier League campaign.
The two players' situations were slightly different.
Arshavin, although he hadn't played many matches for the national team before 2004, had featured in every one since.
So his work permit wouldn't be an issue.
Maicon's case was more complicated.
He had joined the Brazilian national team in the summer of 2003, playing every match of the Gold Cup.
But that was mainly because players like Cafu weren't available to return from Europe for the tournament.
After that Gold Cup, Maicon was largely sidelined from the national team.
That was when, alongside Cafu, Juliano Belletti was also performing well in Europe.
In the 2004 Copa América, Brazil once again sent a domestic-based squad, so neither Cafu nor Belletti participated.
Maicon returned as first-choice right-back and helped Brazil win the tournament.
That Copa América earned him a €3 million move from Cruzeiro to Monaco.
But after that, things returned to square one.
Cafu continued to play at a high level.
Then, out of nowhere, another "Cafu" appeared—Cicinho.
During the 2005 Confederations Cup, Brazil's two right-backs were Cicinho and Maicon.
There was no doubt who was the starter—Cicinho.
Maicon, the backup, only made two appearances.
Since joining Monaco in 2004, Maicon had played under Didier Deschamps.
In the 2005–06 season, Deschamps was sacked due to poor results, and Serie A coach Francesco Guidolin took over on October 4th.
Both managers were instrumental in Maicon's growth.
They not only taught him the tactical awareness needed in European football, but also helped him improve physically.
His all-around ability soared.
He became a right-back who could dominate the flank—and even fill in as a center-back when needed.
But since the 2005 Confederations Cup, Maicon hadn't returned to the national team.
Why?
Because he had the misfortune of being born in the age of Cafu.
When you looked at Maicon's national team record so far, one thing was clear:
He had always lived in Cafu's shadow.
Previously It Was Cafu and Belletti, Then Cafu and Cicinho. Now It's Our Turn to Play the Brazil Card!
Whenever Cafu couldn't attend national team matches, Maicon would get called up.
...
"We'll try to work this angle," Yang Cheng said, looking at Adam Crozier, who had just returned to London from Monaco. "If this were any other country, there'd be nothing to talk about. But we're dealing with Brazil—and Maicon has already proven himself in Ligue 1."
"Anyone stuck behind Cafu is bound to be unlucky."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
After all, we're talking about Cafu—arguably the greatest right-back in football history.
Even in his twilight years, Cafu wasn't someone you could just casually replace.
In Brazil, situations like Maicon's were a dime a dozen.
So when it came to work permits in the UK, Brazil had always been a special case.
"From all the evidence and documentation we've gathered so far, the work permit shouldn't be an issue. The real challenge is…"
Adam Crozier looked toward Yang Cheng with a bit of hesitation.
Yang Cheng, of course, understood that this wouldn't be an easy process.
"Unless absolutely necessary, don't use the special 'exceptional talent' clause. I've got another use in mind for that."
Yang Cheng's strategy was clear: play the Brazil card.
Not making the national team because you're behind Cafu? That's nothing to be ashamed of.
Combine that with Maicon's performance in Ligue 1 and the fact that even Inter Milan had an eye on him—what more proof do you need?
"It's fine, just do your best. I'll find time to meet with Geoff Thompson."
Yang Cheng had built a good relationship with the FA chairman.
Although Thompson would retire in 2007, he would later go on to hold influential positions in UEFA and FIFA.
"He's still got sway."
"I'll also talk to Brian Barwick," added Crozier.
The FA had been a mess in recent years.
After David Davies's interim stint, ITV veteran Brian Barwick took over as chief.
Adam Crozier had a decent relationship with him.
"If possible, test the waters with him about Wembley too," Yang Cheng added with a smile.
"Lately, Brian Barwick's been scrambling for money. He might be interested."
Since taking over, Crozier had rebranded Bayswater Chinese FC, launching a new promotional campaign.
Combined with the team's success and affordable ticket prices, attendance had remained consistently high.
Loftus Road had long been too small to meet the club's needs.
But there weren't any larger stadiums nearby.
Rent from Chelsea?
No way—Yang Cheng couldn't bring himself to do it.
So in the end, Yang Cheng and Crozier both set their sights on the not-yet-complete Wembley Stadium.
Yang Cheng had even visited the Wembley construction site with Xia Qing.
