Capítulo 524: From Scandal to Support
The next day, Millwall departed for Asia for their preseason preparations, despite an incomplete squad.
Henry returned to London but did not travel with the team.
Aldrich had withdrawn his earlier demand that Henry rejoin the squad immediately. Instead, he reinstated Henry's vacation, granting him an additional five days of rest.
Following Andrew's suggestion, however, Henry chose to spend those days at the Leo Training Base. Under the supervision of the remaining coaching staff, he engaged in individual recovery training.
When the public learned of Henry's solitary return to the training field in London, speculation ran wild.
Fleet Street's immediate reaction was: Henry has been excluded from Millwall's preseason plans! He's on the transfer list!
But Millwall promptly denied the rumors later that morning. The club spokesperson announced:
"Henry has rejoined the team and signed a five-year contract extension with Millwall. He will join the squad in Asia after his vacation. For now, what he does during his time off is entirely up to him."
The news of Henry's contract renewal quashed most transfer rumors.
Even the more radical fans gathered outside the training ground that morning fell silent.
For three consecutive days, Henry appeared at the training ground punctually in the morning and afternoon, diligently working under the guidance of two coaches. His seriousness and professionalism were evident.
During these three days, the fans' perception of Henry shifted dramatically.
Initially, they harbored resentment, seeing him as ungrateful—someone who had won numerous honors with the club over two years but now seemed eager to leave for money.
However, with the first team away in Asia, Henry's solitary figure on the training pitch left a deep impression. Quietly and determinedly, he trained alone, and that sight struck a chord with the fans.
Most began to soften: Yeah, Thierry's still a good kid. Keep it up!
As for the earlier turmoil, Aldrich no longer dwelled on it. As the helm of a powerhouse club, he had neither the time nor energy to spar with a single agent.
Andrew's actions weren't purely for Aldrich's benefit either. By finalizing Henry's contract renewal, Andrew's company secured another world-class star.
On the second day of Henry's return to training, Andrew leaked the news to Fleet Street himself.
All summer, Henry had been a focal point, and even now, he remained so.
But his public image had shifted.
Henry was now seen as a victim. The agent, long painted as a "vampire," had duped him.
Reports surfaced that the agent had obstructed Henry's contract renewal with Millwall and aggressively pushed for a transfer to Juventus. Fleet Street, ever adept at sensationalism, spun the story into a full-blown scandal.
It was a familiar tale in football—an agent taking bribes.
What could the agent have earned from Henry's salary alone?
Henry's annual salary last year was around £1.5 million. After taxes, he took home no more than £800,000 to £900,000. Assuming the agent's standard cut of 10%, or even 5%, his earnings would barely reach £100,000 a year.
With Henry's rising star and his contract with the agent nearing its end, the agent likely doubted Henry would renew with him. Hence, any opportunity to profit now was one he wouldn't miss.
After all, two years ago, the agent had failed to secure Henry's move from Monaco. It was Millwall that proactively pursued Henry. When it came to commercial resources and connections, the agent couldn't compete with those from larger, more established firms.
Andrew was a master of manipulation, and his latest move showcased his skill at backstabbing. Not only did he leak the story to Fleet Street, but he also delivered it directly to the Italian media.
For years, Andrew had struggled in Italy, where fierce competition in the football business made progress nearly impossible. While he had successfully signed players like Pirlo and Materazzi under Aldrich's guidance, his overall success rate in Italy was dismal. After their initial contracts expired, nearly all his Italian clients abandoned him for local agencies, many of which had ties to the infamous Moggi family's GEA agency.
The football world in Italy was murky, deeply intertwined with influential families, financial elites, political figures, and even the Mafia. The GEA agency, in particular, wielded tremendous influence, controlling players and coaches across Serie A clubs. Their operations were shrouded in secrecy, often involving money laundering under the guise of club transactions. Many of the baffling player transfers in Serie A, which fans criticized as foolish or nonsensical, had nothing to do with football and everything to do with these shadowy dealings.
And Juventus? They were far from untouchable in Italy. Rival factions and critical media platforms constantly sought to undermine them, and Andrew's leaked story ignited another firestorm.
