Chapter 673 - 126: Premier League’s Top Star! Wang Shuo Is Here! Creator of a Maradona-Style Legend! The Biggest Transfer in History

Of course, if either party wanted to back out, there was still time.

It just wasn’t a common practice.

Florentino was far too shrewd; everything clicked into place at once.

’Wenger must have met with Wang Shuo before. That’s why he was in such a hurry to sell Fabregas and Nasri. And now he’s putting out feelers about Van Persie. It’s clear he’s just trying to raise funds.’

"You’re saying they’d already reached an agreement?"

"I don’t think so. Otherwise, Wenger wouldn’t have needed to make another trip to China. I see the recent sales and signings as a show of good faith. That’s what gave him the confidence to fly to China for talks."

At this, Florentino let out a soft sigh.

In truth, he had known for a long time that there was little chance of Real Madrid signing Wang Shuo.

With Ronaldo on the team, Wang Shuo was almost certain not to come to Real Madrid.

But no one had expected Wenger to be so determined this time, much less that he could convince the Arsenal board.

"’The Professor’ either doesn’t bet at all, or he goes all-in!" Florentino said, full of admiration.

He had always held Wenger in high regard; it was just a shame he’d never managed to poach him for Real Madrid.

"So, should we make a move?"

"No need. Tell Mourinho and Mendes we’re going to push through the deal for Córdoba!"

The Portuguese left-back was expected to cost thirty million euros. The deal had been stalled, but now they could proceed.

Jose Sanchez made a note of it.

"Going to Arsenal is fine as well," Florentino said with a slight, confident smile.

"How so?"

"I’ve met and spoken with Kroenke. That American is no simpleton."

"He’s nothing like the hands-off owner the public perceives him to be."

"He isn’t getting involved right now simply because he just became the majority shareholder. His Foundation isn’t secure, and he still hasn’t sorted things out with the board. With the second-largest shareholder, Usmanov, watching his every move like a hawk, he has no choice but to lay low."

"For now, he also wants Arsenal to get results. It stabilizes the club, pacifies the fans, and best of all, he doesn’t have to invest a dime. Of course he’s happy to see it succeed."

Jose Sanchez understood. "So, will he become the next Abramovich in the future?"

"Impossible. He’s far more mercenary than Abramovich. The Russian genuinely wants to build Chelsea into a powerhouse, and he sincerely hopes to use the club as a stepping stone into the upper echelons of European society."

"You know, throughout history, that’s what the Russians have always wanted!"

Jose Sanchez had read his history. He knew that Russians had always longed to be part of European culture; their aristocrats and magnates took great pride in integrating into Europe’s high society.

"Kroenke is different. He understands professional sports, and he believes in a self-sustaining business model. More importantly, I can tell you with absolute certainty: the day Kroenke takes full control of Arsenal will be the day Wenger is sacked!"

"Why?" Jose Sanchez asked, stunned.

"It’s simple. Like all American sports executives, he has zero faith in managers like Ferguson and Wenger who hold so much power over a club for long periods. They prefer a system of checks and balances."

"So, you’re saying Wang Shuo made a mistake by going to Arsenal?"

"Who knows?" Florentino couldn’t say for sure.

But he was certain of one thing.

If Wenger left, Wang Shuo would leave too.

It would be much easier to poach him from Arsenal than from Manchester United.

Besides, Wang Shuo would only be turning twenty-one in September. Florentino didn’t mind waiting.

...

"It’s confirmed! Wang Shuo is going to Arsenal!"

Martin Ferguson was reporting the latest intelligence from inside Ferguson’s office at the Carrington Training Base in the western suburbs of Manchester.

"I knew it. That bastard Wenger making a special trip to China for a second meeting meant he was confident."

"What do we do now?" Martin Ferguson asked.

"Waste no time. Lock down the deal for De Gea, and also Phil Jones and Ashley Jan. Secure them as quickly as possible."

Since Wang Shuo had decided on Arsenal, there was no longer any need for Ferguson to wait. The right move now was to act quickly and sign other players.

Manchester United had been scouting all three of them for a long time.

De Gea’s transfer fee was around 18 million British Pounds, Phil Jones’s was 16.5 million, and Ashley Jan’s was 16 million. The total came to exactly 50 million British Pounds.

That money had originally been earmarked for Wang Shuo’s transfer fee, but it was no longer needed for that purpose.

"Any movement from Manchester City?"

"After Nasri made his decision, on top of already getting Clichy, Manchester City is now supposedly trying to poach Sagna."

"After Wang Shuo signed the preliminary agreement with Arsenal, Manchester City shifted their sights to Aguero."

Hearing this, Ferguson couldn’t help but curse, "Bloody hell, they’ve got so much money!"

"Oh, right. That information you had me look into—I got it. Van Persie definitely hasn’t renewed his contract with Arsenal. His stance has been ambiguous and noncommittal, but now that they’ve signed Wang Shuo, he genuinely wants to leave."

Ferguson’s eyes lit up. "Arsenal will definitely want to sell him, then."

"So we..."

"Make our move!"

Ferguson had his eye on Van Persie for a long time.

Currently, Manchester United had plenty of forwards—Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, Welbeck, Macheda, and Michael Owen—but none were as exceptional as Van Persie.

If the Dutch striker hadn’t been plagued by injuries, he would have been a bona fide World-level forward.

And Ferguson had specifically looked into it: Van Persie’s fitness had been consistently good since last season.