Chapter 204: Reinforcements are Coming in

After finishing the inspection at Bradford Colliery, Richard, accompanied by Miss Eysen, proceeded directly to the next site inspection—this time in Ancoats, Manchester.

The area had suffered accelerating economic decline since the 1930s and experienced significant depopulation after the Second World War, particularly during the slum clearances of the 1960s.

Although Ancoats began to receive recognition in the 1990s for its proximity to the city centre, it remained largely neglected, with little real investment or substantial regeneration.

Now, Richard arrives with a new vision—bringing his version of Urban Splash to the Eastlands. Ancoats will become his new New Islington, this time focused on entertainment blocks rather than Sportcity.

Unlike Bradford Colliery, where everything appeared brown and industrial, Ancoats stands in contrast—lush with greenery, fresher air, and an environment more suitable for people to live in. The green spaces create a more welcoming atmosphere, suggesting a healthier and more sustainable urban setting.

However, when it comes to development, rather than building on greenfield land (which is undeveloped land like parks or fields), a developer might choose to redevelop brownfield or greyfield sites. These are areas that have already been developed but are now abandoned, underused, or in decline.

"How is it? Do you still want to buy the whole area?"

"Of course—buy it. Buy all 800 acres," Richard said confidently.

Now is the right time, especially as the Greater Manchester Council has granted him permission to proceed. As Roman Abramovich always said, timing is everything in investments.

Miss Heysen nodded at this. "We’ll divide the project into four phases as we planned, with each phase valued at around £200 million."

By breaking the project into phases, the development can be managed more efficiently—allowing for better financing, risk management, and a strategic rollout aligned with market demand.

Each phase will likely focus on a distinct urban component: residential blocks, entertainment hubs, green public spaces, commercial zones, and cultural landmarks—transforming the area into a dynamic, mixed-use district. The total investment could reach nearly £900 million, marking one of the most ambitious urban regeneration efforts in Manchester’s post-industrial landscape.

"All right, I’m leaving this project in your hands," Richard said firmly. "Also, please get in touch with Stuart from Maddox Property to discuss how we’re going to design the entire area."

Miss Heysen raised an eyebrow. "Don’t we already have the ARUP Group handling it?"

Richard shook his head. "ARUP isn’t enough. What we need here is a comprehensive development plan—not just for the stadium, but for the entire district. This is about creating a whole ecosystem. Like I said, we’re shaping a new city within a city."

Everything must be carefully planned, as he’s building not just for today but for the next 50 years. From transportation networks and green infrastructure to energy efficiency, waste and water management, flood resilience, security, and public safety—every detail matters. Nothing can be left to chance. All of these elements need to be woven into the blueprint.

Done with the site visit, Richard hurried back to Maine Road, his mind swirling with thoughts about Ronaldo.

As soon as he arrived, Richard went straight to the physio office to inquire about the striker’s condition from Dr. Dave Fevre and Dr. Andreas Schlumberger.

"You’re saying he won’t be able to play until the season ends?" Richard asked, struggling to process the information.

"To be exact, five or six weeks, but it’s better if he hangs up his boots for the rest of the season," Dave Fevre replied. "He tore his tibial tendon, and a long recovery is expected. It’s better to ensure he fully heals rather than force him back onto the field prematurely."

Richard paused, thinking for a moment before asking, "Is it related to the knee?"

He wasn’t familiar with the medical terms, but he knew Ronaldo’s biggest problem had always been his knee.

"No," Fevre explained patiently. "A tibial tendon tear is generally not related to the knee. The tibial tendon is located around the ankle and foot. It helps support the arch of the foot and stabilizes walking."

Richard nodded slowly, trying to grasp the implications. "So it affects his mobility, but not his knee directly?"

"Exactly," Schlumberger confirmed. "It’s a serious injury, but with proper treatment and rehabilitation, he can recover fully—just not quickly."

Richard sighed in relief upon hearing this. Historically, Ronaldo’s performance had dropped significantly because of his knee problems, so hearing that this injury wasn’t related to his knee was a better sign. Still, he couldn’t afford to be careless about the injury Ronaldo was currently dealing with.

"I understand," Richard said firmly. "Let’s follow the medical advice and keep Ronaldo off the field for the rest of the season."

With Ronaldo’s status confirmed, it was inevitable that not everyone would take the news quietly. Among the first to react was Martin O’Neill, who immediately sought Richard’s attention after learning about the crisis.

Not only was their star striker out, but now their central defense was also under threat, as Keith Curle was set to leave for Wolverhampton Wanderers for £650.000. The timing couldn’t have been worse.

