As Tiger King and Woodward landed at Palma Airport in Mallorca, Spain, Woodward couldn't help but continue the conversation.
"Tiger, next time you're negotiating a transfer, you should let me handle the price discussions. Take Van Dijk, for example—maybe we could have sealed the deal by adding just €500,000 instead of €1 million."
Stepping off the plane, Tiger King shook his head. "Ed, think about it. Van Dijk was already negotiating contract details with Celtic. If we had hesitated any longer, even if Groningen agreed to our offer, Van Dijk might have been gone. You're a businessman, and for you, it's all about money. But I'm responsible for my team. If we had lost a future defensive leader over a mere €1 million, that would have been the real loss."
Woodward smirked, shaking his head. "A 'mere' €1 million? Tiger, you're more generous than I thought."
Tiger King: "Enough of that—let's just enjoy the beautiful sun and fresh air in Spain."
As they stepped off the plane, the warm breeze and golden sunlight of Mallorca instantly lifted their spirits. The sky was clear, the air crisp, and the vibrant summer atmosphere made everything feel lighter.
Woodward took a deep breath, then grinned enviously. "I swear, once I retire, I'm moving here. Sunshine, fresh air, and beautiful women in bikinis—oh, it's paradise."
Tiger King chuckled, glancing around at the picturesque scenery. Compared to the often gloomy skies of Manchester, this place felt like heaven.
"Ed, be content. At least we have it better than the teams in London. The endless gray days there are even worse—truly unbearable."
Woodward laughed. "Fair point."
Several negotiators brought by Woodward followed the two big bosses with a very serious expression.
Woodward looked back: "Though these guys are very capable, they are usually too serious. Thanks to you, I am not so lonely."
Tiger King smiled: "Life is short—this isn't a match. Why take things so seriously?"
Woodward looked at Tiger King with curiosity: "I am looking forward to your first game now. I want to see what a cheerful, informal person like you will look like on the court?"
"Relax. Once you see how I am on the pitch, you'll be glad we're on the same side at the club," Tiger King said with a determined look.
As he spoke, his expression turned serious. He clenched his fists and gave a small but firm punch forward, as if already gearing up for battle.
Woodward suddenly remembered something and turned to Tiger King. "Tiger, I've been meaning to ask you—when flying from the Netherlands to Spain, we passed right over France. I remember that six or seven of the players on your transfer list are in France. Why didn't we go there first instead of heading straight to Spain?"
Tiger King explained calmly, "Because there's a lot to sort out in France, and most of the players I'm targeting there aren't big names yet. They won't be difficult to sign. I want to secure a few Spanish players first, then head to France and spend more time there."
"Oh, I see," Woodward nodded, but then frowned. "There's still one thing I don't quite get. Why not just have the club contact other teams directly instead of flying out to negotiate in person?"
As they got into a taxi, Tiger King instructed the driver, "Take us to RCD Mallorca."
Settling into his seat, he gazed out at the picturesque views of the island, then spoke slowly, "Some players are simply too valuable. If we send a formal offer through the club, I worry negotiations will drag on, and by the time things move forward, it might be too late. Meeting club officials in person speeds up the process significantly."
He then glanced at Woodward with a knowing smile. "And for players like Lewandowski, whose club is demanding a high price, a personal visit from a coach shows sincerity. It might just be the push needed to sway their decision in our favor."
"Although we haven't yet seen Manchester United's results under his leadership, one thing is certain—the club has chosen a dedicated and responsible head coach." thought Ed as they moved forward towards Mallorca.
Summer Transaction Status
1. Marcos Alonso - LB - Free Transfer - Five Year Contract
2. Dele Alli - Midfielder - Free Transfer - Joined the Youth Team
3. Leroy Sane - The Next No. 7 - 800,000 Euros
4. Joshua Kimmich - Young German Defender - 1,000,000 Euros
5. Virgil van Dijk - CB - 5,000,000 Euros
Pending Transfer Budget: 43.2 Million Euros