Football Dynasty

When Richard made the decision on the spot to slash the price by 50%, AS Roma’s upper management was thrown into turmoil.

Currently, Cafu was already recognized as one of the best right-backs, at least an ideal fit for Roma’s current system. The club needed a reliable and dynamic full-back, someone capable of making overlapping runs, providing width, and delivering accurate crosses. Cafu’s style of play perfectly matched the tactical direction Roma was aiming for.

Italian clubs in the 1990s were increasingly investing in South American talent—particularly Brazilians—due to their technical skills and flair. Having Aldair at Roma may have also helped convince Cafu to join them

The problem was the £12 million price tag, which would consume Roma’s entire transfer budget. And now, Manchester City decided to cut the price to just £6 million—plus Francesco Totti. This sparked intense conflict between the upper management and the current manager.

New manager Carlos Bianchi was even willing to let Totti leave for Manchester City, which made Richard grin at the outcome. However, just as the deal was about to go through, Roma chairman Franco Sensi blocked the transfer at the last minute!

Mr. Sensi even decided to fly to Manchester to meet City’s representative at the time—Marina Granovskaia.

After the meeting, Marina immediately turned to Richard for a decision.

"Roma will only pay a maximum of 24 billion lire for Cafu. Anything more, and they’ll walk away."

24 billion lire—roughly £10 million—and no Francesco Totti.

Richard sighed. It seemed the Prince of Rome was destined to remain... the Prince of Rome.

Thinking about it, Richard was in a dilemma. Did he really want to sell Cafu? Naturally, no.

"What did Cafu say about this?"

What else?

It’s Serie A we’re talking about—the best league in the world.

Thankfully, Richard had already thought ahead and was searching for a replacement for Cafu: Javier Zanetti.

While the deal for Cafu had the green light from the manager but was blocked by the chairman, the situation with Javier Zanetti was the exact opposite. Roy Hodgson wanted to keep Javier Zanetti, but Inter’s chairman, Massimo Moratti, was keen on acquiring Roberto Carlos.

Naturally, Richard didn’t want to lose both Roberto Carlos and Cafu.

The best-case scenario for City was: even if they lost Cafu, they would still have Roberto Carlos at left-back and Javier Zanetti at right-back.

With that plan in mind, Richard personally met with Roberto Carlos. But he didn’t expect his words to offend the player instead.

Richard knew exactly how things were going for Roberto Carlos at Inter Milan—it wasn’t going well. Roy Hodgson, instead of playing him as a left-back, used him as a winger, which contributed to a disappointing season.

Richard didn’t tell Roberto Carlos the future, but he hinted that Carlos might not be ready for Serie A yet. That remark left Roberto Carlos feeling disrespected and dissatisfied.

In the end, City’s vice-captain fell out with Richard and became determined to leave for Inter Milan to prove himself, leaving Richard speechless.

’It’s fine though,’ Richard thought to himself. ’We still have Zambrotta and Steve Finnan to cover Roberto’s absence.’

So, Richard instructed Marina Granovskaia to agree to Inter Milan’s offer: £5 million plus Javier Zanetti in exchange for Roberto Carlos.

"What about Roma and Cafu?"

"What else can we do? When Cafu joined City in the first place, I already promised him I would never stand in his way if he wanted to leave."

As the captain of the Brazilian national team, Richard was reluctant to end things on bad terms with Cafu.

The problem was, Cafu had significant influence over the other Brazilian players. That’s why Richard hoped that later, if City ever turned their eyes toward young Brazilian talent, having Cafu’s endorsement could open doors that money couldn’t. At the very least, he could put in a good word.

After wrapping up the Roberto Carlos and Cafu affair, Richard took a brief step away from the intense world of football. He boarded his private jet and flew straight to London, where the British International Motor Show was being held at the iconic Earls Court Exhibition Centre.

This time, he didn’t show up in his usual Porsche.

Instead, he arrived behind the wheel of his brand-new customized McLaren F1—a long-awaited masterpiece that had finally arrived! (Chapter 61)

As the engine roared to life, Richard felt the vibration through the carbon fiber monocoque. The naturally aspirated BMW V12 behind him growled like a predator, held back only by his own restraint. He pressed the accelerator, and the McLaren surged forward like a bullet, the needle climbing past 100 km/h in just over three seconds.

