The Next Big Thing
Chapter 96: Timeline changed II

Chapter 96: Timeline changed II

The tension in the room seemed to heighten as Joel asked the question again, despite Ed having already provided an answer.

Ed, hearing this, furrowed his brows and said, "Sir, it’s, Ehm, just like I said—these are the players we’re intending to buy this summer. They should be more than—"

Before he could finish, Joel slammed his hands on the table, shouting, "Enough!" Clearly, that was not the response he had hoped for.

Joel Glazer, the second son of the late businessman and billionaire Malcolm Glazer, had come from humble beginnings in real estate before branching out into healthcare and other industries. But his most successful venture had been in sports.

Malcolm had acquired both English giants—Manchester United of the Premier League and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. Both clubs had experienced massive growth under his ownership, generating enormous profits. The jewel of it all, however, had been Manchester United.

That was in the past. Now, while Manchester United was still making a profit each year, its earnings continued to grow, surpassing Tampa Bay in revenue.

Recently, things had taken a surprising turn. His brother’s NFL club, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had been making serious waves. They had signed Tom Brady—arguably the greatest quarterback in the history of American football. It wasn’t just the signing that made headlines; it was the immediate impact. With Tom at the helm, the Buccaneers secured back-to-back victories and were on their way to becoming Super Bowl champions, clinching the second title in their franchise history.

For Joel Glazer, it wasn’t the trophies or the wins that piqued his interest. As a businessman, the allure was in the numbers—the projections and the profits. That was the real game for Joel.

Yes, Manchester United was earning more. Yes, their valuation was higher. But just like the loyal fans, the club was coasting on history. The projections, however, told a different story. Joel’s data analyst had created a graph showcasing the club’s current value of $3.81 billion and its expected growth over the next five years. If they maintained their current level of play and accounted for the rise in sports viewership along with broadcasting and sponsorship rights, Manchester United’s valuation was projected to soar to $6 billion.

A staggering figure, nearly doubling the club’s worth. Their revenue for the current year stood at £500 million, with projections suggesting a record-breaking £661 million by 2025. For Joel, these numbers were more thrilling than any championship—because in his world, the scoreboard was measured in dollars.

Joel had been pleased when he first saw Manchester United’s valuation projections. But that sense of satisfaction quickly waned when he turned his attention to his brother’s team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

If the Buccaneers made it to the finals this season, their valuation was set to hit $5 billion by 2025. Even if they didn’t make it, maintaining their status as strong contenders would still put them on track for that number. But if they won the Super Bowl, the projected valuation soared by an additional $700 million, pushing their worth to $5.7 billion. That wasn’t all—thanks to the team’s current performance, despite the pandemic, their revenue had already surged to $419 million, with estimates suggesting it would hit $617 million in the next few years.

Joel’s mind raced as he processed the numbers. Yes, Manchester United was still the bigger fish in the pond, with a valuation higher than Tampa Bay’s. Their revenue had surpassed the Buccaneers’ by a significant margin.

Joel wasn’t just a businessman; he was a successful one. He understood the numbers better than anyone, and he knew what they meant. Manchester United’s 57.5% increase in valuation and 32.2% rise in revenue were impressive—no doubt about it. But then there was Tampa Bay, with a 119% to 150% surge in their valuation and a 47.5% increase in revenue. Tampa was doing double the growth, and Joel knew why.

The key factor behind their explosive rise was the signing of a single player—Tom Brady. The value he brought went far beyond his performance on the field. It was in the sponsorship deals, the jersey sales, the media buzz. Brady wasn’t just a player; he was a walking, talking revenue generator. Joel saw the numbers, and the truth was clear: one player could make all the difference.

Joel leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. If a player like Brady could create this much of an impact for Tampa Bay, what could it do for Manchester United? What if they started playing well, competing for trophies again? He felt that the quickest way to ignite that success was the same formula. They needed their own Brady—someone who could change the entire trajectory of the team.

He approved the big sales for the summer transfer window, believing this would be the step that took them to the next level. But when the list came back, it was nothing more than a collection of nobodies and washed-up stars.

The meeting had been going badly joels fury was being shown for all to see he looked at ed saying "and you approved this mess" he sid looking at ed someone who had been working here since the time of his father

The meeting was spiraling downhill, and Joel’s fury was on full display. His sharp gaze fixed on Ed, the long-time employee who had been with the club since his father’s reign.

"And you approved this mess?" Joel’s voice was cold, cutting through the tension in the room. He didn’t bother hiding his disappointment. Ed, usually calm under pressure, was now squirming in his seat.

Ed met Joel’s stare, unfazed by the anger directed at him. "Sir, we don’t have a sporting director, since you fired the previous one. So, all the transfer rights are in the hands of the coach." He spoke with the kind of matter-of-fact tone that came with years of loyalty and experience.

