CHAPTER 444: DREAMS BEYOND SPAIN’S BORDERS

Three years had passed since Manchester City’s dark days, and the situation had changed dramatically. The Richard of today was confident—determined to secure three names that could guarantee City’s future for at least a decade.

Antiguoko Kirol Elkartea (Sport Club of Antiguo in English) is an amateur youth Spanish football club based in Antiguo, a district of San Sebastián in the Basque Country, Spain.

It didn’t take long for Richard to go there and speak with Xabi Alonso’s agent—or, to be exact, his father, Periko Alonso.

Periko had won La Liga twice in successive seasons with Real Sociedad, and a third time after joining Barcelona. He had also represented the national team, earning 21 caps over the course of his career.

The relationship between a manager and an agent was always complex. Sometimes, the manager had to curry favor with the agent; other times, the agent needed to please the manager. Now, it was Richard’s turn to act as an agent once again—to get both Alonsos on board.

At 8:15, a little later than the appointed time, Richard met Periko Alonso at the prearranged restaurant.

After exchanging a few polite words of greeting, the two men quickly got to the point. Richard made no secret of his admiration for Xabi and his desire to bring him on board. He hoped that Periko would personally convey this message to his son—as only a father could.

"To be honest, Manchester City’s recruitment process has become much simpler," Richard began.

Previously, they had to plead with players to join. Now, not only had the team’s level risen, but the club’s reputation as a whole shone brightly. Especially for young players, City’s appeal had even surpassed that of the traditional giants.

The reason was simple: at most top clubs, competition was extremely fierce, and the system rigid. But City was different. Richard told Periko that he personally intended to oversee the transfer and that promoting young talents was one of his core philosophies.

Almost all the players who had participated in Manchester City’s Champions League triumph had been relatively unknown before joining—yet they had risen to become European champions under his management.

Recruitment had become effortless. Richard no longer needed to chase players; a single phone call was often enough. Most young prospects were eager to join City. Even if they couldn’t immediately break into the first team, training there would at least shape them into excellent professionals.

In addition to the club itself, many of the players City had sold went on to achieve great success elsewhere. Cafu enjoyed his best years at Roma, Roberto Carlos became Real Madrid’s "bazooka" on the left flank, and players like Sol Campbell and Ole Gunnar Solskjær also thrived at their new clubs.

They had become living advertisements for Manchester City!

This clearly showed how strong the club’s training and player development system was.

Another striking example was Emile Heskey, who made a stunning debut for Leicester City after completing his loan spell at Manchester City. When he arrived, the team had just been relegated, but by the next season, he led them to win the First Division title, ultimately securing promotion back to the top flight.

In short, the attention Manchester City attracted was tremendous. Almost all the players they loaned out or sold went on to perform exceptionally well, quickly drawing interest from other clubs. City’s reputation for youth training was firmly established—and their credibility was beyond question.

Aside from that, Richard had also received word that Craig Bellamy had been offered £1 million by Norwich City—a deal he accepted without hesitation. Profit was profit; no matter what, one million pounds was still a solid return.

It was, in Richard’s eyes, a perfect example of how success bred success. When average players were surrounded by better ones, their performance inevitably improved—as long as they had ambition. Even a modest talent could shine brighter in the right environment.

Periko Alonso listened quietly to Richard’s reasoning. He understood what Richard was implying: what could be better for his son’s career than joining a team competing in Europe? Exposure, experience, growth—everything a young player needed to raise his profile and his value.

The midfield—especially the defensive midfield—is a very special position. Unless the team’s core player was injured, few managers would casually give a young player a chance to step in. The stability between midfield and defense was crucial for powerhouses that demanded immediate results.

So what if Xabi Alonso had chosen to reject the offer, only to find himself, three years later, still unable to break into the first team—playing only when sent out on loan to other clubs? Would his decision still have been the right one?

"Mr. Richard," Periko began carefully, "I know you’re sincere about my son. It’s just that..."

"What’s wrong?" Richard asked with a hint of concern. "Is my offer not good enough?"

"No, no," Periko said quickly, waving his hands. "That’s not it. It’s just... my son has made some close friends at his current club. To be honest, before coming here, Xabi asked if it might be possible for you to also bring one of them along. It would help him settle more easily in Manchester—so he wouldn’t feel alone in a new country."

Richard paused, thinking it over. "And who," he asked finally, "is this friend of Xabi’s?"

If it was someone unknown or unproven, he had no intention of taking on the extra burden.

Periko hesitated for a moment before replying softly, "Mikel Arteta."

There was a brief silence. Then Richard rose to his feet, a confident smile forming on his face. He extended his hand toward Periko.

"Consider it done," he said firmly. "If you’re also representing Arteta’s side, then please—come to England before the new season begins."

Periko blinked, momentarily stunned by Richard’s decisiveness. He hadn’t expected the man to agree so quickly—or so completely.

When they had finished their discussion, they were like old friends, chatting about Catalonia and the weather in the United Kingdom. In this regard, Richard was bound to compliment the sunny weather and beautiful beaches of Barcelona, as well as its delicious cuisine.

After finishing the matter with Xabi Alonso, Richard continued keeping an eye on many young players through Manchester City’s extensive scouting network and database.

The database was impressive—massive, in fact—but for most people, having access to it wasn’t particularly useful due to the overwhelming number of players listed. It was nearly impossible to evaluate them all individually. However, after carefully reviewing the materials, Richard felt confident in his selections.

Other than Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fàbregas, and David Silva, there were many promising names from the U-17 side who were set to be promoted. Because of this influx of young talent, a major reshuffle within the squad was inevitable. Richard knew the time had come for renewal—to rebuild the team with players who would define the next generation of Manchester City.

