Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime

Chapter 470: Signing 17-Year-Old Mbappé for 40 Million!

After returning from Monaco, Guardiola immediately sent an offer to Monaco to buy Mbappé. If they hadn't discovered him, it wouldn't matter, but now that they had, it would be a waste not to act on it.

To avoid alerting Monaco and other competitors, Guardiola's first offer was cautious, set at 20 million euros. For a 17-year-old player, this was an astronomical figure. The current record transfer fee for players under 18 is held by former AC Milan player Pato, who was signed for 24 million euros in 2007. After joining AC Milan, Pato performed exceptionally well, scoring 18 goals in 42 matches in his second season and winning the Golden Boy award. He was once seen as a potential rival to Messi and Ronaldo. Unfortunately, injuries and personal issues led to a decline in his performance, and in 2013, after five years at AC Milan, he was sold to Corinthians for 15 million euros.

Lin Quan could have broken this record, but since he left Barcelona on a free transfer, there was no transfer fee, so the record remained unbroken. However, Mbappé now had a strong chance to break this record.

Upon receiving Manchester City's offer, Monaco was taken aback. They were puzzled: how did Manchester City spot Mbappé? He was so young, had played very few matches in Ligue 1, and yet Manchester City was willing to offer 20 million euros, indicating how much they valued him. Therefore, Monaco decisively rejected Manchester City's offer. They felt the price was too low and had high expectations for Mbappé. As a product of their youth academy, he was highly regarded by the team, from the management to the coaching staff.

At this time, Mbappé had already gained recognition and praise from French national team coach Deschamps and French football legend Henry. Monaco was confident he would become a top star in the future. Thus, their valuation of Mbappé was much higher than Manchester City's offer.

"Rejected?" Guardiola was surprised to learn that Monaco had turned down their offer. He knew Mbappé wasn't worth that much yet, but he couldn't offer too high a price right away. If he had offered 40 or 50 million euros from the start, Monaco would have realized how much they valued Mbappé and would have raised their asking price even more.

"Should we increase the offer?" Guardiola was unsure, so he consulted Lin Quan. After some serious thought, Lin Quan noted that Mbappé's performance in his first season in Ligue 1 was average. He didn't play much and scored few goals, showing some talent but far from being a star or indispensable player.

However, the next season would bring a significant change. If Lin Quan remembered correctly, Mbappé would have a breakout season, scoring 15 goals and providing 11 assists in 29 matches in Ligue 1, skyrocketing his market value to over 100 million euros. PSG would eventually sign him for a staggering 180 million euros when he was just 18 years old.

So, if Guardiola really wanted to buy Mbappé, now was the best time. Waiting another season would make it much harder to acquire him.

"I can only say that I believe he can reach Henry's level. As for how much Henry is worth to you, that depends on your evaluation," Lin Quan said. His point was clear: Mbappé had a high ceiling, and signing him would significantly boost Manchester City's strength. However, Monaco was unlike other French clubs; like PSG, they had a wealthy owner backing them. They didn't rely on selling players for income, unlike some Portuguese clubs known for selling players.

After the World Cup a few years ago, when James Rodríguez's value soared, Monaco had swiftly sold him for a high price, making a tidy profit. Mbappé, as their youth academy product, was even more highly regarded. Even at seventeen, buying him for less than 70 million euros seemed impossible.

For a seasoned manager like Guardiola, spending 70 million or more on a seventeen-year-old with the risk of injury derailing his career was a tough decision. While he trusted Lin Quan's judgment, he needed to evaluate the risks.

Monaco, having rejected Manchester City's initial offer, were anxious, fearing other big clubs might notice their gem. However, after several days with no further offers for Mbappé from other clubs, they were relieved.

