Football Dynasty

PHWEEEEEE~

The referee's final whistle echoed through the Olympiastadion in Munich, and a wave of yellow erupted from the stands and the pitch alike. Borussia Dortmund had done the unthinkable—they had defeated the mighty Juventus 3–1 and claimed their first-ever UEFA Champions League title in the 1996/97 season.

The players collapsed to the ground in disbelief, tears streaming down their faces, while others ran wildly toward each other, arms wide open.

Juventus were heavy favorites, led by Del Piero and Vieri, but it was Dortmund who won their first-ever European Cup. Goals from Karl-Heinz Riedle (2) and Lars Ricken sealed the victory.

"Hahaha!" Berlusconi clapped his hands, clearly satisfied with the result."I wonder how Agnelli reacted when his beloved club was beaten—beaten badly—in the final."

He chuckled again, shaking his head in amusement.

The chat continued over drinks, filled with humorous anecdotes from the football world and shared complaints about players and UEFA's Bosman ruling.

It's difficult to definitively say whether the Bosman ruling was right or wrong—that's a debate best left to football historians. However, one thing is clear: in the aftermath of Bosman, clubs that rely heavily on player development, such as those in the Netherlands and France, have faced increasing challenges. More concerning, though, is the financial fallout—over the past decade, hundreds of lower-league clubs across Europe have gone bankrupt, unable to compete in the new economic landscape shaped by the ruling.

After a long day of discussions, everyone was exhausted.

"Sorry, everyone—I have to head back to Manchester," Richard said with a polite smile, gently declining the invitation from the other club owners.

Several of them tried to persuade him to stay a bit longer, offering another round of drinks or an after-dinner cigar. But Richard shook his head.

With a few final handshakes and nods of respect, Richard made his way out, leaving behind the fading laughter and hum of conversation as the evening at the private gathering continued without him.

"Wait a minute, Richard!"

Suddenly, someone called out to him—and to Richard's surprise, it was Silvio Berlusconi of AC Milan.

"I was planning to reach out to you privately to discuss this, but since you're leaving early, I'll say it now," Berlusconi began. "To be honest, Richard, I came all the way here because I saw your name on the guest list. You know what I mean, right?"

Richard was surprised, but he feigned ignorance. "What do you mean?"

Berlusconi could tell Richard was pretending not to understand, but he didn't call him out on it. Instead, he got straight to the point. "Listen, I want two players from Manchester City."

Berlusconi's words made Richard turn to him in surprise. "You know that if you're trying to poach my players, there's no way I'll allow it."

"Don't say that. Everything can be discussed," Berlusconi replied with a chuckle, patting Richard on the shoulder as he leaned in slightly to lower his voice and speak more discreetly.

"...Who?"

Richard was silent for a moment before he couldn't help but ask—he was genuinely curious.

"Pirlo and Lehmann."

"One's my starter, and the other's my key substitute. Silvio, isn't that a bit much?"

Richard forced a laugh.

Berlusconi knew that making such a bold request upfront could easily backfire, which is why he came in person to make his case.

"How many seasons does Pirlo have to spend as a backup at City before he gets a real chance to start? That lad—just promoted at the end of last season—is clearly your future midfield star, isn't he? As for Lehmann, I'll admit—asking for your first-choice goalkeeper might be pushing it. But hey, the allure of Serie A is hard to resist."

Richard was speechless at this. He turned to glare at Berlusconi without answering."Have you been in private contact with my players?"

Berlusconi immediately interjected, "No! Really, no! We wouldn't engage in any dirty business!"

Richard rolled his eyes and replied coolly,"I have always respected my players. I will try to persuade them to stay. However, if Milan presents an appealing offer, I won't hold them back. Just give me a satisfying bid."

"I'm offering ten million pounds for the two together," Berlusconi said with a smile.

Richard shook his head."That's impossible. They both have four years left on their contracts with Manchester City—one is 17, and the other is 27. You're trying to buy the backbone of my club for ten million pounds? Silvio, I'm not exaggerating when I say this, but the rules of the transfer market have changed. Just wait and see. This summer, you'll witness what top stars are really worth—and this is only the beginning."

Since the league wrapped up in May, rumors had been rampant.

For example, Manchester United, flush with cash after winning the title, were in high spirits under Ferguson following Solskjær's success. By mid-March, Ferguson had already made a secret £10 million offer for Henrik Larsson.

Fortunately for City, Larsson showed no desire to leave and promptly declined the offer.

Richard knew exactly why Manchester United were so adamant, though.

Eric Cantona.

Meanwhile, outside rumors swirled around Brazilian sensation Rivaldo. Both Manchester United and Barcelona reportedly offered $20 million to PSV Eindhoven for the Brazilian forward.

Rivaldo's first season in Eindhoven was remarkable, with over twelve goals and ten assists. However, he spent much of his second season injured and at odds with the club's coach, making his recent performances less impressive. That's why the transfer fee doesn't quite reflect his true peak value, though the attention around the move is undeniably sensational.

'Wait a minute!'

Richard froze mid-step, stunned, as if a bolt of inspiration had struck him. For a brief moment, everyone around him faded into the background.

He narrowed his eyes, mind racing. Something... something about PSV...

Then it clicked.

If he remembered correctly, many of PSV's key players—Stam, Cocu, Nilis, and De Bilde—were already attracting interest from top European clubs. Their +51 goal difference and 95 league goals underscored their attacking strength. On paper, Ajax might have seemed superior, but this season, PSV were truly the dominant force.

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If only their defense had been able to keep up.

That was the missing link. The attack was lethal, the midfield fluid, but too often the backline cracked under pressure. If that imbalance could've been corrected—even slightly—perhaps the title race wouldn't have been so one-sided by the end.

And then came the thought.

His heartbeat quickened.

What if… just what if… they were willing to trade?

Van Bommel for Rivaldo?

His thoughts spiraled as the pieces began to align. His pulse surged with excitement.

It wouldn't be just a trade—it would be the final piece of a long-standing vision. His trio—the dream lineup he had once sketched out in private—could finally become a reality.