Chapter 352: Chapter 352: Arsenal
As Christmas approached, David Dein and News Corporation's newspapers launched extensive coverage of Arsenal's current plight, attracting the attention of soccer fans worldwide since the Premier League doesn't have a winter break unlike other leagues.
Major British newspapers like The Times, News of the World, and The Sun, along with Sky Sports' reports, put immense pressure on the Arsenal board.
In the evening, Charles leaned against the bed and spoke to David Dein over the phone, feeling pleased, "Don't worry about the funds. If Peter Hill-Wood and others want to sell their Arsenal shares, I'll pay in cash directly. With HSBC's backing, there's no financial issue!"
"The pressure on the Arsenal board is indeed enormous right now. The key players are getting injured, and Coach Wenger's situation isn't great," David Dein sounded excited and happy.
"Settle it quickly. I'm planning to invest in players during the winter transfer window. If it takes too long, we'll miss the chance to act!"
The Premier League's winter transfer window is the whole of January. Charles wanted to strengthen the team then.
"I understand. I know what to do!" David Dein agreed wholeheartedly with Charles' ideas and support.
"Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has significant influence in the UK. They will fully support our acquisition. Keep me posted with any good news."
After hanging up, Charles exhaled deeply and tensed his body for a moment.
"Hmm..." Lin Chi-ling, in front of him, looked up at Charles. She covered her mouth with her hand, and hurriedly ran into the bathroom.
Sighing, Charles lamented his physical prowess for exhausting Lin Chi-ling so much each time.
After a while, Lin Chi-ling came out of the bathroom, climbed back into bed, and lay on Charles' chest. "We should've kept Yuanyuan here since she's going back to Beijing today!"
"Ha, she's managing Red Fruit Entertainment now," Charles chuckled, squeezing her.
"Are you staying in Hong Kong for the next few days, or going back to Japan?" Lin Chi-ling asked.
"I'll return to Japan tomorrow, then stay in the UK for a while. I'm acquiring a Premier League soccer club," Charles said, though his planned trip to South Korea had to be postponed.
"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No need. You're busy hosting shows and shooting commercials in Taipei anyway," Charles would be back again next year.
"Alright. I'm really looking forward to Red Cliff's release next year," Lin Chi-ling sighed.
"Later on, I'll get you cameos in Hollywood movies, so you can use it for promotion when you're back," Charles laughed.
Lin Chi-ling, who studied in Toronto, had a good command of English, which was an advantage.
"Hollywood, huh? A dream for many," Lin Chi-ling naturally wanted to go to Hollywood but understood her current limitations.
But with Charles Capet, getting a role and making an appearance wouldn't be hard!
"Let's sleep!"
...
After Christmas and before the New Year, Charles left Tokyo for London.
The Arsenal Board not only faced public pressure but also had to manage some internal restlessness within the team.
In the conference room of the Colney Training Centre, located in northwest Hertfordshire, London.
Arsenal Club Chairman Peter Hill-Wood glanced at Charles Capet and his representative David Dein, then turned his gaze to the two major shareholders, Danny Fiszman and Bracewell Smith, beside him.
"Huh, Hollywood capital really knows how to play the media game differently, using external pressure and internal achievements and honors to win people over, with bank support too," Peter Hill-Wood shook his head and sighed.
"350 million pounds in cash, you pay off the club's 200 million pounds debt, and our shares are yours!"
"No problem, the HSBC representative is waiting outside," Charles smiled. "You made the right decision. Arsenal will see another glorious era!"
"Charles, this means you will own more than 98% of the shares, the rest are scattered among hundreds of fans. Can you leave those alone?" Peter Hill-Wood asked.
Charles was silent for a moment, pondering for three long seconds. "No, I will trigger the compulsory acquisition clause on the London Nex Exchange and privatize the company!"
By law, owning over 90% of the shares allows you to trigger the compulsory acquisition clause, forcing the sale of the remaining 10%.
"Huh, looks like you can't wait to make Arsenal entirely yours," Peter Hill-Wood understood Charles's intention to privatize Arsenal.