After serious consideration, Guardiola made another offer, this time increasing it to 40 million euros. This amount was sufficient to buy a star player capable of being a key player in the transfer market. Monaco hesitated upon receiving the second offer. Doubling the previous amount, 40 million euros was tempting. Though they considered Mbappé a treasure, if the price was right, they might be willing to sell. With PSG dominating the league, Monaco had little ambition for the championship. Competing with PSG's financial power was unrealistic, so they focused on securing a top-three finish and a Champions League spot. Knowing they couldn't keep a superstar like Mbappé forever, maximizing profit from his transfer was a priority.

Should they take the risk of nurturing him further in hopes of attracting higher bids in the future, or sell him now for a substantial profit?

Should they cash in on Manchester City now and secure the 40 million euros, or take the risk of waiting?

Football is never short of young talents, but very few of them actually succeed. Some flash brilliantly for a moment, only to fade away quickly. Messi and Ronaldo are revered not just for their skills and goals but also for their ability to stay at the top for a long time, enjoying long and stable careers. It's extremely rare for players to maintain peak performance for over a decade.

Thus, clubs are cautious with young players, unwilling to take big risks. If Monaco sold now, they could pocket 40 million euros securely. However, if they waited another year, a single injury could ruin the player and the potential profit. They were uncertain, so they didn't respond to Manchester City immediately.

"No response means there's a chance! Mbappé isn't untouchable," Guardiola noted. Clubs usually reject offers for their untouchables outright to discourage further attempts, much like how Manchester City dealt with offers for Lin Quan. For years, City rejected all offers for him without a second glance, asserting their stance to discourage other clubs. However, this hadn't stopped clubs from making annual offers, with amounts increasing each year.

Monaco's hesitation suggested City's offer was close to their expectations. Should they increase the bid?

"Let's wait and settle other transfers first," Guardiola, with his experience, decided. He knew Monaco would continue to observe. Raising the offer without a clear response would give Monaco the upper hand, leading to higher demands. Thus, Guardiola decided to play a psychological game with them.

Guardiola had ample transfer funds left, amounting to 130 million pounds, due to limited spending during the summer transfer window. If needed, he could request more from the generous owner, Mansour. With such financial backing, Guardiola made bold moves. He first bought Jesus from the Brazilian league for 30 million euros, followed by Schalke 04's winger Sané for 40 million euros. Next, he made an offer to Roma for winger Salah. These moves caught the attention of the Premier League and the entire football world.

Manchester City seemed to be strengthening their frontline significantly, aiming for a third consecutive Champions League title. Monaco closely monitored City's activities. They worried when City signed a young forward from Brazil, fearing they might lose the 40 million euro opportunity. Their anxiety grew when City bought Sané, a prized talent from Schalke 04, for the same price offered for Mbappé.

Realizing City's strategy of offering similar amounts to multiple clubs and choosing the first to agree, Monaco regretted their hesitation. Sané was two years older than Mbappé, with more attention in the football world. City had previously made an offer for Sané, bringing him into the spotlight. Almost 20, Sané was a more immediate asset compared to Mbappé, making him a suitable backup for City.

This led Monaco to think they might have benefited by accepting City's 40 million euro offer. However, they missed the chance. As the transfer window neared its end, no other clubs showed interest in Mbappé, deepening Monaco's regret. Initially, they hadn't intended to sell him, but City's offer planted the idea. Now, they lamented their hesitation.

On January 31st, as Monaco wallowed in regret and the transfer window closed, City submitted their third offer, identical to the second. This time, Monaco welcomed it eagerly, fearing the deal might slip away again.

The same 40 million euros now seemed like a treasure. Upon learning about the accepted offer, Mbappé was stunned.

"What? A small-time player from Ligue 1, worth 40 million euros, bought by one of the top teams, Manchester City? Is it April Fool's Day?"

Once assured it wasn't a joke, Mbappé was overjoyed and quickly prepared to move to Manchester. His excitement stemmed from the chance to play alongside his idol, Lin Quan. The thought of playing at the Etihad Stadium with his hero filled Mbappé with immense joy!

(End of Chapter)

Friends, if you want to read chapters in advance, subscribe to my patreon.

You can also buy the book if you are only interested in reading the novel.