He had already secured Scott Carson and Joe Hart as goalkeepers. In defense, Ledley King and the versatile Wes Brown were ready to take their places. Then there were Trevor Sinclair, Jermaine Jenas, James Milner, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon, and Jermain Defoe.

After completing the deal for Xabi Alonso, Richard immediately made a call to miss Heysen in England, who was in charge of Manchester City’s pre-season arrangements.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice carrying a note of concern. "Won’t the club’s trip to Asia affect the new season?"

Richard leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly. "Sometimes," he said, "we have to make sacrifices for commercial growth. If we don’t capitalize on the momentum after winning the Champions League, it’ll be much harder to build our global presence later."

His words weren’t without reason.

Thanks to Hidetoshi Nakata, Richard had once promised Bellmare Hiratsuka a friendly match when the Japanese star first signed for City. At the time, Bellmare hadn’t pressed the issue. But since City’s triumph in both the Premier League and the Champions League, everything had changed. The Japanese club now seemed relentless—sending message after message, eager to confirm the long-promised friendly.

If the decision had been based purely on competitive factors, Richard would never have supported a pre-season tour in Asia. The time zone differences, long flights, and endless commercial appearances could easily disrupt the players’ rhythm before the new campaign.

But from the club’s long-term perspective, the trip made perfect sense. Expanding Manchester City’s global footprint and strengthening its commercial ties were essential to the future. And with the team riding high as newly crowned European champions, there could be no better moment to showcase them to the world.

"All right then, I’ll make the arrangements," miss Heysen said.

"Thank you," Richard replied, rising from his seat with a small nod.

He was just about to head back to his hotel when—

RING!

His phone buzzed sharply in his hand. Richard frowned for a moment before glancing at the screen. It was Marina.

Unexpectedly, his phone rang again. This time, it was Marina. As soon as he answered, her voice came through—quick and teasing.

"I didn’t expect your tactics to be that effective," she said.

Richard couldn’t help but smile. He knew exactly what she was referring to—Cesc Fàbregas and David Silva.

As for Fàbregas, Richard understood how deeply he loved Barcelona. The boy had been tied to the club since infancy; he had attended his first match at just nine months old, cradled in his grandfather’s arms.

But as everyone knew, the current Barcelona was considered a powerhouse—and everyone knew exactly what a powerhouse team looked like. How many of those clubs truly valued the talents of their youth academies?

Barcelona’s La Masia was regarded as one of the best youth training grounds in Spain, and it had indeed produced many outstanding young players. Yet, how many of them actually made it into the first team?

Why did a future star like Cesc Fàbregas choose to leave the club and head to the cold, damp gloom of London? Others might not have understood, but Richard certainly did.

Barcelona’s chairman Josep Lluís Núñez, eager to achieve quick results and further solidify his position, preferred to spend enormous sums on famous stars from other teams rather than trust in young talents.

Just look at the names—Ronald Koeman, Michael Laudrup, Hristo Stoichkov, Romário, Rivaldo, and Luis Figo—all big-money signings brought in to guarantee success.

It wasn’t until after the 2003, when Joan Laporta took over as chairman, that Barcelona’s philosophy began to change. Instead of relying solely on expensive stars, he once again placed his faith in La Masia and gave young players a chance—names like Messi and Iniesta would soon rise to prove that belief right.

Still, if Fàbregas could leave early, why couldn’t others?

Fàbregas’s departure opened the eyes of the youngsters at La Masia. Just like that, Arsenal’s rising star became a role model for many of them. His move made everyone reconsider their own futures if they stayed at Barcelona.

"What about David Silva?"

"We fought with Valencia for him—they had already approached him earlier. He said he’d think about it, but I believe he’ll accept. I told him that if he joins us, once he’s in the U-17 squad, he’ll be guaranteed a starting spot by the time he’s fourteen."

Negotiating while Valencia and David Silva were already growing closer actually worked to Richard’s advantage. He didn’t have to deal with the complications of a player’s sentimental attachment to his club, nor could Silva’s camp use that emotional leverage to demand a higher price.

David Silva’s departure was inevitable. The only question left was simple—which club would he choose?

Since he already knew how successful David Silva would become—just like Xabi Alonso and Fàbregas—Richard made a bold promise: he guaranteed him playing time.

Would Valencia dare to offer such a guarantee?

Only Richard had the courage to do that.

Players usually developed the most between the ages of thirteen and twenty-two.

Ages 13–16 – Technical Foundation StagePlayers refine their skills, learn tactical basics, and begin physical conditioning.

Ages 16–18 – Transitional StageThey move from youth to professional training. This is when many sign their first professional contracts or play for reserve or academy teams.

Ages 18–22 – Breakthrough and Maturity PhasePhysical growth stabilizes, tactical understanding deepens, and confidence builds. This is the prime window when most players "make it" or define their long-term level.

If a player participated in too few matches during these years, their development would stagnate. The downfall of countless prodigies could often be traced back to one simple reason—a lack of real match experience.

At the end of the day, it could be said that the Spanish trio was already seventy percent certain to join Manchester City.

"Good job," Richard said, satisfied with how things were going.

In every respect, the conditions offered by Manchester City were the most favorable for them—especially when it came to playing time.

"All right then," he continued, leaning back with a hint of relief. "Get all of them on board as soon as possible, and handle any loose ends that come up. The sooner we finalize everything, the better."

Now, let’s start preparing for the new season—and for the team’s upcoming trip to Asia!