662 Poach and Be Poached From

While Twain wracked his brain for ways to poach from other teams, his players were also being poached at the same time.

Just days after the Champions League final, news came from the Spanish side that Real Madrid had targeted Nottingham Forest player, Franck Ribéry. And unlike the rumors in the first half of the year, the Real Madrid club was for real this time.

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Real Madrid had two key targets they wanted to bring in, one of whom was the Portuguese, Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored forty-one goals in a season at Manchester United and had become the Premier League's top scorer. The other was this year's Champions League's Player of the Year, Franck Ribéry.

Both men were currently star players with the most appeal in the football world. The nature of Real Madrid was to pursue the best players in the world and then have them all play for the best club in the world.

Whether it was Di Stefano or Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo and Beckham, the century-old Real Madrid was never an ordinary team.

They could develop the superstars themselves, or they could poach them from the other teams. The move was detested by people — who could be willing to part with the star players that they painstakingly groomed and were stolen away by Real Madrid?

Real Madrid's current president, Calderón, was able to successfully come into power by relying on three promises: he promised to the fans that he would bring in the Brazilian Kaka, the Portuguese Ronaldo, and the Dutchman Robben, if he were elected as the new president.

He had made good on the promise of Robben, but he had been strongly rebuffed by AC Milan in the pursuit of Kaka. The relationship of both clubs had broken down at one point.

After a summer of attempts, Calderón realized that it was not the best time to bring in Kaka. Therefore, they shifted their target. Cristiano Ronaldo's breakout had made him a favorite, but the only club who really dared to take him on was Real Madrid.

Real Madrid was already in touch with Cristiano Ronaldo's agent, Mendes long before the season was over to suss out the player's wishes. That was Real Madrid's style of poaching players — using the players to threaten the clubs they played for.

Ronaldo's response had been positive. He wanted to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid. The transfer would provide him with a better package, and he would have the opportunity to continue his dream of impacting the Champions League. He had been in such excellent form this season but Manchester United failed in both tournaments, which left him disappointed.

After learning of Ronaldo's idea, Real Madrid blatantly make an offer to Manchester United for fifty million euros.

However, Real Madrid encountered a strong rival — Sir Alex Ferguson.

"No matter how much money you offer, I won't sell Cristiano. He is a Manchester United player and under contract with us. He is very happy at Manchester United and has no reason to go to Real Madrid. I'm not going to let him go."

The Manchester United Football Club hoped to sell Ronaldo. After all, the American boss wanted to make money. But Ferguson's position was almost unshakable, and his voice represented the Manchester United's voice. In order to convince everyone that there were no differences and contradictions within Manchester United, the club had to also adopt a unified stance as Ferguson.

Real Madrid assumed that Manchester United thought the offer was inadequate and began to progressively increase the amount, but Ferguson was still adamant. Feeling bothered, the Manchester United club angrily stated, "You want to take the Portuguese? One hundred million euros!"

Did that scare Real Madrid away?

Real Madrid started to raise a transfer fee of one hundred and forty million euros and prepared to get the world-class star player they desired.

Manchester United underestimated Real Madrid's finances, but Real Madrid also underestimated the obstinacy of Ferguson. He publicly stated, "even if they do come up with one hundred million euros, Ronaldo is still not for sale!"

Real Madrid, who had previously been successful in every deal in the transfer market, hit a snag. Ronaldo's transfer was temporarily suspended as the UEFA European Championship was imminent. Ronaldo had publicly stated that he did not want to talk about his future.

Real Madrid set its sights on a player comparable to Cristiano Ronaldo — Franck Ribéry of Nottingham Forest.

In terms of technical skills, Ribéry's technique was not as good or crowd-pleasing as Ronaldo's, but he was more practical and better at breakthroughs. He had excellent scoring ability and was an all-rounder player who could play in the flanks and middle. Such a player was what Schuster really wanted. Cristiano Ronaldo was just what the club's top echelon wanted the team to bring in, while Schuster wanted Ribéry, who was more suited to the team's tactics and comprehensive than Ronaldo. In Schuster's view, Ribéry was better than Ronaldo in his ability to organize attacks in the front field. Even though van der Vaart was at Nottingham Forest, Ribéry's ability to organize attacks during offense was still impressive.

As a result, when he saw that the development with Ronaldo was slow to progress, Schuster immediately recommended the acquisition of Ribéry. The candidate was also good in Calderón's mind. When Nottingham Forest knocked Real Madrid out of the top four in two rounds, the high-flying club chairman was impressed with Ribéry's performance.

Ribéry once again became Real Madrid's main target, in concurrence with Ronaldo's offer.

The two men's transfer deals were not to be underestimated. There was more to them than met the eye. Calderón demanded results on both sides. Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer was handed over to the club's director of football, Mijatović, while the finance director, Jose Angel Sanchez, had the authority to preside over Ribéry's transfer deal.

It became clear when one looked at the relationship between the two men. Sanchez and Mijatović were sworn enemies. When Calderón put Sanchez in an important position, it originated from his distrust of Mijatović. How could Mijatović have any good opinions of Sanchez, a man who separated his power?

The arrangement was the result of Calderón's checks and balances on both sides. He arranged very important tasks to the two men to see who could complete the job well. Whoever did well would naturally obtain the president's trust. If they did not complete them well, it would be tough time at the top echelon of Real Madrid. Consequently, the two men were bound to strive and give it their all to sign the two players for Real Madrid. When Ronaldo and Ribéry transferred to Real Madrid, it would be the most sensational transfer in the world this summer.

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The Nottingham Forest Football Club received a fax for an official offer from Real Madrid.

