As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, Tiger King and Woodward strolled along the waterfront near their hotel. The warm Mediterranean breeze carried the salty scent of the sea, a welcome change from the cold Manchester air they were used to.
Woodward glanced at Tiger, who was still flipping through the newspaper with a half-amused, half-frustrated expression.
"Tiger, are you seriously still sulking about Isco?" he chuckled.
Tiger King let out a sigh and folded the newspaper, stuffing it under his arm. "I'm not sulking. I'm just… mildly devastated."
Woodward laughed. "Mildly devastated? That's a new one."
"Look," Tiger continued, "I knew Isco was special. He's got vision, technical skill, close control—he would've been perfect in our midfield. And for €30 million? That's a steal in this market. I really thought we had a chance."
Woodward shook his head. "Tiger, you're thinking like a fan. You have to think like a manager. Transfers don't always go your way. And let's be honest—could we really have beaten Real Madrid in a bidding war for a Spanish wonderkid?"
Tiger sighed again, this time with a little more acceptance. "Yeah, I guess. But it still stings."
Woodward patted him on the back. "Well, you're not leaving Spain empty-handed. We got Asensio for just €1 million—an absolute bargain. And let's not forget Van Dijk. In a few years, people will be talking about him as one of the best defenders in the world."
Tiger smirked. "That's true. Maybe I'm still ahead of the game."
"Exactly. Now, how about we drown your sorrows in seafood?" Woodward grinned.
At that, Tiger's mood lifted instantly. "Finally, you're speaking my language."
They found a restaurant along the beachfront, a cozy little place with lanterns swaying gently in the sea breeze. The menu was full of fresh seafood—grilled octopus, garlic prawns, and a massive seafood paella that made Tiger's eyes light up.
As the waiter set down a bottle of white wine, Woodward raised his glass. "To Isco's success at Madrid… and to our success in finding the next superstar before the world even notices."
Tiger clinked his glass against Woodward's and grinned. "To the future of Manchester United."
The night was filled with laughter, football talk, and stories of past transfer blunders—some theirs, some belonging to other clubs. By the time they left the restaurant, Tiger King was no longer thinking about Isco. His mind was already moving to the next name on his list.
There was still work to be done. Meanwhile, Woodward took a sip of his wine, swirling the glass absentmindedly as he studied Tiger King across the table. For the first time, he truly began to understand just how sharp Tiger's eye for talent was.
He had been skeptical at first—signing a bunch of young, relatively unknown players instead of established stars seemed like a gamble. But now? Seeing Real Madrid swoop in for Isco before they could even make a move? That wasn't just luck. It meant Tiger King was spotting talent before the rest of the world caught on.
Woodward set his glass down and leaned back in his chair. "Alright, Tiger, I'll admit it. You know what you're doing."
Tiger smirked as he cracked open a prawn. "Glad you're finally realizing it. Took you long enough."
Woodward chuckled. "I mean it. I was half-worried we were chasing ghosts, but seeing Real Madrid confirm your instincts? Maybe this plan of yours really will work."
Tiger wiped his hands and pointed his fork at Woodward. "Listen, Ed. You're a numbers guy. You see transfer fees, balance sheets, and negotiations. But football? Football is about seeing potential before anyone else does. Isco's gone, sure. But we've still got Asensio. And Van Dijk. And we're just getting started."
Woodward nodded. "Alright, alright. You've convinced me. But I'll be keeping track of how these signings turn out."
Tiger laughed. "Good. Just make sure you remember this moment when they're winning us trophies." The two clinked their glasses again.
Woodward smiled while clinking their glasses, "So, next stop?"
Tiger replied, "Espanyol. I need another Center Back on the backline! Vidic is 32, Ferdinand 34. We only have Smalling, Johnny Evans, and Phil Jones. With Vidic and Ferdinand on the verge of retirement, we need to secure our backline before they move on."
Woodward smiled, "To Espanyol it is."
After arriving in Barcelona, Tiger King and Woodward wasted no time. They headed straight to RCD Espanyol to negotiate a transfer. But this time, there was no need for long discussions or back-and-forth bargaining.
Tiger King had already done his homework—Eric Bailly was still an unknown talent, playing for Espanyol B, and his termination clause was a mere €2 million. Without hesitation, they triggered the release clause, making the deal swift and effortless.
As the paperwork was finalized, Tiger King couldn't hide his satisfaction. For just €2.5 million, he had secured a future defensive pillar for Manchester United.
With Alonso, Van Dijk, Bailly, and Kimmich, his vision for a steel defensive line—one that could hold firm for the next decade—was taking shape.
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
6. Marco Asensio - Nimble Attacking Midfielder - 1,000,000 Euros
7. Eric Bailley - CB - 2,500,000 Euros
Pending Transfer Budget: 39.7 Million Euros