The White Rose's Last Dance

On July 8th, Aldrich held a conference call in his study at home. He was the initiator, while the other three participants were Nedvěd, Larsson, and Southgate.

The three players weren't in London; Larsson had returned to Sweden, Nedvěd was back in the Czech Republic, and Southgate was on holiday in the Mediterranean with his family.

"I believe you've all heard from the news that some players are caught up in transfer rumors, the most significant being Ferdinand. He has verbally requested to leave, but I hope he stays. I may not win his heart, though. What do you all think? If the club forces him to stay, will there be issues in the locker room?"

The locker room was orderly, with leaders in place. Southgate, the experienced homegrown player, naturally took the lead among Millwall's three captains.

As the coach, Aldrich maintained a certain distance from the players, but he needed their support to unify the locker room. Often, he would only need to communicate with the trio of captains.

He didn't believe in an iron-fisted management style but preferred a more flexible and open approach. Trying to manage the team with a heavy hand at his young age would likely provoke resistance from his contemporaries.

"He wants to leave? Let him go, and he'll regret today's decision," Larsson spoke up first.

Over the years, he had witnessed many players leave. It was clear that while some, like Vieira and Shevchenko, became key players in their new teams, those who remained at Millwall had more significant achievements on the pitch.

"Life goes on. New players come and old players go. It's common. And Ferdinand isn't a starter. If he lacks the patience to wait for his chance and wants to leave, then let him. In ten or twenty years, when he looks back on this decision, he'll know whether it was a regret or a relief," Larsson continued. He felt comfortable at Millwall, believing no other place could offer him more.

"He would contribute significantly to the team, but if he can't focus on giving his all here, then keeping him could become a hazard," Nedvěd added.

Deep down, he wanted Ferdinand to stay, but he also understood that if a player's heart wasn't in it, it could create underlying issues within a united team. Such problems might not be overt, but sometimes, inexplicable difficulties arise from unseen tensions.

"Boss, let me put it this way: if he doesn't want to stay but ends up doing so, everything might seem fine when we're winning. But what if the team loses in the games he plays? What will people think? Will they wonder deep down if he's truly giving his all for the team? It's unfair to blame him, but those thoughts will crop up. I want him to stay too, but if you can't convince him to commit wholeheartedly to the team, I really don't want him in the locker room. It would feel awkward, and gradually, we'd lose that sense of communication, impacting the unity of the whole team."

Aldrich sat thoughtfully with his arms crossed. He hadn't encountered such a situation before.

In the past, when players wanted to leave, he'd generously let them go, not wanting anyone to disrupt team harmony.

Southgate's words made Aldrich realize the gravity of the situation. If a player was physically present but mentally elsewhere, how could they truly work together? Wouldn't there always be a nagging doubt about each other's commitment?

He felt he now had the authority to compel a player to stay, adopting a strong stance. But whether that would ultimately benefit the team needed careful consideration.

Unity in the locker room was crucial; a team lacking cohesion internally could never expect to deliver powerful performances on the pitch.

Aldrich decided to take a preventative approach, ensuring no cracks appeared in the locker room.

"Boss, we've come from nothing to where we are today, and we have complete faith in you. At the end of the day, we don't expect one more Ferdinand to make the team significantly stronger. Sure, having him would be ideal, but without him, what's the worst that could happen? We still believe you can lead us to continued success. Henrik is right; Ferdinand will regret his decision to leave. He should appreciate the opportunity he has at Millwall. Just think about how many players want to join us and play under you. He ought to consider that."

In the end, Southgate seemed to comfort Aldrich, perhaps sensing that Ferdinand's desire to leave was weighing on him.

Aldrich suddenly smiled. A substitute wanting to leave was important, but he wasn't at a loss or deeply saddened by it.

As a coach with nine championships in five years, Aldrich wouldn't bet everything on Ferdinand; he had confidence in himself instead.

But as the head coach, he had to consider the bigger picture compared to the players.

Although having another Ferdinand may not bring much change to Millwall, losing a rising star like him means that it will take a long time for the team to train a suitable replacement. This training process will inevitably affect Millwall's performance. Millwall's depth in the central defender position was already a weakness last season. Neil had to play as a central defender, and Mills occasionally filled in. If Ferdinand really leaves, Millwall may not even have a proper central defender in the new season.

Aldrich didn't want to spend money on a mediocre center-back; he wanted to utilize the academy reserves but would have to begin training anew, which was a headache.