Quickly, Charles's CSE (Capet Sports Entertainment) company signed the acquisition agreement with Peter Hill-Wood and others.
The news of Arsenal's acquisition soon broke at a press conference!
David Dein, who left as Arsenal's vice-chairman at the beginning of the year, returned to become the club's CEO.
Charles Capet, the new chairman of Arsenal, received congratulations from numerous Premier League foreign investors, including those at Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
The months-long battle for Arsenal finally ended in Charles Capet's victory.
Charles paid hundreds of millions in cash to acquire Arsenal, with a small percentage of shares still held by numerous fans, which was a minor issue.
By triggering the compulsory buyout, it didn't matter that some fans had inherited shares from previous generations or held onto them for decades.
Charles didn't mind. Making Arsenal his private property was the priority, though re-listing in the future could also be an option.
To celebrate the acquisition of Arsenal, Charles attended a New Year's Eve party in London with Emily Blunt.
Initially, Charles wanted to meet Keira Knightley, but she was vacationing in Miami with her parents; Kate Beckinsale had taken her parents and daughter to the Maldives.
At night, Charles and Emily Blunt went to the top-floor suite of the Marriott Hotel in London City Hall, near the London Eye on the South Bank of the Thames.
"The annual New Year's Eve fireworks display from the London Eye is about to start," Emily Blunt said, pulling Charles to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.
From there, they could see the London Eye, Big Ben across the river, and the beautiful views of the Thames.
Charles checked his watch, "Ah, another new year is coming!"
Hugging Emily Blunt from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder, he asked, "There must be tens of thousands of people on both sides of the Thames and the nearby squares, right?"
"Almost, many people get spots there hours in advance. The closer to the Ferris wheel, the more you feel the experience," Emily Blunt explained.
"Those people have some perseverance to withstand this cold for just some fireworks!" Charles admired.
"It's starting..."
Colorful fireworks began to launch around the Ferris wheel, lighting the dark night sky with dazzling colors.
"Beautiful, isn't it? It lasts for ten minutes," Emily Blunt said, giving Charles a kiss.
...
With the arrival of 2008, Charles and Arsenal embarked on an ambitious recruitment plan, as he anticipated that Manchester United would achieve a treble this year.
Currently, Manchester United and Arsenal were at the top of the Premier League. Charles was optimistic about Arsenal's lineup but worried about their depth and the absence of key players due to the African Cup.
German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, a mainstay this season, injured his Achilles in national duty. Backup goalkeeper Almunia seized the opportunity to become the main goalkeeper, but he lacked the necessary strength and experience.
"Him, Schalke 04's main goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, he's performed well these two seasons," Charles discussed with club CEO David Dein, coach Wenger, and the team's technical director at Colney Training Centre.
"Charles, we also need midfielders, defenders, and forwards," David Dein reminded. "Neuer won't come cheap. Schalke 04 is a Champions League team too!"
"No problem, he's young and will be a cornerstone for Arsenal's future," Charles, with over PS100 million cash remaining, was unfazed.
"Wenger, I hear you've taken an interest in Cardiff City's young talent Aaron Ramsey?"
Wenger nodded, "He's only 17 but very capable and worth nurturing. Everton's PS1 million bid was rejected last summer!"
"David, bring him in," Charles was glad Wenger liked developing young players.
"Luka Modric, central midfielder of Croatia's Dinamo Zagreb, 22 years old!"
"Branislav Ivanovic, Serbian national team and Lokomotiv Moscow's dual-core defender, 23 years old!"
Charles read two more names from his report.
Wenger was a bit stunned, and even David Dein's mouth twitched, "Charles, these are players half of Europe is after!"
"Ivanovic is being chased by Chelsea in the Premier League; Modric is in talks with Spurs."
"Wenger, can they fit into your system?" Charles ignored Dein and asked Wenger.
Wenger nodded; was Arsenal becoming a rich upstart?
"Alright, proceed with the team negotiations. I'll have lunch with Roman; Ivanovic is ours!"
"Next, let's discuss other suitable players," Charles continued asking about other key targets.
*****
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