The Italian press was no stranger to scandal, and the narrative that Juventus had bribed Henry's agent was believable. Some outlets even exaggerated, claiming Juventus had promised the agent £10 million. While clearly absurd, the more reasonable-sounding figure of £1 million gained traction, fueling public outrage.
Journalists dug deeper, and soon Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi found himself at the center of the storm. Known as a cunning operator, Moggi was furious—He failed to sign Henry, and now he was reaping the consequences.
Public opinion is a powerful force; when most people are talking about a "truth," that "truth" becomes accepted.
By the fourth day, when Henry arrived at the training ground for his solo session, he was greeted by an overwhelming show of support. Fans gathered outside the training base, waving banners and chanting words of encouragement for their embattled star.
In a moment of chaos and manipulation, Henry had become more than a player—he was a symbol of resilience, loyalty, and the power of the people behind him.
Henry was different from Anelka. At least he never publicly commented on his potential transfer. His previous diplomatic statements boiled down to one sentence: "My agent is negotiating the renewal terms with Millwall, and it will be finalized soon."
That afternoon, before leaving the training ground, Henry spent a long time taking photos and signing autographs for fans outside the base.
The storm surrounding him seemed to have passed, and everything was finally getting back on track.
After training that day, Henry drove to a suburban manor. This was Andrew's luxurious estate in London.
Dinner was already prepared, though Henry arrived later than expected. Andrew, however, was patient.
Over dinner, Henry animatedly shared with Andrew the happenings at the training ground. His excitement was evident, and it was clear that regaining the fans' support had lifted a weight off his shoulders.
"Tomorrow morning, you'll train as usual. In the afternoon, I've scheduled an exclusive interview with the BBC for you. The day after, you can fly to Asia to join the team," Andrew said.
Henry frowned. "I don't think another interview is necessary. Everything has been resolved."
His former agent had disappeared, evading the countless reporters who were eager to reach the man at the center of the storm. This was a fatal mistake.
By avoiding the media, the agent only solidified the accusations against him, signaling guilt and an unwillingness to defend himself. Henry had already submitted an application to the court to terminate his contract with the agent. The arbitration in France would conclude within a week, and with Henry's fame and the current public sentiment, the matter would likely be resolved swiftly.
Soon, Henry planned to sign with Andrew.
Now, he couldn't help but admire Andrew's ability to restore order to his chaotic life.
"No, Thierry, you've only regained the support of local fans. You need to be aware of your position!" Andrew's tone turned serious. "You're not just a Millwall star. You're a Premier League star, a French star, a European star! Your influence is far greater than you realize.
"That's why you must do the BBC interview tomorrow. Let Europe, let the world see you up close. Let them hear from you. This is about shaping your image, showing the public the real you—not just the player they see for 90 minutes on the pitch."
Andrew's words struck a chord with Henry. He scratched his head, suddenly feeling that Andrew understood "Henry" better than he did.
Henry was simply still adjusting to his elevated status. But he had to adapt quickly. There was no room for doubt, hesitation, or retreat. It was time to fully embrace his role and showcase the many facets of a world-class star.
He agreed to Andrew's suggestion. Deep down, Henry was thrilled. At such a young age, achieving stardom was anything but a burden.
Andrew was even more pleased.
Securing Henry as a client was a critical move for Andrew.
The fallout from Henry's former agent's mistakes had left him in turmoil, but Andrew's swift handling of the PR crisis ensured that the news of Henry signing with him would soon make headlines. It would also highlight Andrew's role in resolving the issue, serving as a case study to attract even more players.
Andrew's strategy had always been international.
His elder brother Barnett's commercial empire offered invaluable resources, allowing Andrew to tap into sponsorship deals that promised greater benefits for his clients.
Millwall's roster, featuring stars from various countries, formed a vast network under Andrew's management—Nordic talents like Larsson, Eastern European powerhouses like Nedvěd, and players from Germany, Italy, and Brazil. This global network was a treasure trove of opportunities, connecting sponsors from all over the world and creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem.
This was not the work of a typical agent. Andrew was building an empire.
And now, with Henry, Andrew could expand into France—a market brimming with potential. Compared to Makelele, Henry's star power was unmatched.
As Barnett established the Hall family's commercial dynasty and Aldrich spearheaded the Lions' reign in European football, Andrew, the middle brother, was carving his name as a true giant in the world of sports agents.
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