Chapter 906: The Transfer
Bruno thought to himself that if this transfer went through, Neymar's €222 million record would surely be broken.
No wonder José Mourinho and Giaretta were tempted.
Four years ago, Manchester United had paid Monaco £100 million to sign Kylian Mbappé. Now, after four years of success, over twenty trophies, and countless records, United could potentially sell him for €200 million — or even more, perhaps £200 million.
That kind of profit was irresistible.
And truth be told, Bruno himself was stunned by Real Madrid's €200 million bid. Even he couldn't entirely deny feeling a flicker of temptation.
But—
"Sorry, I still can't agree," Bruno said firmly. "It's extremely difficult to find a striker of his quality on the transfer market. The fact that Real Madrid are willing to pay €200 million proves his value. But we must be clear — Mbappé's true worth is far beyond anything that money can replace."
His position was unmistakable: he opposed the deal.
"If you agree to sell Mbappé, one-third of the transfer income could be added to our summer transfer budget," Giaretta quickly said, knowing how to bait Bruno's interest.
...
Bruno didn't respond immediately.
He was weighing his options carefully.
Within Manchester United, his status was exceptional — far beyond that of an ordinary player.
Per his contract, he held voting rights in major transfer decisions.
Normally, he preferred not to interfere in management matters, offering suggestions only on critical signings.
But Mbappé's situation was different. He was one of the team's core players — the second most valuable member of the squad. Selling him would have massive repercussions.
"Half," Bruno said after some thought.
"Impossible," replied Giaretta, shaking his head.
"Then forget it," Bruno shrugged. He never intended to sell Mbappé anyway.
"Alright, half it is," Mourinho cut in. As the head coach, he wanted that transfer budget more than anyone.
He looked at Giaretta seriously. "Mbappé was Bruno's recommendation. The credit for signing him is his. If we're making a profit on that deal now, we should thank his vision. And you know him — if we don't give him something in return, he'll never agree."
Giaretta clenched his teeth. "Fine. Half it is."
Bruno finally nodded. "Very well. I'll think about it and get back to you."
...
"I thought you agreed already," the portly director muttered afterward.
"What I agreed to," Bruno shot back, "was to consider your offer if half the fee went to our transfer budget — not to accept it. I've said from the start, I won't sell Mbappé. He's not just any star; he's destined to become a superstar. Losing him would deal an enormous blow to the team."
His voice rose with every word, fury simmering beneath his tone.
"Fine," Giaretta said at last, glaring but conceding. "Just give us your answer soon. We need to respond to Real Madrid."
Bruno's expression hardened. "Understood. If that's all, I'm leaving."
He turned without another glance at Mourinho or Giaretta and walked straight out.
...
After Bruno left, Giaretta sighed. "I told you he'd be angry."
"Of course," Mourinho replied calmly. "The Frenchman's his pick — he'll never approve the sale."
"Then why make me the villain?" Giaretta complained.
"Because he likes me more." Mourinho grinned smugly.
Giaretta ground his teeth.
The whole thing had been planned — one good cop, one bad cop — to try to convince Bruno.
From the executives' perspective, selling Mbappé made business sense. They estimated Real Madrid could go even higher, and United would likely net at least £100 million in profit — possibly far more.
That kind of income was invaluable right now.
Though Manchester United was wealthy and Prince Jassim was hardly short of money, financial rules couldn't simply be ignored.
UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations hung over every major club like the Sword of Damocles.
In recent years, United had relied on heavy initial investments from the new owner during the buyout phase, coupled with constant prize money from championship triumphs and record-breaking commercial success. The club remained the most profitable in world football.
But high revenue also came with high expenses.
...
During Prince Jassim's first two transfer windows, United spent over £100 million each on signings. In the past two summers, while transfer spending slowed, wages skyrocketed instead.
To retain its stars amid the title streaks, the club handed out generous pay raises across the squad.
In fact, almost every key player signed a new contract in the past two years — and total wage expenditure nearly doubled.
Currently, United led world football in both revenue and payroll.
Bruno Fernandes and Harry Kane were among the world's top ten earners.
Behind them, Mbappé, Marcus Rashford, İlkay Gündoğan, N'Golo Kanté, Harry Maguire, Virgil van Dijk, and David de Gea all earned over £200,000 per week.
Altogether, United's first-team wage bill reached £600 million in the 2020–2021 season — £200 million higher than Barcelona's.
Including youth squads and staff salaries, the total approached £650 million annually.
Revenue for that same season reportedly broke £900 million — about €1.05 billion.
Still, over 72% of that went to wages alone.
A healthy ratio was typically under 60%. At 72%, risk levels were high.
...
Yet, wages weren't even United's largest expense.
Their biggest financial burden was the construction of their new stadium.
The first home match of the new season would take place in the freshly completed arena — thrilling for fans worldwide, but incredibly costly.
According to the club's redevelopment plan, including the stadium and surrounding commercial facilities, total investment exceeded £2.1 billion.
While Prince Jassim had contributed £1 billion during the purchase, the remaining £1.1 billion relied on loans, putting immense pressure on finances.
Selling Mbappé could greatly ease that strain.
"Do you think Bruno will consent in the end?" Giaretta asked.
Mourinho shook his head uncertainly. "Hard to say. We promised to allocate at least £100 million each year for reinforcements. The last two summers were tight — he understood back then. But if we start selling core players just to ease finances, that's pushing it."
...
Bruno left the meeting furious, his expression so intense that everyone along his path avoided eye contact. When a leader was angry, no one wanted trouble.
Once in his Ferrari, doors shut, the anger melted away. He exhaled deeply and began smiling — even humming a tune.
When Mourinho and Giaretta had summoned him, he already suspected their motive.
Once he heard their proposal, he knew he couldn't outright refuse — not entirely.
He was, after all, a shareholder in the club.
Yes — few outsiders knew it, but when Prince Jassim purchased Manchester United, Bruno himself had quietly invested £50 million, making him a minority stakeholder.
He understood the financial pressure they faced; both emotionally and logically, he had to play his part.
To put it plainly, if the club profited from player sales, Bruno would benefit too as a shareholder.
Moreover, the fact that Mourinho and Giaretta had approached him together showed their desperation for funds.
Still, he couldn't agree too easily. He had to show resistance — to make a stand.
He didn't want his carefully built team to become the club's cash cow. He refused to become the next Arsène Wenger.
And when he said no one was lucky enough to always find cheap, world-class talents — well, that might not apply to him.
After all, he wasn't just lucky — he had the vision of a true footballing oracle.
Talent, after all, gives confidence.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Cortez10