Football Dynasty
Chapter 227: Transfer Business and the New Rooftop

In a tense and hard-fought quarter-final at Euro '96, England held their nerve to beat Spain 4–2 on penalties — a rare moment of shootout success for the Three Lions that sent the nation into raptures.

The streets across Britain erupted in celebration as fans rejoiced, waving flags and singing anthems late into the night. It was a moment that reignited hope and pride across the country, with newspapers hailing it as a defining chapter in English football history.

For once, the dreaded penalty shootout was a cause for jubilation rather than heartbreak.

With the victory in the quarter-final secured, it was all but certain that England would face Germany in the semi-final — a matchup steeped in history and fierce rivalry.

Thanks to the England and Germany hype, Manchester City quietly completed their transfer business. Still, for passionate City fans, news like this spread everywhere.

City supporters began organizing petitions, banners at matches, and letters urging the club's management not to let Cafu and Roberto Carlos leave.

"No way you're leaving! Roberto, we're building something great here, and you're part of it!"

"From Maine Road to glory—stay and help us get there!"

"Stay with us, Cafu! We need your pace and passion on the right!"

"Manchester City fans from all over are united in one message: keep our heroes where they belong. We're ready to back you every step of the way."

Local media picked up on the story, turning it into a public campaign. Fans emphasized how key these players are to the team's identity and success.

"City Fans Rally to Save Their Stars"

"Cafu and Roberto Carlos: City's Twin Pillars for the past two seasons — will their Premier League departure to AS Roma and Inter Milan leave Manchester City in crisis?"

There was no official response from Manchester City's club management regarding the fans' emotional outpouring. However, behind the scenes, Richard was already moving swiftly.

He had already reached out to Carl Morran of the City Blazing Squad, whose reputation had grown far beyond just chants and waving flags. The reason?

He and his Blazing Squad—young men, many of whom had boxing backgrounds—had recently made headlines for dismantling the notorious "Guvnors," leaving the rival firm fractured and disbanded.

With figures like these standing watch, how could any lone-wolf fan even dare to do something reckless—like damaging property or engaging in suspicious behavior?

Richard made his instructions clear: "We welcome passion, but absolutely no violence, no damage to property, and no intimidation. Let them protest—peacefully."

Carl understood. He may have grown up in rough neighborhoods, but he now knew what it meant to protect something bigger than himself—the club, the community, and its future.

Within hours, word spread across Manchester's football circles.

"Anyone thinking of getting clever, smashing things up—think again," Carl warned through underground supporter channels. "We don't riot in our own house. That's not loyalty—that's betrayal."

Naturally, no one knew about the quiet deal between Richard and the Blazing Squad. no one know that most of these young men had been able to attend school and help support their families thanks to financial backing from Richard.

With Carl and his crew discreetly acting as stewards and peacekeepers, the situation around Maine Road remained tense but under control. Fans continued waving banners and singing songs pleading for Cafu and Roberto Carlos to stay—but they did so respectfully and without incident.

Richard was satisfied with the results.

"When the new stadium is ready, I'll give you and your Blazing Squad a basecamp. You can launch a new business there—or keep growing your current printing company."

Since their last tifo banner campaign had been a huge success, the Blazing Squad began taking their Tifo-Branded Printing Company seriously. But being based in Manchester, not London—where clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham, and Millwall offered a much larger customer base—they needed to be strategic.

If the Blazing Squad truly wanted to turn this into a real business, they needed to expand beyond just tifo banners. They could offer digital sublimation printing for all kinds of clients—not only football clubs but schools, festivals, and corporate events too. By becoming a trusted outsourced partner for large-format, high-quality fabric printing, their business had real potential to grow far beyond the terraces.

Carl Morran was excited—but more than that, deeply grateful.

"I'll bring this back to the lads," he said, his voice firm but respectful. "We'll talk it through. They deserve to hear it first."

Richard gave a quiet nod in return, a satisfied glint in his eye. He patted Carl's shoulder. "No rush," Richard said, rising to his feet.