Richard was thrilled as London’s narrow streets blurred into streaks of color, weaving through traffic with effortless control. Upon arrival, he pulled up in front of Earls Court, the low-slung hypercar glinting beneath the pale afternoon sun.

Today’s Agenda: The Rover Group is set to launch its third car following the takeover by the Maddox Group!

After the successful release of the Rover 100 and the Rover 100 Cabriolet, the group is now unveiling its first-ever sports car—a bold new model designed to compete head-to-head with the Mazda MX-5, BMW Z3, and Toyota MR2.

The stage lights bathed the podium in brilliance as the crowd inside Earls Court Exhibition Centre fell silent. The large Rover Group banner hung proudly overhead, now stamped with the sleek new Maddox Group logo.

Alan Mulally, standing tall in a dark suit, stepped up to the microphone. He paused for a moment, letting the tension build.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice calm but powerful, "today marks not just the launch of a car—but the rebirth of a British icon."

Behind him, the curtain lifted.

There it stood: MG F — Mark I.

Sleek. Balanced. Proudly mid-engined. Its design had been shaped under the watchful eye of Rover Special Projects, with expert input from outside contractors to determine its perfect configuration.

Mulally continued: "Powered by a 1.8-litre K-Series 16-valve engine, the Rover F offers two exciting options: a standard 118-horsepower version and a VVC (Variable Valve Control) variant producing 143 horsepower. And yes… it’s fast enough to make you forget you’re not in Stuttgart or Tokyo."

The crowd chuckled.

"But what really sets this car apart," he said, walking over and placing a hand on the roof, "is its ride. The Hydragas suspension—a system of interconnected fluid and gas displacers—gives it a feel unlike any other in its class."

"This isn’t just our response to our competitor but also the explanation for why most sports cars are always expensive. Here’s a chart showing affordable sports cars in Britain."

Model — Price Range (GBP) — Notes

Mark I: £14,000 – £18,000 (Affordable British sports car)

Mazda MX-5: £16,000 – £18,000 (The biggest rival in the segment)

Toyota MR2: £18,000 – £20,000 (Mid-engine, slightly pricier)

BMW Z3: £20,000 – £25,000 (More premium, more expensive)

A few gasps from the more technically inclined journalists followed before the crowd erupted in applause. As flashbulbs popped and cameras rolled, Mullaly smiled.

He could already see it: the MG F would quickly shoot to the top of the affordable sports car charts in Britain and remain there until he said it was time to stop.

This was just the beginning.

After finishing the Rover Group presentation, Richard did not disturb Alan Mulally or Fay Loan. Instead, he immediately went to his two hotels, both currently fully operated under Maddox Group properties, which are now rebranding as Maddox Construction and Property Management under CEO Stuart Olm.

Stuart reported directly to Richard about two key programs for the hotels: "We are rolling out a targeted advertising campaign aimed at European travelers, which is expected to boost bookings in the upcoming quarter. Additionally, environmental programs focusing on waste reduction are being developed in line with emerging industry trends."

Rising operational costs, notably in energy and staffing, require ongoing management attention. However, overall, Richard was satisfied with how the two hotels have gained a solid foothold in the hotel industry.

Renaissance St Pancras London – Report

[...

Revenue stands at approximately £9.2 million for the quarter, marking a steady growth of 5% compared to the previous quarter.

Occupancy rates average around 78%, slightly above the London city average.

ARR has increased slightly to £245, supported by higher demand for premium rooms.

RevPAR shows a positive trend, driven by strong weekend bookings

...]

The Biltmore Mayfair Hotel

[...

Recorded revenue is £7.8 million this quarter, showing a 3% increase year-over-year.

Occupancy shows a positive trend, driven by solid corporate bookings.

Average Room Rate (ARR) remains at £185.

RevPAR holds steady, supported by consistent corporate bookings

...]

After concluding his engagements with Rover Group and Maddox Construction and Property Management, Richard now headed toward Maddox Entertainment, where his brother currently served as CEO.

According to the latest quarterly report from Maddox Entertainment, Richard was aware that Harry—his brother—was actively working on launching a girl group to compete with the wave of boy bands dominating the UK pop music scene.

"I know," Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But it’s not enough to just rely on Radiohead and Oasis. The market’s shifting. Boy bands and girl groups—that’s where the money is now. The pie’s massive, and we’re not even cutting into it yet."

Richard leaned back, arms crossed. "What happened to the three boys I introduced you to?"

