CHAPTER 436: THE "TRIO R" PROJECT ONCE AGAIN?

Every season eventually comes to an end, and footballers—like any public figure—definitely don’t want to linger in the spotlight longer than necessary. They know that their "prime time" or holiday period is short, and staying in the public eye only guarantees constant attention: invitations to various programs, requests to commentate live, and endless post-match interviews.

While the major newspapers had enough sense not to cling to them like a stubborn bandage, the tabloids were merciless. Paparazzi would hound them relentlessly, waiting for even the slightest slip of a word. And before they knew it, the photographers would be back the next day with the same tricks—cameras flashing, notebooks poised, hungry for every move.

This year, Richard had invited his father and mother to Switzerland for a summer trip—but he was yet to leave. It would be a group trip, and he intended to bring along a few little friends.

At Stade Georges Lefèvre, Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, about 20 km southwest of central Paris, training was underway. Camp des Loges had been PSG’s main training center since 1975. Today, the Manchester City U-17s had no summer break, but the training was slightly less intense.

Richard, Mourinho, and O’Neill stood on the chilly pitch, watching a 7-vs-7 half-field scrimmage.

The way the young players looked at the three of them had completely transformed. What had once been mere respect had turned into a kind of reverence. After all, City had just won one of the most prestigious trophies. The team’s recent Champions League victory had likely elevated the coaches’ status significantly, leading the players to regard them with a healthy dose of fear.

On the pitch, a batch of U-17 youths were playing. After the World Cup, they would represent Manchester City in the inaugural Paris Charity Cup, with soon-to-be 18-year-old Ronaldinho and 17-year-olds Samuel Eto’o, Joe Cole, Ashley Cole, John Terry, Michael Carrick and Jonathan Woodgate as key players at the core of the team.

This time, the focus was on the new generation, and one of the main points of attention was Ronaldinho. Watching him play was both exhilarating and frustrating. He dominated the training ground with fearless confidence, always eager to take the spotlight. His abilities far outclassed those of his peers, allowing him to occasionally train with the senior squad.

Yet, despite his talent, he had numerous habits that needed correction. One of them was his tendency to play his own game.

In layman’s terms, he often tried to go solo—charging forward with the ball, breaking through defenders, only to pass to open space when cornered. Unfortunately, his teammates frequently failed to anticipate his pass, leaving them unable to connect. When this happened, Ronaldinho would loudly express his frustration, claiming that his teammates weren’t keeping pace with him.

This dynamic was gradually beginning to shift, thanks in part to Richard’s decision to accelerate Ronaldinho’s promotion in training. While his peers struggled to keep up, players two or three years older posed a different kind of challenge, physically testing him and forcing him to adapt.

Slowly, Ronaldinho began to realize that his usual solo style wasn’t sustainable, and he started making adjustments. During individual sessions with José Mourinho, he became noticeably more focused and disciplined, often staying late to put in extra work.

Eto’o and Joe Cole, meanwhile, were progressing steadily. Eto’o leaned toward a hardworking, relentless style, while Joe Cole’s technical abilities were seamless, his skills flowing naturally and cohesively compared to his peers. Being close in age to the first team meant that older teammates looked out for them, offering guidance and support. Both earned respect and frequent applause during training.

Eto’o, in particular, benefited from Richard’s efforts to help him settle into European life. Having moved from Cameroon at a young age, he was guided off the pitch too—taken out for meals or shopping trips—to ensure he adjusted to the world beyond football in England.

When the players began to take a break, one of the Manchester City U-17 players, Jermaine Jenas, who was about to start in the second half, ran over to the stand where Richard was sitting.

"Boss, are you going to watch the games this summer?"

"Which games? The World Cup? Isn’t that already over?"

"No, I mean the match next week..."

’Next week? Isn’t that the final of the Charity Cup?’

Richard was amused by how confident he was about playing in the final. It was a good attitude, though, so he didn’t correct him.

Richard shook his head. "No, I’ll be traveling."

Jenas’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. He had been hoping to impress Richard—if only he’d had a chance to play in the first half.

Seeing the thought in Jenas’s eyes, Richard chuckled from the sidelines. "You’re not thinking that if I watched you play, I might promote you to the first team next season, are you?"

Jenas scratched his head sheepishly. "Isn’t that plausible?"

Richard rolled his eyes, chuckling quietly, choosing not to answer.