Twain was in Switzerland as a guest pundit for the competition and was busy working. A commentator could not just go up and open his mouth. He had to collect information and intelligence before the game in order to be able to speak with ease during the games.

Evan called him and told him that Real Madrid wanted to buy Ribéry. He almost rejected the offer reflexively.

"No way!"

"Don't you want to hear how much they offer?" Evan asked with a smile.

"I don't care how much they offered. I'm not selling!" Discussing the possibility of Ribéry's transfer actually offended Twain. "Real Madrid thinks they have the money to collect the best players in the world to play for them? Well, let me tell them that money is not everything!"

"Fifty million euros is not a small amount, Tony."

"Manchester United declared that they can't take Ronaldo away for less than one hundred million. We can also announce that they can't have Ribéry for less than 150 euros."

"Don't tell me we can sell him if they do make that offer?"

Twain was silent for a moment. He knew what Evan was after, and he knew Evan was his boss, so he gave Evan face. "If they do come up with 150 million euros just to buy Ribéry, I'll promise to let him go!"

At the same time, he thought, "there's no way Real Madrid will bear to offer 150 million!"

Evan was aware that Twain was giving a tactful rejection with the words. No club in the world was crazy enough to offer a player a price of 150 million euros. He smiled. "Well, we'll just refuse in the name of the club."

"Thank you for your understanding. We're not at the point yet to make money by selling players, are we? Selling the core players will greatly affect the team's performance."

Evan interrupted, "Of course I know, Tony."

The call worried Twain a little. It was not about his relationship with Evan, but about Ribéry. It looked like Real Madrid was really going to make a move on Ribéry.

There were few players in the world who could resist the temptation of a powerhouse club. Once Real Madrid reached out to Ribéry, what could Nottingham Forest use to resist?

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Twain "coincidentally" received a call from Ribéry's agent, Bruno Heiderscheid.

"What a coincidence that you call now, Mr. Heiderscheid." Twain's tone revealed sarcasm that any fool could sense.

"Ha, Mr. Twain, since you know why I called, I'll get right to the point. To be honest, I want the club to reconsider Ribéry's contract."

It was about getting a raise. Twain understood this. For Ribéry's current position, a weekly salary of 80,000 was low. If he had a rich boss like Abramovich, he could pay Ribéry 200,000 a week in one breath. But did he have that much? He did not so he was unable to.

"The club has been thinking about this matter and we are very sincere, but the last time we offered a pay of 100,000 a week which you didn't agree, Mr. Heiderscheid." So, you see, the problem did not lie with our side.

Laughter came from the other end of the line, "Mr. Twain, don't you think that 100,000 is too little for Ribéry's contribution and fame?"

Twain did not get angry. He knew that anger would not help solve the problem.

He calmly asked, "so how much do you think is appropriate, Mr. Heiderscheid?"

"One hundred and fifty."

Even if Twain had better decorum, he would not be able to contain his anger when he heard that, not to mention that he was not a refined and courteous gentleman.

"I think, Mr. Heiderscheid. You shouldn't be an agent. It's a waste of your talent. It'd be better if you rob a bank." He clenched his teeth.

The last time the two men were in a deadlock with their negotiations. Heiderscheid's condition was a weekly salary of 100,000, which Twain did not accept, forget 150,000.

"Please remain calm, Mr. Twain. I think this condition is very reasonable. Given the situation, it makes perfect sense to keep a world-class player with 150,000." Heiderscheid was not angry at Twain's sarcastic remarks, but his calm tone offended Twain, making him extremely annoyed, and his anger escalated.

"Ha, reasonable?" Twain laughed angrily. "You're telling me that a 150,000 weekly salary is reasonable?! You go and ask around. What's Ronaldo's weekly salary in Manchester United? One hundred and twenty thousand! What right do you have to talk about reasonability in front of me? The owner of Nottingham Forest Football Club is not a Russian oligarch with money and nothing else to spend it on, nor is he a powerful American backer! Do you think it's reasonable to ask for a 150,000 weekly salary in the current financial situation, Mr. Bruno Heiderscheid?"

"Cool down, Mr. Twain."

"I'm cooler than a motherf**king iceberg." Twain could not hold back the foul language.

"I understand the club wants Ribéry to stay, but don't you think you should show some sincerity in return?"

It was the same schtick again. Twain smirked. "You emphasized the obligations of the club, but ignored the loyalty of the player. You wanted one hundred and fifty thousand weekly salary the moment you opened your mouth. Is this supposed to be a scare tactic? Is this the way to start a favorable negotiation? To put it bluntly, you want Ribéry to transfer to Real Madrid so that you have your cut, right? Mr. Ten Percent."

This time Twain did not even bother using his name. He just used the sarcastic code name.

"I just thought we could analyze this calmly and that is the truth, Mr. Twain. Either the club increases Ribéry's salary to his satisfaction to keep him, or he will have to leave the Forest team to a team that can meet his small demand." Heiderscheid's tone was getting colder and colder.

When Twain heard this man utter this sentence without any emotion, he really wanted to shout "F**K YOU! You scumbag!" into the receiver.

But when he opened his mouth, he just took a deep breath to calm his agitation.

He did not know what Allan would think of the matter, but he decided to grit his teeth and make some concessions. He had to make Ribéry stay. He was one of the team's core offensive players. The team's tactical routine was much richer with him around.

"One hundred and twenty thousand and that's the maximum we can accept. With the current situation at the club, I think it is enough to show our fullest sincerity."

"No, one hundred and fifty thousand..."

Twain swung his hand and smashed his phone. The sturdy-looking Nokia cell phone crashed into the opposite wall with a bang and smashed into smithereens across the carpet.