Chapter 149: Not for Sale

Chapter 149: Not for Sale

Witnessing Real Madrid's defeat to Udinese and the subsequent trophy celebration, Florentino Pérez sat grim-faced in the executive area of the presidential stand. Seeing over ten thousand Udinese fans chanting the young player's name, Florentino felt a surge of intent like never before.

He recalled how close Real Madrid had come to signing that young talent last summer. However, Udinese emerged as the victors, outbidding Real Madrid. Over the past year, the young player had excelled in Serie A, helping Udinese to a third-place finish, and also securing the Coppa Italia and the Europa League titles. Now, he had added the UEFA Super Cup to his accolades.

Florentino wondered, had Real Madrid offered a few million more last summer to bring the young player to the Bernabéu, could they have defeated Atlético Madrid and claimed the treble of La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League? Perhaps, even in today's match, Real Madrid might have been the victors, potentially becoming quadruple champions. And if they could then beat Atlético in the Spanish Super Cup and win the Club World Cup later in the year, might they have been sextuple champions in 2014?

Considering the young player's performance today, neither Toni Kroos, who was bought for €30 million, nor James Rodríguez, who cost €80 million, could compare. Even combining both their efforts fell short of his solo performance.

… The idea of acquiring the young player weighed heavily on Florentino's mind. Despite having already spent nearly €120 million on signings this summer, and with finances being tight, there was still room for rearrangement to fund this purchase.

Looking at Gian Paolo Pozzo, the owner of Udinese, sitting beside him, Florentino said, "Gian Paolo, sell me that boy!"

Gian Paolo Pozzo, watching the celebrations jubilantly, paused and then realized Florentino's intent, responding, "I'm sorry, Mr. Pérez, but Bruno is not for sale."

Florentino frowned. "Not for sale?" he questioned inwardly. "Sixty million!" he then declared.

Gian Paolo shook his head. "As I said, Mr. Pérez, Bruno is not for sale."

Florentino, now visibly upset, upped his offer. "Eighty million!"

Gian Paolo was taken aback by the audacity. Real Madrid had already spent close to €120 million this summer and was now casually mentioning €80 million more—totaling €200 million.

Udinese hadn't made that much in many years.

… Truly, Gian Paolo was tempted. Known as the "black shop of Europe," Udinese usually sold players for much less, seldom surpassing €10 million, except for a few sales this summer. Selling Bruno for €80 million would equate to several years' worth of income.

Despite the temptation, Gian Paolo resisted, a bit bitterly. "Mr. Pérez, Bruno really is not for sale."

Florentino, increasingly irate, didn't believe that Udinese, known for selling players, would refuse such offers. "Exactly how much would it take for you to sell him?"

Gian Paolo hesitated then revealed, "We've just renewed his contract, which includes a €120 million buy-out clause..."

Florentino cursed under his breath. Last summer, they had bought Gareth Bale, a two-time PFA Player of the Year, for €100 million, and now this Italian was asking for €120 million for a 20-year-old?

Despite the player's phenomenal performance—fifth in the Serie A scoring charts, top assist provider, and a hot favorite for the Serie A Player of the Year, plus being the top scorer and assist leader in the Europa League and the final's MVP—€120 million was exorbitant.

Florentino vowed not to negotiate further with the greedy Italian.

… "I'm very pleased with every aspect of tonight's game, especially Bruno," Guidolin expressed at the post-match press conference.

"He's an incredible player, and I can hardly believe he'll only turn 20 next month. Yet, he's already led our team to defeat Real Madrid and win the UEFA Super Cup with a hat-trick."

"Of course, it's not just his doing. Everyone on the team worked hard; this is the result of all of us working together, and we should all be proud."

Perhaps in a good mood, Guidolin even addressed the rumors about Bruno's transfer. "He's a leader for us, and losing a leader means taking a step back in competitiveness, something no team wants. So, we'll do everything we can to keep him, but the professional league is always changing."

This statement was interpreted by the media as an acknowledgment that keeping Bruno might be difficult, especially after tonight's display, which would undoubtedly reignite interest in him across Europe.

Guidolin was used to such speculation. From the day Bruno joined Udinese, transfer rumors had been a regular feature of his press conferences.

As the coach of Udinese, he knew he couldn't guarantee keeping any player; the right price could tempt the club to sell anyone.

… Against a team like Real Madrid, Guidolin believed it was a mistake to play defensively; the focus should always be on attack, as Udinese had demonstrated tonight.

"In fact, we had the chance to score even more tonight. We had two great opportunities that we missed, which should serve as a wake-up call," he reflected.

In contrast, Ancelotti faced criticism from the media for the 2-4 loss, though he maintained it wasn't the end of the world since it was essentially a pre-season match.

"We've done excellent work in the transfer market this summer, and I believe we'll explode into the new season," Ancelotti asserted. He also noted that Udinese was no weakling but a competitive team, particularly praising Bruno: "He doesn't need to prove himself anymore. Now, when fans around the world talk about their favorite players, Bruno is definitely among them. Tonight, he showed a phenomenal performance that truly changed the game."

As for the rumors about Bruno moving to Real Madrid this summer, Ancelotti welcomed the idea. "The Spanish style of play suits him, and Real Madrid is one of the best platforms in the world for a player like him," he said.

However, he quickly added, acknowledging Bruno's importance, "Every coach dreams of having a player like him, but unfortunately, he belongs to Udinese."

The media, however, focused on his initial statements rather than his concluding remark. Headlines were already being drafted: "Real Madrid Coach Welcomes Bruno to Join the Galactic Squad!"

Tonight's Super Cup had effectively sealed Bruno's fate as a future Real Madrid player in the eyes of the world. Yet, unknown to many, back in the Cardiff City Stadium's VIP box, the Udinese owner had already refused Real Madrid's advances in another way.

(End of Chapter)