It was clear why Jenas had come straight to him, bypassing O’Neill and Mourinho. He wanted to make his case for promotion to the senior squad next season through him. Of course, it was highly unlikely. After all, what could a 15-year-old really contribute to the first team?

Playing in the Premier League would be a disaster for them.

"Do you really think you can win?"

He teased, his gaze fixed on Jermain Jenas.

Jenas frowned, pondering for a moment before replying, "I think it’s possible."

He glanced back at his teammates.

Up front were the unstoppable Samuel, who never seemed to run out of breath, and the wild, unpredictable dribbler, Ronaldinho. As long as they pressed their opponents and fed the ball to these two, they should be fine, right?

After finishing his conversation with Jenas, Richard told him to get ready. He turned around—and was surprised to see Marina Granovskaia standing there.

"You’re already here? Why didn’t you call out?"

"I saw you were talking, so I didn’t want to disturb you." She hesitated, then asked, "By the way... is it okay to let him have such thoughts?"

Richard raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... when you were fifteen, were you this arrogant? Talking about the final when you were still in the preliminary rounds—had you really thought it through?"

Richard was silent for a moment, considering her words. Then a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Maybe I was a little like him," he admitted. "Ambitious, reckless, overly confident. But ambition isn’t a flaw—it’s a spark. It drives you to work harder, to learn faster, to prove yourself. Let him have that spark, Marina... just make sure he tempers it with patience and guidance."

Hearing this, Marina just shrugged as he grabbed his bag and started shoving in documents.

Richard watched, shook his head, and offered a wry smile. "Looks like Manchester City’s transfer window is officially open."

"If I sell everyone, do we have to worry about relegation next season?"

Richard paused, staring at Marina for a moment before shaking his head. Honestly, he thought it might be for the best. These players had already reached the club’s highest heights, and after winning the league title last year, their motivation might be starting to wane.

"Besides, selling players makes room for new talent—otherwise, why even invest in the youth team? If they want to leave and you force them to stay, all it will do is breed resentment. You’d just end up feeling awkward having them around. So, which agent already contacted you?"

Most professional players communicated their desire to leave via their agent. The agent would handle negotiations with the club, discuss transfer fees, and find potential suitors. This was especially common for footballers. However, sometimes a player would express their wish to leave directly to club management, usually in a private meeting with the sporting director or chairman. After that, the club would either negotiate the transfer themselves or involve the agent.

Of course, after the World Cup ended, clubs quickly began making moves. In fact, the day after winning the Champions League, transfer offers from Europe’s top clubs began flooding Manchester City’s fax machine.

Now the question was: who was on the shopping list?

"According to your instructions, I’ve blocked all transfer inquiries regarding Ronaldo, Pirlo, Makelele, Zidane, Cannavaro, Thuram, Zanetti, and Buffon. However, last week, it seems I received a fax from Alain Migliaccio."

"Alain?" Richard frowned when he heard that name—Zidane’s agent.

"It seems he approached me to ask about the possibility of transferring Zidane. I rejected his request since we still have three years remaining on his contract."

Richard nodded and began reading through the documents Marina had brought. Only a handful of agents had confirmed their players’ commitment to stay—Ronaldo, Pirlo, Makelele, Cannavaro, Zanetti, and Buffon.

"Mark requested a transfer?" he asked.

Van Bommel wasn’t the type to make rash decisions or chase glory. His reasoning was simple: Manchester City’s current lineup was stacked with talent, and breaking into the starting eleven was a near-impossible task. It wasn’t that he lacked ability—far from it—but O’Neill’s system revolved around Pirlo’s creativity in midfield, supported by Makelele’s defensive mastery. With such balance, there was little need for the playmaker to waste energy covering the backline.

"Yes," Marina replied, flipping to the next page in her folder. "And it seems PSV Eindhoven are the most eager to bring him in. They’ve already sent two formal inquiries and even hinted at offering him a guaranteed starting spot—plus the promise of building their midfield around him."

Richard leaned back in his chair, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Back to his roots, huh? Can’t say I blame him. At least he’d be somewhere he can actually play, not spend every weekend warming the bench."

He tapped his fingers thoughtfully against the desk. "Hmm... PSV isn’t a bad move. But make sure they understand—City doesn’t do discounts."

Then, suddenly, Richard froze mid-thought. His eyes lit up, and he leaned forward with a spark of inspiration.

"Wait—Marina, is it possible for you to explore the option of bringing Rivaldo back to City next season?"

Probably... just maybe, his dream of reuniting the trio at Manchester City wasn’t over yet!