The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 334: Seizing Opportunities

Chapter 334: Seizing Opportunities

As Aldrich was sifting through some documents, a thought suddenly struck him. He pulled open a drawer, took out a file, and handed it to Andrew. "You're more familiar with Africa than I am. I need your help with this."

Andrew opened the document and exclaimed, "What's the point of Millwall setting up football schools and training camps in Africa? Is that just money down the drain? If it's about expanding our market, wouldn't it be better to focus on other regions?"

Aldrich patiently replied, "It's not just about Africa. Over the next ten years, Millwall aims to promote its football brand worldwide. We plan to establish football schools and training camps in as many countries across every continent as possible to broaden our talent pool."

"Are you completely obsessed with young players? Have you really considered labeling your children a Millwall player at birth?"

"I have my own thoughts on the matter, but I'm pretty sure you're not interested in the specifics," Aldridge laughed.

Andrew shrugged in agreement, conceding that Aldrich had a point.

In essence, Aldrich aimed to establish football schools and training camps globally, primarily to build a foundation for talent recruitment for the club, and to prepare for FIFA's new transfer policy in ten years' time, which would prohibit international transfers for players under eighteen.

However, FIFA's policy itself was contradictory.

Right now, Millwall could sign players under eighteen from Portugal, Italy, Spain, and other EU countries, bringing them back to London. But once the ban came into effect, that would no longer be an option.

That said, there were loopholes.

In a decade, top clubs would still have plenty of foreign players under eighteen in their youth ranks. The key was how those players arrived at the club.

If a player transferred between clubs and was under eighteen, the path for international transfer would be closed.

If he wasn't attached to any club and wanted to sign with a foreign club at that age, that wasn't allowed either!

The only feasible way was for clubs to invest in football in other countries and recruit players through their football schools or training camps. Those players could then return home for further training, almost like students attending a preparatory school before advancing to a university.

Without this process, it would seem like the player was directly going abroad for work, which FIFA would not recognize and would prohibit. Historical cases that faced penalties included La Masia, where Barcelona's success with the 'Dream Team' drew young talent from all over the world for training. Many players moved into Barcelona's youth ranks, violating FIFA's bans, while younger Japanese players weren't penalized because they came through a Barcelona training camp in Japan.

Aldrich was taking preventive measures; he couldn't wait for the policy to be enforced before reacting. Besides, irrespective of policy factors, this investment was a long-term benefit, enhancing Millwall's international influence and reputation.

After reviewing the materials Andrew provided, Aldrich discovered an unexpected opportunity.

"This young man here, let's sign him and help him come to Europe. Millwall will cover all expenses."

Aldrich pulled out a player profile and handed it to Andrew.

Andrew looked down at the dark-skinned boy and muttered, "Michael Essien? Are we helping him immigrate?"

Aldrich shook his head and stated, "Immigration costs are just too high. He can't come to London without an EU passport or a work visa. This is actually a good opportunity; we'll loan him to Belgium and let Torlop take care of him. I'll ensure a coach is assigned to focus on his training. In four years, when he's not yet 20 and has obtained his EU passport, he can return to London, and Millwall will cover the expenses during this time."

Andrew agreed without hesitation. He's quite enthusiastic about this sort of thing. He has a strong sense of pride in working with players and witnessing countless unsung stars over the years. He has become an important figure in the British agent world and a force in Europe that cannot be underestimated. Although competition with other agencies has reached fever pitch, he has managed to gain a foothold in places such as Spain and Germany. However, there are still some leagues, such as Italy, that he still cannot penetrate.

Days passed, and with just a week left before the Premier League kickoff, interest in Millwall began to wane.

Millwall had sold several players over the summer, loaned out young talent, and their transfer market activities mirrored the last few years: zero investment for the first team. The public was aware of the youth team, but there wasn't much excitement to share—after all, who really cared about names they hadn't heard before?

Yet Aldrich wasn't looking to close the door on transfer activities.

He needed a forward, specifically a striker.

With just Van Nistelrooy and Klose, the center forward position feels somewhat stretched.

This is particularly concerning given that there is no backup for Nedved.

With August arriving and many leagues preparing to start, most clubs had settled their transfers, making last-minute deals feel like mere soap opera drama.

Newly crowned European champions Millwall appear to be a bit underwhelming, making ?92m from player sales with zero investment in strengthening the first team.

Manchester United had brought in York, forming a formidable duo with Cole known as the "Yorke and Cole".

Arsenal had a phenomenal season, winning the Premier League and FA Cup. However, Wenger only spent 3 million pounds to buy Ljungberg and two young players.

Liverpool, on the other hand, signed Hyypia and several players worth around ?3 million. Coupled with the selection of Gerrard and Carragher from the youth training system, the team's lineup has been significantly improved.

Chelsea spent over ?5 million to acquire forward Casiraghi from Lazio and invested another ?2 million to bring in defender Ferrer from Barcelona. Additionally, they secured World Cup champion Desailly for ?4.6 million from AC Milan. Along with several free agents attracted by high salaries, Chelsea continued their extravagant spending spree, significantly enhancing their squad compared to the previous year.

Tottenham had a lackluster season but made modest investments this summer, bringing in five relatively unknown players for around ?5-6 million, maintaining their overall strength.