But Ed wasn’t done there. He leaned forward, trying to make his case. "Honestly, sir, with the years I’ve spent here and what I’ve seen in the sport, the coach’s signings this summer are actually good. They fit what the team needs right now." His words hung in the air, an attempt to defend not only the coach but also himself, as he tried to justify the moves made under his watch.

Ed took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before speaking with conviction. "We have an established icon like Cavani coming into the team," he began, his tone firm and filled with pride. "He just had a fantastic season at PSG. If you take away all his injuries, he scored 13 goals and made 5 assists in just 22 games. If we manage his injuries properly, we could have him for a solid 2 to 3 seasons."

Ed’s confidence grew as he continued. "He’s exactly what we need—a proven striker who can help us score goals. With the likes of Bruno and Pogba feeding him the ball, we can fully utilize his strengths. And the best part? We got him for free." His voice was now laced with pride, as if he had just sealed the perfect deal.

Ed, oblivious to the growing tension in the room, continued to rattle off the reasons behind each of the summer signings. His enthusiasm seemed to rise with every name.

"And then there’s Donny van de Beek," Ed said, almost with a sense of satisfaction. "We’re buying him essentially as a backup, given the uncertainty with Pogba and the others due to injuries. We don’t want to be vulnerable in that area." He paused, letting the point settle before moving on. "Then there’s Alex Telles, coming in hot from Porto. He’ll be a good wake-up call for Shaw. It’ll force some real competition for that left-back spot."

Ed’s smile grew wider as he continued, seemingly unable to stop himself. "And then we have Pellistri and Amad. Both are long-term buys, with immense potential. They’re excellent winger prospects. Ole’s been so adamant about them, and he’s right—they could be stars in the making."

Ed’s eyes gleamed as he recounted Ole’s excitement, particularly about the last part. "And that last kid, David Jones... Ole calls him the buy of the summer. He’s the minimum buy-out, but this kid could become our next Cristiano Ronaldo. He could be the future of Manchester United."

Joel’s frown deepened at the mention of the young talent. The future Ronaldo? he thought, bitterness bubbling within him. What he needed, what Manchester United needed, was the real Ronaldo—the one who could change things now, not some far-off prospect. His frustration boiled over, and his voice dripped with venom as he spoke.

"So it’s all the coach, then?" Joel’s tone was sharp, cutting through the room like a knife.

Ed’s response was a simple, dismissive "Eh."

Joel wasn’t done. His eyes burned with intensity as he shot a glance at the board members seated around him. "If it’s the coach making all these decisions," he said, his voice growing colder, "then I don’t feel he’s the right fit for this club. His vision limits us." He didn’t take a back seat, standing tall and unwavering in his conviction. "Maybe it’s time to part ways and look for a coach who aligns with us more."

As Joel’s words hung in the air, Ed immediately sprang into action, sensing the tension building. "Sir, wait, wait, wait," he said, raising his hands slightly, trying to draw the attention of the board members who were murmuring about the dangerous notion of changing the coach. "Please, let’s calm down here. The club right now is growing. We’re third on the table, we’ve already qualified for the Champions League next season. We’re finally on the right track."

Ed’s voice grew more insistent, trying to reassure Joel. "When the new players come in, we’ll be in an even better position. Given the pace we’re on, we should be real contenders in 4 to 5 years’ time."

Joel’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening at every word. The last thing he wanted to hear was about the future.

Ed, not noticing Joel’s growing frustration, continued with enthusiasm. "And the kid, he really is good. I’ve done some research on him. He’s been performing so well in the Championship. We just need to focus on the future now."

"Future, future, future..." Joel muttered under his breath, his patience running thin. "Ed, enough. If you don’t stop now, it might not just be a new coach we start looking for," he said, his voice low but filled with an unmistakable threat.

Ed’s eyes widened as the full force of Joel’s anger hit him. His heart sank as he realized the severity of the situation. He had been too focused on supporting Ole, too blinded by his loyalty to his friend, and now he had unknowingly crossed a line with his boss. He had been putting a stop to Joel’s one-sided plans to make more money for the club or rather himself.

Ed sighed, his shoulders slumping as the weight of his mistake settled on him. "No problem, sir. I apologize for going out of line," he said, his voice subdued.

Joel turned his attention back to the others in the room, who had already started discussing potential new signings for the club. He didn’t spare Ed another glance, his thoughts already fixed on what was to come. But as the conversation shifted to potential new coaches, a voice piped up, drawing Joel’s attention once again.

"Sir, there’s one at Ajax right now," the voice said. "He has a reputation for winning trophies, and he’s got the right attitude or rather confidence to bring in star players."

The mention of winning trophies and acquiring star players piqued Joel’s interest. "Oh? And who is that?" he asked, leaning forward slightly.

The voice responded, "His name is Erik ten Hag, sir."

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