Free Web NovelThe next few days were a brief window of rest as Manchester City spent time sightseeing in Japan before their final big match and the flight back to England.
That evening's match was an unusual one. City were set to face the 1998 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A champions, Corinthians, with both clubs meeting on neutral ground in Japan.
Although City had enjoyed a surge in popularity in Japan after their association with Hidetoshi Nakata and their recent summer tour across the country, even Richard was momentarily speechless when he saw what Karren Brady had managed to arrange—bringing City and Corinthians together for a high-profile friendly on Asian soil.
At first, it felt like a strange logistical stunt. However, after hearing the reasoning behind it, Richard understood.
Brazilian players had a major influence on Japanese football. When the J.League was launched in 1993, many famous Brazilians joined, including legends such as Zico, Careca, Dunga, Jorginho, César Sampaio, Bebeto, Müller, and others. Their presence helped raise the profile of football in Japan and contributed greatly to the league's early popularity.
Not to mention, the two countries had maintained strong diplomatic relations since the late 19th century, and Brazil is home to the largest Japanese-descended population outside Japan—a connection that continued to foster cultural exchange, including in sport. So it could be said that the two sides facing each other made perfect sense as a commercial and promotional masterstroke.
With the previous day's experience, Japanese fans were eager to see how City would perform against Corinthians.
Most of the regular players—like Pirlo, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho—were expected to play. Others were sitting in the stands.
Formation: 4–4–2
GK: Paul Robinson
Defense: Zambrotta, John Terry, Gallas, Ashley Cole
Midfielder: Deco, Pirlo, Lampard, Ronaldinho
Attackers: Ronaldo, Henry
As the game kicked off, Corinthians quickly showcased their players' individual technical skills, a hallmark of South American teams. South American clubs often lagged tactically behind European sides, but they compensated with personal ability. However, since the Bosman ruling, while South American national teams had continued this tradition, the overall strength of their clubs had been on a downward trend for years.
City played a possession-based game to minimize the space for counterattacks. They maintained a higher share of the ball than usual and were patient, waiting for the right opportunities instead of rushing their shots.
The match began slowly, with few exciting moments.
It wasn't until the 37th minute of the first half that the deadlock was broken, when Deco assisted Ronaldo for the opening goal.
"A typical Manchester City performance today. They've shown great dominance through continuous passing. The attackers move back and forth across the front line to stretch the defense, but they are extremely cautious with their final passes, seemingly attempting only those that offer a near-certain chance. Corinthians haven't managed a single shot. The disparity in strength between the two teams is clear; however, City's style of play is not particularly entertaining. With eight minutes left in the first half, the teams have combined for only five shots, all from City. That's roughly one shot every seven minutes, making for a dull match for viewers."
Richard didn't care. City's goal was to secure an efficient victory with the least physical exertion possible. City's long journey and the players' attendance at commercial events would inevitably affect their condition. After this match, they would return to Manchester and immediately face a series of back-to-back fixtures, so the team had to win at the lowest possible cost.
After taking a 1–0 lead, Mourinho waved from the sidelines, signaling City to tighten up and play more defensively. At halftime, he substituted Deco, Pirlo, Lampard, and Ronaldinho, bringing on Gattuso, Joe Cole, Carrick, and Owen Hargreaves. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
With three defensive midfielders (Gattuso, Carrick, Owen Hargreaves) and Joe Cole orchestrating transitions, City relied on Henry to zigzag through the Corinthians defense. Frustrated after barely touching the ball in the first half, Corinthians now faced a City midfield built around Gattuso, Carrick, and Hargreaves that was as solid as iron whenever they tried to advance into dangerous areas.
Although they had the physical advantage, they could not break through City's defensive midfield, as their movements were constantly anticipated by City's intricate chain defense.
Many of their shots sailed over the bar. As Corinthians pushed more players forward and their defenders joined the attack, City's counterattacks became like a sword piercing directly into the opponent's heart.
Ashley Cole launched a long clearance from the back, sending the ball upfield. A Corinthians defender misjudged its flight, allowing Henry to break through. Seeing the goalkeeper rush out, Henry calmly lifted the ball over him from nearly 40 yards out and into the net!
"Out of nowhere—Ashley Cole sends it long! The defender's misjudged it—Henry's through on goal! The keeper rushes out… Henry sees him… and that is magnificent! He's chipped him from nearly forty yards! Manchester City have extended their lead through a counterattack, and at this point, the suspense has evaporated. José Mourinho has shown a ruthlessly utilitarian side to his tactics today. In the first half, City played smooth, possession football but offered few thrills. In the second, their defending and counterattacks have been simple, direct, and devastating, relying on pace to carve out chances. Efficient? Absolutely. Entertaining? Perhaps not. This is not the swashbuckling City fans yearn for—the one that trades blows with rivals like Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal—but it is a masterclass in control and efficiency."
Mourinho didn't care about the criticism. After City scored again, he made further substitutions, replacing Ronaldo, Henry with Drogba and Trezeguet. Keeping them on the pitch today would only risk fatigue ahead of the upcoming league matches in Manchester. After completing the substitutions, he returned to the bench and calmly waited for the clock to run down.
Today, Corinthians had no answer to City's disciplined defense. Their individual abilities were completely suppressed, thanks to a detailed report by Villas-Boas that analyzed each player's characteristics and habits. City's marking was precise and targeted. Take Schneider, for example—his marking of the opposing winger was flawless. By forcing the opponent onto his weaker foot, he effectively neutralized the threat.