The roof was finished, and the heating and drainage systems were in place. The pitch could be laid at any time.
Only the exterior façade, surface hardening around the grounds, and interior finishing work remained.
According to the FA's original plan, this year's FA Cup Final was supposed to be held at Wembley.
But recently, the stadium contractor announced that construction would not be completed on time.
The reason?
Funding.
As far back as August 2005, the builder had reported an annual loss of £26.1 million due to rising costs.
They requested additional funds from the FA to cover this increase, but the FA refused—and accused the contractor of deliberate delays.
Both sides exchanged barbs in the media, locked in a war of words.
In Yang Cheng's previous life, the issue was eventually resolved when the FA agreed to pay the contractor an additional £36 million.
That payment was made in late October 2006.
The stadium was completed and opened in March 2007.
But right now, the FA was desperately fundraising to plug the financial hole.
Yang Cheng wasn't stupid.
There was no way he'd help the FA pay that kind of money outright.
His idea was for Bayswater Chinese FC to prepay rent in advance to lease part of Wembley's future use.
Why part?
Because Wembley was still designated to host England national team matches, FA finals, and various commercial events like concerts.
"You can go try to negotiate for £5 million per year. See if they'll bite," Yang Cheng said with a smile.
Adam Crozier narrowed his eyes and quickly did the math. "Does that include maintenance costs?"
"Of course. Otherwise, when they host League Cup finals, FA Cup finals, promotion playoffs, or England matches—how are we supposed to split the bill?"
They were sharing the venue—naturally, maintenance should be shared too.
"That might be tough. A stadium of that size costs several million pounds a year just to maintain."
Before Yang Cheng could respond, Crozier suddenly grinned.
"But hey, even if it sits idle, they still have to maintain it. We'd actually be helping them generate revenue."
Yang Cheng laughed heartily. "Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself."
Sitting off to the side, Xia Qing couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She wanted to fling the office door open and let the staff see these two sly old foxes scheming in broad daylight.
But when Yang Cheng glanced over at her, she nodded slightly.
"We'd better settle their shortfall in one go. That way, we can push the price down," she said. "I'll try to scrape together £20 million."
A four-year lease up front wasn't a bad deal.
Yang Cheng thought it over.
"Let's go with £30 million—lease for six years."
Based on the current timeline, the Brent training base wouldn't be usable until at least the summer of 2007.
Even if there were enough funds by then, they'd still need to demolish the existing unfinished structure, hire designers and planners, and begin construction.
No way it would be done in less than five or six years.
Besides, Yang Cheng's target for paying off the loan was 2009.
Xia Qing hesitated for a moment, brows furrowed in thought, then nodded. "I'll figure something out."
Yang Cheng and Adam Crozier exchanged surprised glances.
She really can do it?
"We have that much liquidity in the club right now?" Crozier asked in disbelief.
He was the CEO—and even he didn't know Bayswater Chinese FC had that kind of money.
Amazing!
"In the past two years, we've sold quite a few players—like Jonathan Stead and Joe Hart. The payments for those transfers have been coming in gradually. Our finance department has been chasing clubs non-stop."
Xia Qing's expression seemed to say, You didn't seriously think I just sit around counting money all day, did you?
"Now that Arsenal's first payments for the two transfers have come in, and with the Premier League broadcast revenue, we should be able to scrape together £30 million."
Premier League TV money isn't paid out all at once after the season, but in installments throughout the year, with final adjustments made at the end.
That's why, every summer, clubs rely heavily on those TV payments for transfer spending.
Yang Cheng burst out laughing.
He'd really chosen the right person to manage the books.
No matter what he wanted to do, Xia Qing could find the money.
She was the ultimate support system.
"When you go into negotiations, focus on the big picture and let the small stuff slide," Yang Cheng told Crozier, giving him a final directive for the talks.
If they could lease Wembley for £5 million a year, it would be an absolute steal.
Not to mention the co-branding opportunities—riding on the England national team's popularity was bound to boost visibility and draw attention.
The Wembley Move Is on the Table, and So Are Premier League Battles
For the past two years, Queens Park Rangers had leased their stadium to Bayswater Chinese FC, and now, every home match at Loftus Road was packed to capacity.
QPR themselves?
If they could fill 10,000 seats, it was already a good day.