"You mean Kian, Mark, and Shane?" Harry nodded. "They’re in the dormitory. Talented, no doubt. But like you said, the group needs five. I’m still searching for the final two."

He wasn’t wrong. Westlife—though the name hadn’t yet been decided—was destined to be a five-piece. And that exact combination would soon define a generation.

Richard didn’t say anything. He simply pulled a pen from his coat pocket, leaned over Harry’s desk, and wrote down two names with confident strokes: Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden.

"These two complete the picture."

Harry stared at the names, his eyes lighting up. Then a frown formed.

"Wait... how do you know them? Have you already checked their vocals? Their stage presence?"

"Do you really think I’d bring names to the table without doing my homework?"

Harry laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, alright. I get it. That’s why you’re you." He picked up the paper carefully, like it was gold.

He never doubted Richard’s instinct for people. Just look at Manchester City—half their current talent came through Richard’s brain alone. Now, they were Premier League contenders. If Richard said these two were the missing pieces... they were.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Just as the two brothers were deep in discussion, a knock came at the door. Harry’s fiancee, Sarah, stepped in with a folder in her hands. She paused, surprised to see Richard sitting there.

"A surprise inspection? Harry didn’t tell me you were coming," she said, raising an eyebrow.

Richard smiled, rising slightly to greet her. "Nothing that formal. I’m just stopping by," he said casually. Then, noticing the folder in her hands, he added with interest, "Another report?"

Sarah nodded and walked in, comfortable in Richard’s presence—he was family, after all. She sat down beside Harry and handed him the file.

"It’s about the new girl group Harry’s been working on," she began, her voice more serious now. "The girls are starting to feel insecure. Some are even thinking of leaving the company."

Harry frowned, flipping through the pages.

"I tried to persuade them to stay," Sarah continued, "but without official contracts in place, they’re frustrated with how things are being managed. They feel like the direction keeps shifting, and they don’t see a clear future here."

Richard exchanged a glance with Harry, who looked troubled.

Richard knew that creating this girl group wasn’t a spontaneous idea. Over the past year, Harry had been laying the groundwork carefully. He had even organized an open audition, placing an advertisement in the trade paper The Stage, calling for female singers to try out for an all-girl pop group. The auditions were held at London’s Danceworks studios.

The response was overwhelming—approximately 400 women showed up, each chasing a dream.

The audition process was rigorous. The hopefuls were placed into groups of ten and asked to perform a dance routine to "Stay" by Eternal. After that, each contestant had a solo audition, performing a song of their own choice.

It was a tough selection process, but it was clear: Harry was serious about finding the best talent.

Richard had no intention of interfering with Harry and Sarah’s work. This was their project.That was, until Harry suddenly tossed a folder onto the table in front of him.

"Help me look through this," Harry said, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Tell me if you see anything promising."

Richard’s eyebrows shot up. ’Why are you dragging me into this?’

Even Sarah looked surprised, but she stayed quiet, watching the tension rise between the two brothers.

With a reluctant sigh, Richard picked up the folder—but not before asking the obvious question.

"Why are you still refusing to offer those girls a contract?"

There was a pause. Harry said nothing.

He and Sarah exchanged a glance. Finally, it was Sarah who answered on his behalf.

"After the five women were selected for the group, they made some… unexpected changes. They unilaterally added a rap section to one of the songs Harry had carefully written for them—and insisted on keeping it."

Harry had been furious. He felt they were being reckless with something he’d crafted so deliberately.

She hesitated, then added, "Harry told them that if they couldn’t learn to write songs properly and work as a team, there would be no contract."

Richard listened in silence.

Sarah continued more cautiously now. "And now, after producing a new track called Sugar and Spice, they’re asking to change the group’s name—from Touch to Spice."

She glanced at Harry before finishing, "Touch was a name Harry personally chose. He took it… a little too personally."

In other words, it was an ego problem.

Richard shook his head before opening the folder and carefully looking at the names one by one:

Victoria Adams, Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Geraldine Halliwell, Emma Bunton.

What could Richard say?

They had almost missed the chance to sign what could become the most iconic and best-selling British girl group of all time.

Richard decided this time, his big brother wasn’t getting off easy.

Why would someone with an Oxford degree in business management feel the need to interfere with the creative work of a group of girls who had clearly spent years immersed in music?

Sarah looked visibly surprised. For the first time, she saw just how directly Richard was rebuking his brother—not just as family, but as the current Chairman of the Maddox Group.