Chapter 645 - 122: The Man Wenger Would Bet Everything On
The Greek was both shocked and deeply moved.
Wenger usually seemed stubborn and conservative.
But it was a man just like him who, once he decided to take a risk, would be exceptionally audacious.
"You believe in Wang Shuo that much?"
Wenger nodded unequivocally. "In 2003, we were incredibly close to signing Ronaldo. But at the time, I wasn’t convinced enough, and that gave Manchester United their opening."
"But this time, I am more convinced than I was in 2003. Wang Shuo is the one I’m willing to bet everything on!"
Gazidis was silent for a moment.
He had never seen the usually calm and rational Wenger so emotional and resolute.
"I’m taking this report with me."
Gazidis held up the document in his hand. "I’ll schedule a time as soon as possible to fly to the United States and meet with Kroenke."
"But, Arsène, you know I can’t promise you anything."
"I know." Wenger nodded.
"When you see Kroenke, you must tell him this isn’t emotional blackmail. It’s a business proposal."
"It’s an investment that will make the gradually fading brand of Arsenal shine brightly once more!"
A peculiar glint appeared in Gazidis’s eyes, and his admiration for Wenger deepened.
Wenger had an uncannily accurate read on Kroenke’s mindset.
With that thought, Gazidis saw no reason to stay any longer.
Just as the Greek stood up to leave, a question suddenly occurred to him.
"Arsène, have you spoken with Wang Shuo? How are you so sure he’s the one worth betting everything on?"
Although he had only been at Arsenal for a little over two years, Gazidis had previously worked in Major League Soccer in the United States and had dealt with countless professional players, coaches, and teams.
When it came to professional players, it wasn’t just about their skills. Their character was what was most important!
Some players were amazing at football, but their character was a complete mess.
"Instinct," Wenger replied flatly.
"I’ve been tracking him for three years. Ever since his debut at Mainz, I’ve been watching him. I believe three years is enough time for me to see a person for who they truly are."
Gazidis was a bit surprised, but he still nodded in agreement.
"Also, Arsène, you’d better get in touch with Usmanov’s side as well. Although Kroenke now holds 66.64% of the shares after buying out several other shareholders, Usmanov is the second-largest shareholder with 29.9%."
Although Kroenke now controlled the board and Usmanov, as the second-largest shareholder, couldn’t interfere with decisions, he had more than enough power to stir up trouble.
In fact, Usmanov had proposed several times before that he could inject capital, thereby diluting the shares.
But Kroenke vetoed it.
The American was now just trying to wear down Usmanov’s resolve over time, hoping he would eventually sell his shares.
...
After seeing Gazidis off, Wenger felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body.
He sat on the sofa, unwilling to move for a long time.
Only after regaining some strength did Wenger take out his phone, find David Dunn’s name in his contacts, and dial the number directly.
"Hello, Arsène."
Although David Dunn had left Arsenal under unceremonious circumstances, he and Wenger had remained in very close contact.
"David, can you do me a favor?"
"Anything, just say the word!" David Dunn replied readily.
"I know you have Usmanov’s contact information. Can you pass on a message for me?"
Wenger then briefly and concisely explained his decision to sign Wang Shuo from Dortmund.
He repeatedly stressed that the shareholders wouldn’t need to put up any money; Arsenal would be self-sufficient.
More importantly, he wanted David Dunn to convey his vision.
If Arsenal signed Wang Shuo, the club’s commercial development would receive a massive boost.
Especially in the Asian and North American markets.
Right now, Wang Shuo was the most influential star on the internet.
His number of Twitter followers was unmatched in the world of sports.
If Arsenal could sign such a superstar, it would bring enormous benefits to the team’s commercial development.
And on the competitive front, Wenger was confident that after rebuilding, he could create a team capable of challenging for championships within the next two to three years.
By then, Arsenal’s market value would certainly not be what it was now.
As a minority shareholder, Usmanov would naturally benefit as well.
When Kroenke acquired nearly 70% of Arsenal’s shares, Usmanov had already lost all hope of winning.
His only goal was to sell his shares for the highest possible price.
Therefore, Wenger was very clear that from start to finish, the biggest obstacle to his proposal was Kroenke.
David Dunn readily agreed to Wenger’s request.
He had a personal relationship with Usmanov; he had sold his own Arsenal shares to him.
After hanging up the phone, Wenger let out another heavy sigh.
He collapsed back onto the sofa, his gaze landing on the photo pinned to the tactics board.
This was a huge gamble, the biggest one of his life.
’Maybe Kroenke will refuse me; maybe Wang Shuo won’t want to come to Arsenal; maybe I can’t change anything at all. But at least, I’ve tried.’
It was just like a football match.
You pour all your energy into preparation, commitment, and struggle, so you shouldn’t worry about the final result.
Losing, drawing, and winning—sometimes, those things aren’t up to us to decide.
That’s football, and that’s life!