In fact, their attendance had dropped compared to before.
In their words: "Bayswater Chinese FC is sucking the life out of us."
And then there were other expenses—like stadium security, which wasn't cheap at all.
Yes, in England, you have to pay the police to maintain order at football matches.
And each city had its own rates.
In London, match operations typically span about 6 hours.
A chief inspector charges £61 per hour, inspectors and sergeants are £56, constables are £46, and police dog handlers are £66.
Mounted officers? The most majestic of all—£75 an hour.
All told, the security costs per season ran into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Of course, the cost varied by location. Some cities even offered subsidies.
For example, in Lancashire, the police charged just £7,700 per match.
But in London? Forget about it being cheap.
Still, compared to rent and stadium maintenance, police and auxiliary fees were minor expenses.
For a Premier League club, they were barely a drop in the bucket.
...
Arshavin and Maicon arrived in London on the afternoon of the 31st and checked into the club-arranged Royal Lancaster Hotel.
Even though the club had a home match against Everton that very evening—Premier League Round 24—Yang Cheng still made time to meet with both players separately.
He welcomed and encouraged them both, personally inviting them to Loftus Road to watch the match live.
The next morning, the club would send staff with them to the partner hospital for comprehensive medical checks.
Yang Cheng also made a point of reassuring Maicon: the work permit wouldn't be a problem.
As for Arshavin, since Yang Cheng didn't speak Russian, the conversation had to go through a translator—but it lasted a good while.
With a player of Arshavin's talent, sensitivity and first impressions were critical.
The first meeting—and what was said—could have a big impact.
Naturally, Yang Cheng took great care.
He told Arshavin to prepare himself, because as soon as his registration was cleared, he could be on the pitch at any moment.
Both Arshavin and Maicon were full of anticipation and excitement about their upcoming Premier League adventure.
After all, Bayswater Chinese FC was currently second in the league.
And it wasn't just them who couldn't play—Aaron Lennon and Chimbonda, freshly transferred to Arsenal, were also ineligible to face West Ham at Highbury.
Their registrations hadn't gone through yet.
Wenger was furious and blasted the FA in a fit of rage.
...
Round 24 of the Premier League was destined to be a graveyard for top teams.
After enduring the brutal Christmas schedule, January had been another relentless grind.
By the 31st, most teams were physically and mentally drained.
Manchester United lost 3–4 away to Blackburn.
It was the debut match for their new winter signings, Vidić and Evra—only to concede four goals.
Tottenham lost 0–1 away to Fulham.
Chelsea drew 1–1 away at Aston Villa.
Arsenal suffered the worst fate—losing 2–3 at home to West Ham.
Wenger was livid after the match, deeply dissatisfied with the result.
The loss dropped the Gunners to eighth in the table.
Liverpool didn't fare much better.
Even after Birmingham had a player sent off in the 28th minute, the match still ended 1–1.
To make matters worse, in the 88th minute, Xabi Alonso accidentally helped Birmingham score an own goal.
Bayswater Chinese FC faced a tough challenge at home from Moyes' gritty Everton.
After 45 minutes of stalemate, the score was still 0–0.
But in stoppage time, Neuer booted a long ball forward after receiving a pass from a teammate.
Lambert nodded it down.
Ribéry burst in from behind at high speed, controlled the ball, cut into the box, and calmly slotted it past the keeper from close range.
1–0!
It was the only goal of the match.
Bayswater Chinese FC secured all three points at home.
...
Four days later—Premier League Round 25.
Arsenal finally had something to celebrate, beating Birmingham 2–0 away thanks to goals from Adebayor and Henry.
Manchester United, at home, beat Fulham 4–2 with a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chelsea, also at home, downed Liverpool 2–0 thanks to goals from Gallas and Crespo.
Bayswater Chinese FC, on the other hand, traveled to face Allardyce's Bolton.
With a depleted squad, Yang Cheng's team lost 0–1 away.
After 25 rounds, Chelsea sat atop the table with 60 points.
Mourinho's side was galloping toward the title with consistency and dominance.
Bayswater Chinese FC were second with 52 points (15 wins, 7 draws, 3 losses).
Manchester United followed with 51, and Liverpool were fourth with 48.
Arsenal, with this round's win, climbed up to sixth, still behind fifth-place Tottenham.