Other teams are pushing ahead with their investments, but there are no transfer rumors at Millwall - with no new faces in sight. Fans may still be confident, but reporters are furious and ready to unleash their frustration.

"There's ?92 million sitting there - why not use it? Come on, spend it!"

"Where's the exciting transfer news we crave?!"

Aldrich couldn't locate any forward on the market, whether they were actively listed or rumored to be available, so he started digging through older news to find cases of failed transfers.

And to his surprise, he found a suitable candidate.

He picked up the phone and called the club's transfer team, stating plainly, "I'm offering ?8 million for Monaco's striker, Henry."

Having been part of the World Cup-winning team that summer, Henry had been a bit unlucky. Just before the World Cup, rumors circulated that Juventus wanted to sign him, but Trezeguet's help in winning Millwall the Champions League made Moggi ultimately decide to buy the high-scoring player from Millwall.

However, numerous clubs were interested in signing Henry, and offers were considerable. The unfortunate twist was that Henry got injured during the summer training sessions. Now, larger clubs were hesitant to invest heavily, fearing that his injury might become a liability. Smaller clubs offered lower bids, which Monaco wouldn't accept. And Henry, already a World Cup star, wasn't keen on moving to a smaller club, preferring to stay in Monaco—even without the Champions League.

This predicament was the reason he remained at Monaco.

Aldrich felt Henry was undoubtedly the best option. He could mold him into a center-forward. With his experience playing as a winger and his refined skills, he was already a mature talent. No matter if the team played in a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation, whether he played as a center-forward or winger, there was a role for him.

Once Millwall's offer reached Monaco, it wasn't long before Tigana called Aldrich.

"Henry is recovering from injury. Didn't you know?"

"Not an issue; Millwall can take the risk."

Aldrich replied cheerfully over the phone.

In fact, a player's transfer medical check wasn't a hard requirement. These checks were more about identifying hidden health issues rather than a must-pass for every transfer. Major clubs tended to observe players for at least six months. If a player failed the medical, it became a laughingstock. While such situations happen, they often had less to do with a player's physical condition and more about a club simply changing its mind.

Many player transfers were announced before the medical check, simply going through the motions afterward.

Aldrich had faith in his medical team; having Henry recover here might even accelerate his healing process.

"Are you sure you want to buy it?"

"Let's get down to business."

"Fifteen million!"

"Dollars?"

"British pounds!"

"This is a robbery in broad daylight! Let's not waste time - ?10 million is my final offer."

Tigana thought about it for a long time; the price was already very high, especially for a French Ligue 1 player, and it was fair for Henry's level.

Besides, he had to consider how Henry would feel about his decision if he refused.

Henry wanted to move to a bigger club, had aspirations for Italy, but unfortunately, Juventus signed Trezeguet.

With Monaco lacking Champions League qualification for the coming season, his desire to leave intensified.

Ultimately, Tigana relented, accepting Millwall's offer of ?10 million for Henry's transfer.

Next, Aldrich personally flew to France to visit Henry.

Henry was surprised to see Aldrich at his doorstep. He knew that the club had agreed to a transfer offer, but to witness Aldrich showing up personally was quite flattering.

As they sat down, Aldrich eagerly got to the point. "Thierry, Millwall lacks a potent striker for the new season—a player who can guarantee goals and help increase our chances of winning trophies. I believe, if you join Millwall, you will be exactly the player we need."

Hearing this opening, Henry felt a flicker of excitement within him.

Having faced Millwall before, he knew how powerful the team was. Even with the summer exits of several key players, the key element to their strength remained—the champion coach sitting across from him.

He began pondering his potential role and standing within the team if he were to transfer to Millwall.

It wasn't just about authority in the dressing room; it was about the commitment to being a starter or a substitute.

Aldrich wasn't in a rush to reply. Instead, he asked, "Do you trust me?"

Henry was taken aback by the question. "Why do you ask?"

Aldrich said earnestly, "Because I want to make you better, help you become a world-class striker. But for that to happen, you need to trust me. We have to mutually trust each other and put in the effort to make it happen."

Henry wasn't a rookie; he had played over a hundred matches with Monaco, scoring numerous goals as a winger. While that number wasn't enormous, it was significant enough for him to form his own opinions. If he held too firmly to his beliefs, Aldrich could end up with a player who didn't fit in.

If it had been Wenger, he wouldn't have posed such a question, considering he was the one who promoted Henry to the Monaco first team—his mentor, so to speak.

Thinking about Aldrich's impressive background and the exceptional players who had developed under him, Henry nodded. "I trust you and will follow your guidance."

Aldrich nodded and said, "Okay, if you want to be a world-class forward, the first thing you have to do is change your mentality. You've got to think of yourself as a center forward, a goalscorer. If you join Millwall, you could be a winger or a striker. No matter where you play, you need to elevate your direct threat to the goal. Look at Larsson, who can switch between striker and winger effortlessly, interacting widely and posing a constant threat up front. If you can meet my expectations, I'm convinced you'll be a top contender for the European Golden Boot."

Henry was left utterly dumbfounded.

He was a winger, expected to transform into a goal machine that scores at least 30 league goals in a single season?