When the final whistle blew, the score stood at 4–0.
Drogba had another brace to his name.
Richard watched from the touchline as the players laughed, smiled, and embraced one another in celebration. After all the struggle, everything was finally beginning to pay off.
He stepped onto the pitch and called out, "Didier!"
Drogba, still grinning from his goals, turned when he heard his name.
"Good job," Richard said, patting him on the shoulder. freewēbnoveℓ.com
Then he leaned in and whispered something in Drogba's ear.
Drogba's eyes lit up instantly.
The next day, after the friendly match against Corithians, Drogba rushed into Richard's room, barely able to contain his excitement. He grabbed the phone and dialed home.
Just minutes earlier, Mr. José Mourinho, and Miss Marina Granovskaia had come to speak with him. They told him they wanted to extend his contract, which was due to expire next year, after his outstanding recent performances. They had offered him a new three-year deal.
From eight hundred pounds a week… to twenty-five thousand!
He was making real money now!
Twenty-five thousand pounds. To Didier, it felt like unimaginable wealth. All the physical struggle to keep up with the brutal training sessions and relentless match schedule suddenly felt worth it. As he told his mother the news, pride filled his voice.
"Good job, my boy," she said warmly. "But listen, Didier—you must always listen to Mr. Richard."
He smiled, pacing around the small hotel room, still overwhelmed with joy. He could almost picture his family back home, celebrating for him. Yet his mother repeated her advice, gently but firmly.
"Remember where you came from. And remember to listen to Richard. He wants what is best for you."
Didier nodded, even though she could not see him.
"Yes, Mama. I will."
Her words slowly grounded him. Amid the excitement, the money, and the new contract, he was reminded of something far more important: trust the people who helped you rise, and never forget your roots.
In another room, the Spanish boys were completely absorbed in a video game. Laughter, shouts, and the rapid tapping of buttons filled the air.
For them, this trip to Japan had opened up a small but memorable new experience. Huddled around a tiny television, they were taking turns playing Tekken 3 on a PlayStation.
None of them were particularly good at it yet, but that only made it more entertaining. Every time someone mashed the buttons and accidentally pulled off a flashy combo, the room erupted with cheers as if they had scored a last-minute goal.
"Hey! That's cheating!" David Silva of them shouted when another picked Eddy Gordo and spammed the same spinning kicks over and over.
While most of the team enjoyed a calm evening, one room was anything but peaceful. It seemed that whatever was happening, the three British youngsters—Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon, and Jermain Defoe—were sneaking peeks at a Japanese adult film in their room. Even more shocking, they were planning to sneak out of the hotel to explore Tokyo's nightlife, only to be caught by Rui Faria. They had underestimated two things: team discipline.
The door swung open before they could even make it to the hallway. Standing there was Rui Faria, arms folded, expression unreadable but unmistakably disappointed. Now, instead of neon lights and nightlife, they were receiving a firm reprimand in their own room. The three exchanged guilty glances. Moments ago, they had been laughing. Now, they felt like children caught red-handed.
Richard didn't realize it at all, but after finishing his meeting with Drogba, he immediately called for an emergency discussion with Marina Granovskaia. There was serious talk about extending the contracts of several key players at Manchester City.
The recent departures of Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makélélé had made Richard realize how crucial it was to monitor the contract situations of his superstars at the end of every season. So, even while the team was still in Japan, Richard had already instructed Marina to begin contacting each player's agent to open early negotiations.
The result?
Richard found himself quietly getting a headache.
Compared to just a few seasons earlier, he could now clearly feel how agents were making the players under their care experience that "my salary suddenly exploded" moment. He sighed at the reality of it all.
"I know… but this is still within tolerable limits, right? I mean…"
Marina looked at him calmly, flipping through her notes before replying, "It's tolerable indeed, but look at this."
Thanks to Manchester United's "mini treble" and the huge global attention it brought, amplified by the media constantly celebrating the Class of '92, the league's prestige skyrocketed worldwide. As the Premier League grew in global popularity, agents began negotiating more aggressively. This, in turn, led several Manchester City players' agents to start asking for significant salary increases.
Richard frowned before picking up the notes. He looked confused when he saw that it was a list of Chelsea's recent signings.
"So what are you saying?"
"Several agents had started pointing to a recent example: how Chelsea were paying their new signing, Didier Deschamps, the captain of the France national team, who had just arrived from Juventus in a £3 million move."
Only then Richard understand. He
began rubbing his temples as the meaning of Marina's notes finally sank in.
The transfer fee wasn't the issue.
It was the salary.
"How can Chelsea afford to pay him ninety thousand pounds a week?" Richard muttered. "That's three hundred and sixty thousand a month."
Now the agents' arguments made uncomfortable sense. They weren't inventing outrageous numbers—they were pointing at real contracts being signed by rival clubs.
"If Chelsea value their captain like that," Marina repeated what Ronaldo's agent had argued earlier, "then surely my client deserves to be in the same bracket."
Richard exhaled slowly. This was exactly the kind of benchmark that changed negotiations overnight. One big contract elsewhere, and suddenly every top player's expectations shifted.
Football economics, he realized, could be rewritten by a single signature.
Of course, he could try to get in touch with Ronaldo about this. But as a former agent himself, Richard knew exactly what that would mean.
The real problem wasn't Ronaldo.
It was his agents: Reinaldo Pitta and Alexandre Martins.
They were part of the same management group, and he remembered that they had gone on to represent several Brazilian superstars, becoming some of the most powerful football agents in the game.
