Capítulo 18: Chapter 18: Anti-Real Madrid
On the way back, Bernstein kept glancing at Miller, curious to gauge his reaction. Miller smiled calmly, assuring him that he wasn't the least bit bothered.
And truthfully, he wasn't. His mind had already shifted to his second target: Samuel Eto'o, currently playing for Real Mallorca.
Eto'o was the perfect complement to Ronaldinho—a lethal striker who thrived in big matches. He had scored in two Champions League finals and had won consecutive trebles. In the Champions League, he was far more reliable than Ibrahimović.
Zlatan's refusal only solidified Miller's decision to go after Eto'o.
But just as they were about to leave, Miller had another thought. He turned to Bernstein and said, "Since we're here, we might as well not leave empty-handed, right?"
Bernstein was puzzled. "Who do you have in mind?"
Miller grinned. "Arjen Robben."
Yes, Robben—the balding wonder with one signature move: cutting inside from the wing. Known for his explosive bursts and devastating left foot, Robben had already become a force at PSV Eindhoven. Players of his caliber were sure to attract attention from Europe's top clubs, and Miller wanted to snap him up now.
Bernstein immediately recognized the brilliance of the idea and had no objections.
With that, the two men set off for Eindhoven. Though Feyenoord had another young talent in Robin van Persie, Miller wasn't interested in the fragile, temperamental player. Van Persie, while talented, had a reputation for disloyalty and inconsistency. Wenger had given him chance after chance, only for Van Persie to eventually leave. Such players weren't suited for Miller's squad.
Upon arriving in Eindhoven, they were greeted by PSV chairman Rob Westhoff. Hearing that they were interested in buying one of his prized assets, Westhoff couldn't hide his reluctance.
So, Miller used his best negotiating tool: money.
When he offered £12 million, Westhoff's resistance wavered. And when Miller raised it to £15 million, the chairman hesitated. "I'll need to discuss it with our head coach, Mr. Hiddink…"
Guus Hiddink, Eindhoven's legendary coach, had considerable influence at the club. Miller and Bernstein patiently waited in the office for his response.
Before long, Hiddink entered the room, eyeing the two men carefully. This was his first year back in charge, and he was naturally keen to keep hold of his star player. But he also understood that PSV Eindhoven couldn't hold on to Robben forever. The Dutch league simply wasn't big enough for a player of Robben's caliber.
After some thought, Hiddink spoke. "In principle, I agree to let Robben leave. But I'd prefer if the transfer happens at the end of the season."
Miller smiled. "That's no problem at all."
In fact, this suited Miller perfectly. He'd planned for Robben to join after the season ended anyway. With that, the two sides quickly reached a club-level agreement.
When Robben, still sporting a full head of hair, was brought in to meet Miller, the deal was sealed with one simple question: "Do you want to play alongside Ronaldinho?"
Robben's eyes lit up. The idea of linking up with Ronaldinho was too tempting to resist, and he agreed to join Manchester City. They signed a five-year contract, with Robben earning a weekly wage of £30,000, pending a medical examination.
With the Robben deal sorted, Miller and Bernstein wasted no time heading to Mallorca to finalize the Eto'o signing.
As they drove to the Real Mallorca club, they passed a tennis court where a few young players were practicing. Despite it being winter, the mild Mallorcan climate allowed the teens to train outdoors. One particular long-haired boy caught Miller's attention.
He quickly asked the driver to stop the car and made his way to the side of the court. The boy swung his head back, executing a signature move, and finished a point with precision.
Miller clapped. "Beautiful!"
The boy, surprised, turned to see who had applauded. Miller gave him a thumbs-up. "Keep it up!"
The young player smiled back, his white teeth shining against his tanned skin. Miller waved and returned to the car.
Curious, Bernstein asked, "Do you know him?"
Miller nodded and then shook his head. "I know who he is. His name's Rafael Nadal."
Bernstein searched his memory. "Never heard of him."
Miller smiled. "You will. In a few years, that name will shock the world."
At that time, Nadal was just a kid chasing his dreams. But Miller knew he was destined for greatness. Even though he was a fan, Miller didn't bother asking for a photo or autograph. He just gave the young tennis prodigy a word of encouragement.
Perhaps, in a few years, when both of them had achieved their dreams, they'd meet again and reminisce about this sunny winter day.
The taxi soon arrived at the Royal Mallorca club, where Miller quickly reached an agreement with Chairman Mateo Alemany for a fee of £16 million.
However, negotiations with Eto'o hit a snag. The striker wasn't keen on playing in the UK. Even after Bernstein offered him double his current salary, Eto'o remained unmoved.
Just as talks seemed to be breaking down, Miller leaned in close and whispered to Eto'o, "Don't you want to stay in La Liga and get revenge on Real Madrid?"
Eto'o's whole body tensed, and he looked at Miller as if he were reading his mind. Though Eto'o had come through Real Madrid's youth system, he never got the chance to prove himself there. Over time, his resentment toward the club had festered, turning him into one of their most vocal critics.
In the years that followed, Eto'o would unleash his fury every time he played Madrid, determined to prove them wrong. He even earned a fine for his anti-Madrid chants during Barcelona's title celebrations.
Miller, smiling, added, "You won't beat Real Madrid while playing for Mallorca. But if you join Manchester City, I promise that when Barcelona or Valencia come calling, I won't stand in your way."
Eto'o's eyes softened, and with a nod, he agreed to join Manchester City.
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