...
With Round 25 completed, the league entered a one-week break.
Yang Cheng gave his players some time off to rest and recover.
Then came the intense planning phase—preparing for the upcoming UEFA Cup matches and the League Cup final.
Soon, Adam Crozier delivered good news:
Arshavin's work permit had come through before the Bolton match.
But due to jet lag and his unfamiliarity with the league, Yang Cheng left him out of the squad.
Instead, Yang Cheng planned to use the week to integrate him into the team fully.
Maicon's permit had been trickier.
But with Yang Cheng personally involved and Crozier leveraging his FA and government connections, they got it done—despite some minor setbacks.
Importantly, they didn't have to use Bayswater Chinese FC's "exceptional talent" allocation for 2006.
In team training sessions, Yang Cheng noticed how quickly Maicon was adapting.
It was practically seamless.
The Brazilian had a strong, athletic build, blazing speed, and excellent technique—able to run up and down the right flank, contributing on both ends of the pitch.
Unfortunately, he was ineligible for the UEFA Cup.
As such, Yang Cheng planned for Piszczek to cover the right-back position in European fixtures.
Up front, he would rely on Ashley Young.
Yang Cheng wasn't too worried.
This midfield unit could go toe-to-toe with anyone—even Chelsea.
So far, no team had managed to outplay them.
Even during Yaya Touré's absence for the Africa Cup of Nations, Andreasen had stepped up with rock-solid performances.
As long as the midfield held firm, the rest could be managed.
And more good news followed:
The FA was showing strong interest in Bayswater Chinese FC's proposal to lease Wembley.
From their perspective, outside of England internationals, Wembley was only used for a few finals and playoff matches each year.
Most of the time, the stadium sat idle.
But idle or not, maintenance had to continue.
Staff had to be paid.
Upkeep couldn't be skipped.
So if they could lease it out to Bayswater Chinese FC and earn a stable yearly income—well, the FA found that very attractive.
At the Very Least, It Offsets the Costs—And Now, Wembley Is Almost Ours
At the very least, it would help offset some of the operating costs, right?
But when Yang Cheng proposed leasing Wembley for £5 million a year—including maintenance—there was no way the FA was going to agree.
So former FA CEO Adam Crozier led the negotiations team and spent an entire week in a fierce back-and-forth with current CEO Brian Barwick at FA headquarters.
Crozier's negotiation skills were razor sharp.
He didn't reveal his full hand right away. Instead, he played it slow, gradually showing his cards while feeling out the FA's bottom line.
Once the timing was right, Crozier dropped the bomb:
Bayswater Chinese FC would lease Wembley Stadium for six years, with a total package worth £30 million—£15 million upfront, and the remaining £15 million split across the final three years of the contract.
For an FA strapped for cash, the offer was unbelievably tempting.
After all, that damn stadium had taken seven years to build.
Its endless delays had nearly driven English fans insane.
Now, with completion finally in sight, another funding crisis had flared up.
Enter Bayswater Chinese FC—a lifeline from the heavens.
Geoff Thompson personally met with Yang Cheng.
Not only did he help push through Maicon's work permit, he also negotiated a revised payment structure.
£20 million as a lump-sum down payment, with the remaining £10 million paid in five annual installments of £2 million each.
From Thompson, Yang Cheng learned just how dire the FA's financial situation was.
They'd barely scraped together a little over £10 million.
They had nothing left to give.
Building a stadium like Wembley?
It was damn near impossible.
Given the change in payment terms, Yang Cheng naturally had some conditions of his own.
He demanded that the FA supervise the contractors and ensure Wembley Stadium would be ready to open by the start of the 2006/07 season.
"In the new season, we're moving into Wembley!"
Geoff Thompson and Brian Barwick agreed—and had it written directly into the lease contract.
Once the deal was done, Yang Cheng personally took Xia Qing and Adam Crozier for a visit to the Wembley construction site.
...
In Yang Cheng's eyes, with Wembley at its current stage of completion, it would take maybe two months to finish if it were in China.
But in the UK? Even half a year wasn't guaranteed.
Yang Cheng made clear demands to the contractor:
Get the usable internal areas ready ASAP and hand them over to Bayswater Chinese FC for interior renovation, in time for the new season.