The two men parted ways outside Ric Turner's pub, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows on the pavement. Carl turned toward the estates to find his crew. Richard climbed into his waiting car, heading back to Maine Road.

The next day was the most eagerly awaited day across England—an intense semifinal clash awaited as England prepared to face Germany in the Euro '96 showdown. The whole nation was buzzing with hope, dreams of finally becoming European champions alive in every heart.

But football can be cruel. After a hard-fought 1–1 draw through regular and extra time, England's hopes were shattered in a tense penalty shootout.

Germany edged the victory, ending England's dream of lifting the European Championship trophy for the first time.

The disappointment rippled through the country like a heavy fog, but the team's valiant effort was undeniable.

Four days later, Germany lifted the European Championship trophy after a thrilling 2–1 victory over the Czech Republic at Wembley.

For many England fans, the defeat still stung deeply, but Germany's triumph brought a bittersweet sense of consolation. After all, their national team had been ousted by the eventual champions — a small comfort that somewhat softened the blow.

Naturally, after Euro 1996, all the top European clubs finally geared up for the real transfer season.

For Manchester City, the post-Euro period marked a crucial window to finalize their squad and build momentum for the Premier League campaign.

The first announcement was the departure of Roberto Carlos and Cafu, who transferred to Inter Milan and AS Roma respectively for a combined fee of £15 million. Along with this, it was also announced that Javier Zanetti had been signed as part of the deal.

Javier Zanetti would take Richard Jobson's number 4 shirt.

Next to be announced was the departure of several City players who decided to leave the club for good: Richard Wright, Nicky Weaver, Jamie Pollock, Graham Fenton, Steve Lomas, and Richard Jobson were sold collectively for £5 million.

"Phew," Richard muttered, looking at the zero followed by the two-digit number on the check he held.

Truly, the buying and selling of players was a ruthless business. The transfer window hadn't even opened yet, but City had already managed to record player sales totaling £20 million.

The third announcement, unexpectedly, was still from Manchester City, with Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo expected to join as their second and third signings of the season!

For Gianluigi Buffon, staying at Parma was naturally his first choice, as Serie A is a very serious league to consider. But the moment Marina Granovskaia flew to Parma and explained City's current goalkeeper shortage—with only Jens Lehmann available—he didn't hesitate.

At just 18 years old, Buffon was still young and could get valuable playing time before eventually returning to Italy. At least for someone who had only recently started gaining experience as a goalkeeper, game time was the priority.

As for Andrea Pirlo, Brescia aimed to mold him into the next Roberto Baggio. Yet Pirlo understood his own limitations: he couldn't match Baggio's pace or his ability to combine speed with ball control.

What City offered him was an opportunity he simply couldn't refuse.

Manchester City's flexible tactics, alternating between a 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 formation, would allow Pirlo to experiment with various positions throughout the season to find where he fit best. City would serve as the perfect stepping stone in his career.

This proposition was too enticing to pass up.

Richard knew that by positioning City as a stepping stone, both Buffon and Pirlo would be highly tempted to join the club, and this was exactly the trap he had already prepared for them.

With Euro 1996 concluded and Manchester City ready for their first pre-season, another piece of good news came for the club.

The roof of Maine Road was finally completed by the Arup Group!

As everyone knew, Maine Road stadium was basically located in a residential area, making expansion impossible. This meant Richard had to think creatively to justify a significant ticket price increase to support the club's revenue, especially since wages were rising every season.

The solution was to upgrade the rooftops of Maine Road's Main Stand, Platt Stand, and North Stand.

The roof framework was already securely installed, and the surrounding scaffolding made it easy for the workers to move quickly and efficiently. This setup accelerated the construction process, allowing the team to complete the roofing in record time without compromising on quality or safety.

With the new roof in place, the upgraded stands would not only provide better shelter for fans but also open up opportunities for enhanced facilities and premium seating—boosting both comfort and revenue for Manchester City.

When Richard inspected the new look of Maine Road, he was very satisfied.

Finally, Maine Road was ready to welcome the Premier League season!