Chapter 288: Warm Galliani
In the summer of '95, Van Gaal led Ajax to the pinnacle of Europe, defeating AC Milan, marking the beginning of the downfall of the Milan dynasty. Last season, AC Milan finished mid-table in Serie A. They brought back the esteemed coach Capello this season, but as the halfway point approached, the team still showed no signs of recovery.
Berlusconi, as the owner of the Rossoneri, saw the club as more than just a football entity; it was a means to garner public support for his political career. Because of this, he couldn't sit idle while AC Milan slid into decline. The fate of the club was intertwined with his own political fortunes.
AC Milan's most pressing issue lies upfront; with Weah injured and both Kluivert
and Anderson suffering from dismal goal-scoring rates, the team desperately needs a striker. This is barely a secret in the transfer market, as Galliani searches far and wide for forwards. It seems that names from the top of the scoring charts across Europe's five major leagues are constantly linked with AC Milan.
Galliani felt enormous pressure. The transfer activities in the summers of '96 and '97 had a repetitive pattern: initially, there was a chorus of praise during the summer transfer assessments. AC Milan was lauded for their shrewd acquisitions, and Galliani's efforts were recognized. Yet, as the season progressed, the criticism became harsh: "What on earth has AC Milan acquired?"
The goalkeeper Taibi, who was bought for $6.5 million just six months ago, had been underwhelming, far from the level needed for AC Milan.
Signing Kluivert for free may seem impressive, but after half a season at Milan, his goalscoring tally can barely be counted on one hand. To make matters worse, due to a legal problem that severely damaged his reputation, he was nicknamed "The Rapist" everywhere he went, which directly tarnished Milan's glorious image.
Bogard arrived on a free transfer and was considered a capable player, but due to his habit of arguing tactics with his coach, he quickly fell out of favor with Capello and was ultimately not even on the bench. On, he was sent to the stands.
Swedish forward Anderson, although occasionally used as a wild card by Capello, repeatedly let the coach down.
Ziege, known as Germany's golden wing, entered a decline soon after making his way to Milan. The transfer raised eyebrows since it was quite evident that he would struggle to take the spot held firmly by the iconic Maldini.
As for the other arrivals, most were either unqualified substitutes or mere fleeting presences at Milan. The only exception was Leonardo, who had been personally chosen by Capello and met expectations.
In this challenging environment, Galliani sought to inject new blood into Milan while proving his worth in the transfer market.
Entering January '98, with just three days until the FA Cup kickoff, Aldrich spent his evenings at home reading a novel recommended by Rowling, deeply engrossed in the story.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
Aldrich got up from the sofa, set his book aside, and opened the door to find Shevchenko standing there in casual attire.
"Hi, boss, good evening."
"Come in. Are you here to discuss AC Milan's interest in you?"
Aldrich was already prepared for this.
AC Milan had only made a quiet inquiry, and a winter transfer was impossible since Shevchenko didn't have an EU passport, and the club had no non-EU spots left. They would have to wait until the summer to consider a transfer.
Aldrich hadn't hidden this from the player or his agent—there was no point.
Shevchenko settled into a chair, taking a cup of tea from Aldrich with an expression that remained calm. He nodded and said, "Yes, I wanted to talk about that."
"What conditions did AC Milan offer you?"
Aldrich asked, keeping his demeanor neutral.
Shevchenko shook his head in confusion. "I don't know. Did the club approve my transfer?"
Aldrich replied, shaking his head with a smile. "No, AC Milan just made an inquiry. The club's response was to decline any discussions."
His initial question had been to gauge whether AC Milan had approached Shevchenko privately. From the look on the player's face, it seemed they hadn't.
Shevchenko held the teacup, speaking softly. "Boss, I feel I can talk about anything with you. I've always believed you understood me. I will always be grateful to Millwall and to you. But I want to go to Italy. AC Milan has been pursuing me for a year, and they've shown considerable interest, so…"
Aldrich, as head coach, could read the signs—the players who wanted to leave.
Shevchenko had viewed the Premier League as a stepping stone long before he joined Millwall, and one could hardly blame him; everyone has their own aspirations, which can't be forced.
Moreover, his hesitation during the contract renewal last summer had already hinted at his intentions.
Many clubs were eager to sign him in Italy, with AC Milan and Inter Milan being the most famous. Last summer, Inter brought in Ronaldo, while AC Milan signed Kluivert for free. At that time, Shevchenko didn't want to move to Italy because he certainly didn't want to be a substitute. But now, things have changed. Kluivert has been underwhelming at Milan, and Weah is injured. How he will perform when he comes back remains a mystery.