Since the club didn't own the stadium, only temporary commercial facilities could be installed—
Bars, food stalls, and such.
That would require more investment.
Yang Cheng noticed Xia Qing's assistant quietly jotting things down on a laptop nearby.
"Honestly, if renting Wembley only costs £5 million, then why bother spending so much to build our own stadium?" Xia Qing asked, standing beside him.
"That's the same question as: why buy a house when you can rent one?" Yang Cheng chuckled.
He added, "Our deal seems like a steal now. But remember—this is only possible because the FA was desperate. Six years from now, when the contract ends, do you really think the rent will still be this cheap?"
Same thing happened with Arsenal when they built the Emirates and let Emirates Airlines swoop in on a bargain naming-rights deal.
They were strapped for cash. That's the price you pay.
Seeing Xia Qing still a little puzzled, Yang Cheng kept his thoughts to himself.
He couldn't exactly tell her that in his past life, 10 years later, Tottenham paid £15 million to rent Wembley—triple what they were paying now.
"There's also a more important reason," Yang Cheng continued.
"The stadium isn't ours. That's why we can only make temporary changes. We can't redesign it to fit our vision."
"If I had my way, our stadium would have massive bar counters, dining spaces for tens of thousands, and bars where fans could gather before and after the match…"
"Don't underestimate that. Just from food and drinks alone, if managed properly, a single match could generate over a million pounds in revenue."
"A million? Per match?"
Even Xia Qing and Adam Crozier were shocked.
One million per match—just imagine how many home games there were in a season.
But after a moment's thought, it started to make sense.
If 50,000 fans attended a match, and the average person spent just £20—that was already £1 million.
"And that doesn't even include income from the fan store, bars, VIP boxes, and all the other matchday facilities."
"Honestly, I'm being conservative. You know in the U.S., NFL stadiums make insane money. Compared to them, £1 million from food and drink at a Premier League match is child's play."
"No wonder you said our future stadium needs to make fans come early and leave late," Crozier said with a grin.
The idea was simple: offer everything fans could possibly want on-site so they'd stick around—not just show up for a 90-minute game.
"Exactly. That's why we need a stadium of our own. We need to revolutionize the European matchday model and create a multifunctional football arena built around entertainment and leisure."
"Wembley can't give us that."
That's also why Yang Cheng never considered battling West Ham or Tottenham for the Olympic Stadium after 2012.
In his previous life, West Ham only secured the right to use the stadium for football matches.
If the venue hosted concerts, baseball games, or conventions, none of that revenue went to the club.
West Ham had zero rights to alter the stadium structure.
In short, taking over the Olympic Stadium might boost ticket revenue—but that was it.
How was that any different from the limitations faced by clubs in Serie A?
Wembley was no different.
In the short term, renting made sense.
But in the long run? They had to build their own.
Especially since Yang Cheng already owned land near Hyde Park—some of the most expensive real estate in London.
Not building there? That would be idiotic.
...
After the Wembley site inspection, Yang Cheng left the renovation work to Adam Crozier and Chris Hunter.
Hunter now held a lot of power within the club—he had Yang Cheng's full trust.
After a week's rest, the Premier League resumed—and for Bayswater Chinese FC, a brutal schedule lay ahead.
February 11: Home vs. Liverpool
February 15: Away vs. Basel in Switzerland
February 19: Away vs. Tottenham
February 23: Home vs. Basel
Then came the League Cup Final and Premier League Round 28—both against Manchester United.
The final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, the league match at home.
In other words, every game in this stretch was crucial.
Yang Cheng told the players:
This run of fixtures would define their entire season.
Three competitions.
Three fronts.
He didn't want to give up on any of them.
"Just like our anthem says," he added.
That club anthem, released during the Christmas period, had quickly become beloved by players and fans alike.
Especially Adele.
At every home match, she performed live on the pitch.
She wasn't just adored by the fans—she was also being praised by the British media.
As Yang Cheng often said:
Once you heard her voice, you'd fall in love with its ethereal beauty and power.
"We shine in the dark!"
"Never give up! Never back down! With all our lives! We fight to the end!"
At the end, Yang Cheng clenched his fist tightly.
"I firmly believe we have the strength to reach our goals—to make our dreams come true!"
His confidence and passion lit a fire in every Bayswater Chinese FC player.
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