O’Neill, visibly concerned, didn’t wait for a formal meeting. He walked straight into Richard’s office.

"We can’t just sit on this," he said. "We’ve lost our front man and now our defensive backup. We need reinforcements—urgently. The squad depth just isn’t there to absorb both losses."

Richard looked up. "Marina is already in Monaco discussing the potential transfers of Henry and Thuram."

Hearing this, O’Neill’s brows furrowed in disbelief. "Wait—you’re not the one flying out there yourself?"

"Didn’t I already tell you that Marina would take over transfer matters?"

O’Neill was speechless. "Why her? Why not hand it to me? I know this squad better than anyone," he said, clearly frustrated.

"And for what? So you can bring in players like Sutton Newell, or Gallacher—the ones you keep suggesting?"

"..."

"Look at Blackburn right now. Are they playing well? Yes, they were solid last season, but this season? Not at all. I don’t want to sign one-season wonders. I want players who can perform consistently over many seasons."

"And Henry is good enough in your eyes?" O’Neill challenged.

"At least, even when he’s played out of position, he still managed to score seven goals in his last eleven matches. What about Sutton, Newell, and Gallacher?"

Three players, six goals for current Blackburn. Henry has clearly outperformed them. With this, he’d rather build for the future based on what he knows—three, five, even ten years down the line—to grow, not stagnate.

"...Well, fair enough," O’Neill said with a slow, reluctant nod.

To be honest, they initially just wanted to test the waters—to see if he could challenge the transfer philosophy that Richard had set in stone. But after seeing all this, he began to seriously reflect on his own future.

For the next few days, Manchester City was abuzz with activity. After an anxious wait, fans finally received confirmation that Ronaldo would be sidelined for the rest of the season.

While the news was disappointing and sent supporters into a brief panic, the mood quickly shifted when City announced two shocking transfers: Thierry Henry and Lilian Thuram from AS Monaco!

Click!

The shutter of the club’s official camera snapped, capturing a moment destined for the headlines.

Thierry Henry and Lilian Thuram stood beside Martin O’Neill, each holding up their brand-new sky-blue Manchester City jerseys.

This transfer sent shockwaves through the media and the football world alike. Critics couldn’t believe it—how could top players from Ligue 1 willingly join a struggling team in England’s Second Division?

To many, it seemed like pure nonsense!

Pundits debated fiercely on TV and radio. Questions flooded in: Were Henry and Thuram risking their careers by dropping to a lower league?

Fans and experts alike discussed whether this move was a bold step toward revival or a costly mistake. However, while everyone basically criticized and mocked this move, they forgot that AS Monaco, after a rough start following Arsène Wenger’s departure, was still struggling under Gérard Banide.

In fact, the team was floundering near the bottom of the table, sitting in 16th place—dangerously close to relegation.

Thierry Henry, who had been deployed out of position on the left wing, was visibly frustrated and underperforming. Lilian Thuram, despite his leadership at the back, couldn’t carry the team on his own.

So, City’s current offer of £10 million or 78 million francs, brings a fresh opportunity for both the club and the players. For the club, it means fresh investment while for the players, at least at City, it’s better to play for a team fighting for promotion rather than being stuck in a relegation-threatened side.

Richard personally oversaw the medical check-ups for Henry and Thuram in the physio office. Beside him stood Marina Granovskaia, who had successfully brought the two French players to City.

"Henry wants to try playing as a striker because most of his goals have come when he’s played centrally, not on the left," Marina explained. "So when I heard Ronaldo was injured, I immediately made him a promise—and he agreed. As for Thuram, he wants regular playing time, and I promised him that too."

Richard’s mouth twitched. "Did you coordinate with Martin about this?"

Marina simply shrugged her shoulders. "You said the important thing was to bring them to City first and think about the rest later, right? Besides, you also said both of them are very good players, so they should be able to convince the manager. If they can’t, then there’s nothing I can do. What matters is—they’ve both signed four-year contracts with City."

"..."

Well, she wasn’t wrong.

"I also made them a promise," Marina added. "When the time comes—if they ever want to leave—City won’t stand in their way. We’ll support their next Chapter."

"Absolutely," Richard nodded. "As long as the price is right, we never hold back players who want to move on. That’s part of our philosophy."

You’d think he was joking.

But he wasn’t.

Even if it were Ronaldo or Messi—if Real Madrid or Barcelona came calling with a nine-figure offer—Richard would let them go without hesitation.