Shevchenko's type of forward was exactly what big clubs in Serie A preferred. He was known for his teamwork, not as a lone wolf enjoying the game while straying from the collective effort. Players cultivated in the Millwall system, celebrated for their teamwork, were favored by Italian clubs, contrasting sharply with talents like Roberto Baggio. Although Baggio's skills were undeniable, if a star player has clashes with coaches like Capello, Lippi, Trapattoni, Ancelotti, and Sacchi, it indicates an issue with the player himself. Big club coaches rarely sought someone who drifted from collective play.
After pondering for a moment, Aldrich calmly asked, "Andrei, if I offered you a new contract, would you consider staying at Millwall?"
Shevchenko slightly shook his head. "Boss, it's not about the money."
Aldrich nodded and smiled. "I thought I could keep you for another two years. That way, you'd at least get your British passport, which would be more convenient for you. But since you want to venture into Italy sooner, I understand. Just make sure to put in your best effort in the second half of the season. Don't let AC Milan lose interest in you by the summer. Non-EU spots are precious for Italian clubs; they'll be very selective."
Shevchenko nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, boss, for the next few months, I'll give it my all."
He stood, hugged Aldrich, and said goodbye as he left.
After seeing off Shevchenko, Aldrich murmured to himself, "Thank goodness Henrik is already 26."
Larsson was also in demand, but he seemed indifferent to moving.
At the prime of his career, if he were to transfer to another club, the new contract would likely be for at least four years, considering the hefty transfer fee involved in acquiring him.
If his move ended in failure, it would be tough for Larsson to reclaim his previous peak—one that could include accolades like the Ballon d'Or!
While Millwall's stadium was small and the club lacked the status of a giant, their competitiveness was undeniable; they just needed results and trophies. Larsson preferred to reach new heights with a team where he felt comfortable rather than take a risk at another big club.
Shevchenko was young, only 21, and he could afford to recover from a setback. Larsson, however, wanted to claim honors and trophies now, not shoulder the burden of reviving Milan, especially when no one could guarantee what successes awaited him.
Before bed, Aldrich texted Galliani: "We can talk about Shevchenko's transfer."
A year ago, Millwall and AC Milan had a bitter falling-out when Milan tried to lure Larsson using underhanded tactics, openly courting the player through the media while privately contacting him. Aldrich had been furious, publicly criticizing AC Milan for their disrespect toward Millwall.
Galliani was no arrogant figure; he was a skilled manager who knew how to maneuver the transfer market, recognizing when to be assertive, when to tread carefully, and how to mend the damage from previous missteps.
Therefore, over the past year, Galliani had been working to repair the rift with Millwall while subtly building rapport with Millwall's players.
In reality, when Shevchenko mentioned AC Milan's genuine interest, Aldrich scoffed internally.
Top clubs throw nets wide in the transfer market, compiling a wishlist of every player they're interested in, regardless of whether they'll actually pursue them. They first establish relationships, and when they decide to move, they do so seamlessly.
Shevchenko was fortunate; he wasn't anyone's backup plan, though he might be—perhaps overshadowed by bigger names that AC Milan couldn't afford or who simply refused to join.
Upon waking the next morning, Aldrich found numerous texts from Galliani on his phone.
To his surprise, Galliani had flown to London overnight.
Even though Galliani had recently been busy trying to poach players from Inter Milan, he understood that this season was a lost cause and had to lay the groundwork for summer transfers.
He made his secret visit to London, booking a private room at a nondescript Italian restaurant. Less than 18 hours after Aldrich's text, he had sent over a dinner invitation.
Aldrich had previously spoken with him over the phone. In fact, he had been in communication with transfer managers and CEOs within the industry because Millwall remained a goldmine for talent, and everyone wanted a piece, especially since Aldrich held the reins on transfers.
Aldrich wasn't inflexible. Not selling a player didn't mean he'd coldly reject any inquiries that came his way.
For instance, Moratti called him almost every few months, and though no deals resulted from those conversations, they helped establish a solid relationship.
At the Italian restaurant, Galliani arrived solo, as did Aldrich. After exchanging friendly greetings and taking their seats, Galliani eagerly asked, "Besides Shevchenko, are there any other players you'd be willing to sell? Uh, don't get me wrong; I mean, are there any players not in Millwall's plans for next season? Milan might need them."
Aldrich chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Today, I only want to talk about Shevchenko."
"Okay, then let's discuss Shevchenko. How does $10 million sound?"
Aldrich smiled as he pulled a piece of paper from his inner jacket pocket and slid it across the table toward Galliani.
Galliani looked at the contents on the paper and his expression visibly soured.
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