Chapter 26: Youth Training Camp 1

Miller's first choice for left back was actually Arsenal's Ashley Cole. But Arsenal made it clear they weren't open to negotiations, shutting down any hope of a deal. Left with few options, Miller turned to another top prospect before Manchester United could swoop in: Patrice Evra.

Though Evra had only been with Monaco for a year, he had already established himself as their starting left-back. This meant Monaco's asking price was steep—£10 million. Ironically, just a few years later, Evra would transfer to Manchester United for only £5.5 million. But Miller believed that if negotiations were possible, so was a deal.

After bargaining, they settled on £7 million. The contract terms were straightforward, with Evra eager to join the Premier League. Ultimately, the two parties signed a five-year deal, giving Evra a weekly salary of £25,000.

With Evra on board, Miller had £40 million remaining from the initial £150 million he'd allocated to Manchester City. Including the £11 million recouped from player sales, the club's budget now stood at £51 million. But upon returning to Manchester, financial officer Sanderson approached with concerning news: "Boss, I think we need to discuss Manchester City's financial situation from last season."

Miller nodded, bracing himself. "Go on."

Sanderson sighed. "To put it bluntly, things were rough."

Miller was unsurprised. "Makes sense. We had a lot of aging players with high salaries and inconsistent performances. Losses were inevitable."

Sanderson elaborated: "Yes, precisely. Excluding the £150 million you invested and recent transfers, total expenditures last season were £70 million, while revenue was just £48 million. Most of the costs were player salaries and transfer fees, while ticket sales and broadcasting rights were our primary income."

Miller summed it up, "A £22 million deficit. Got it."

But Sanderson continued, "There's more... Next season, we're moving from Maine Road to the new Manchester City Stadium. The seating will decrease significantly from 80,000 to 48,000, which will also reduce ticket revenue."

"What's your suggestion?" Miller asked, eyeing him intently.

"I think we should be cautious about player spending…"

Miller cut him off with a reassuring glance. "I'll be topping up with another £100 million soon, so let's not stress over the signings…"

Sanderson felt blindsided. "This boss… I'm the CEO, responsible for the club's commercial growth and operations. But with this level of investment, how can I justify my role?" Miller noticed his frustration.

"Feeling like you don't have enough to manage yet? Don't worry, come winter, I'll be buying the stadium. Then you'll have plenty to prove yourself."

Sanderson was taken aback. Buying the stadium? Just how wealthy was Miller?

Miller clapped him on the shoulder. "£100 million will hit the account within the week. So relax!" With that, he strode off, leaving Sanderson with one thought: Is my role even necessary if he's this wealthy?

After parting with Sanderson, Miller opened his stock portfolio. NetEase shares had climbed to $33, and his account balance now exceeded $800 million. Though he expected NetEase's value to double, he needed liquidity. So, he sold one-fifth of his holdings, netting $170 million.

Just three days later, Manchester City announced that Miller had injected another £100 million into the club, funding its continued growth and operations.