Leeds United has launched a comprehensive and high-profile campaign in the transfer market. Ridsdale seems to be declaring that significant investments are on the horizon, aimed at the team's resurgence, capturing the fans' hearts while making it more alluring for players to join.

In contrast to Leeds United's aggressive tactics, Manchester United, freshly crowned Champions League champions, remains relatively understated. They have approached Millwall with a £10 million offer for Van Nistelrooy.

On the question of whether to keep Van Nistelrooy, Aldrich honors his personal choice. He isn't indispensable, but Aldrich leans toward selling him internationally. However, there haven't been any serious bids from elite foreign clubs that would appeal to Van Nistelrooy.

Leaving the Premier League's Golden Boot winner on the bench just doesn't sit right in any sense.

Millwall and Manchester United engaged in secret negotiations, and when United raised their offer to £12.5 million, Millwall accepted it, permitting the player to discuss the transfer.

Ferguson personally called Van Nistelrooy, inviting him to join Manchester United.

United couldn't make any specific promises to Van Nistelrooy for the upcoming season. After dominating the previous season and playing a crucial role in the team's Champions League victory, the duo of Yorke and Cole would still be the main striking partnership.

However, Ferguson's key focus in persuading Van Nistelrooy was about his career prospects.

First, he had virtually no future at Millwall.

Millwall's tactical system required only one striker—an active one who could support wingers. Currently, that was Henry, with Klöze as the backup, who had shown through his performance in the FA Cup final that he fit Aldrich's tactical framework better.

This was not about Van Nistelrooy's skill level but aligned with playing style.

Moreover, Van Nistelrooy suited Manchester United's tactical characteristics. Their wing play was designed to support forwards, so while he might initially be a substitute, if he played well, he could step up without any issues concerning system compatibility.

On July 13th, Millwall and Manchester United simultaneously announced that they had reached a transfer agreement: last season's Premier League top scorer Van Nistelrooy was transferring to Manchester United for £12.5 million.

Millwall published Van Nistelrooy's farewell letter on their official website, thanking him for his contributions to the team and wishing him well.

The news of the transfer shocked the entire European football world. All the major clubs thought that Millwall was going to have another "big sale" because they actually let go of the Premier League Golden Boot winner!

Clubs quickly aimed at Millwall's main squad but were universally rebuffed; Millwall turned down every single approach.

Juventus's director Moggi called Adam to inquire about the possibility of signing Henry, but was outright rejected.

Juventus's biggest disaster last season wasn't just their semi-final upset by Manchester United but the nine-month injury to their star player Del Piero!

With concerns for Del Piero's return form, Moggi was keen on bringing in Henry to form a French attacking trio!

Zidane + Henry + Trezeguet.

Such strategies for assembling strong combinations were not new for Juventus, which famously acquired Parama's top defensive lineup.

Ridsdale was becoming anxious.

Having sold their top scorer, he simply wanted to buy a few backups, yet the transfer process had hit an impasse. He personally came to Liverpool to meet with Aldrich.

It was a sunny afternoon, and Aldrich was napping in a deck chair in the garden while Melanie lay beside him, engrossed in a parenting book. As her due date approached, she was embodying her impending motherhood.

The phone rang in the living room; it was Aldrich's mobile. Melanie got up to answer it, waking Aldrich and handing him the phone.

"Adam here. The Leeds United chairman has requested to see you."

"When?"

"In an hour."

"That's a request?"

"Boss, is that inconvenient? Well..."

"It's fine; let him come."

After hanging up, Aldrich laid back down, closing his eyes. Melanie, curious, asked, "Are we having visitors?"

"Yeah, the chairman of Leeds United is coming in an hour."

"Aren't you going to prepare?"

"No need. He's leading Leeds into the grave; it's better for me to see him off naturally."

Melanie smiled, not grasping the meaning behind Aldrich's words as she headed into the living room to prepare snacks.

An hour later, Ridsdale arrived at Aldrich's home in a luxury car. There were plenty of paparazzi around, who quickly noticed the Leeds United chairman's visit to Aldrich, drawing assumptions of a possible transaction between the clubs.

Ridsdale arrived with an assistant, dressed sharply and looking quite presentable. Aldrich, for his part, was dressed relatively formally in a shirt and slacks, appropriate for a summer afternoon meeting at home, exempting the need for a suit.

However, Ridsdale's expression showed slight displeasure upon seeing Aldrich's attire.