Chapter 364: Lin Quan and Guardiola Personally Secure Kanté, Manchester City Bids for Salah
January 24th, Rennes, the second-largest city in northwest France. Roazhon Park, Round 22 of Ligue 1. The match between 10th place Rennes and third-to-last Caen was underway. Normally, this match wouldn't attract much attention since neither team is particularly famous and Ligue 1 doesn't have a high viewership. However, when the cameras caught Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and the new Ballon d'Or winner Lin Quan in the stands, the fans went wild.
"Guardiola? What's he doing here?" "Is he scouting our players?"
The Rennes fans naturally assumed Guardiola was interested in their players since it was their home game. But in fact, Guardiola was there to watch Caen's number 17, N'Golo Kanté.
When Guardiola realized he was on the big screen, he waved and smiled at the fans. Lin Quan, next to him, clenched his right fist and made a cheering gesture, seemingly encouraging the players.
Their presence excited both teams' players. Lin Quan was a role model for many young players who aspired to become famous overnight like him. Guardiola, being a world-class coach, represented a gateway to playing for a big club.
Determined to catch Guardiola's eye, the players put extra effort into their performances. Midfielders were particularly motivated, as Guardiola has a penchant for signing midfielders.
Rennes' star midfielder, André, assumed Guardiola was there for him, leading him to play with extra enthusiasm. In the 15th minute, André scored a goal. Instead of celebrating with his teammates, he looked towards the stands to gauge Guardiola's reaction. Seeing Guardiola and Lin Quan applauding boosted his confidence, making him believe he had impressed the City manager.
However, his overenthusiasm backfired. Due to his mistakes, Caen managed to equalize before halftime. André's performance deteriorated further in the second half, and Caen seized the opportunity, scoring three more goals to win 4-1.
The home defeat angered Rennes fans, who had expected a victory against a newly promoted team. André, the main culprit for the loss, faced widespread criticism. Fans couldn't understand why Guardiola would be interested in such a player.
But Guardiola wasn't there for André or the match MVP, Julien. His eyes were fixed on Caen's number 17, the diminutive Kanté. Anyone who understood the game would have noticed his exceptional performance.
"How did he do?" Lin Quan asked after the match.
"Very impressive, he has great potential!" Guardiola's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Let's go meet him."
Kanté was surprised to receive a call from his agent saying Guardiola wanted to meet him. He was even more shocked to find himself sitting with Guardiola and Lin Quan at a café.
"Sit down, N'Golo, don't be nervous," Guardiola said with a smile. Lin Quan offered to order something for him, but Kanté, feeling overwhelmed, declined.
Once Kanté calmed down, Guardiola got straight to the point. "N'Golo, I want to bring you to Manchester City. Are you interested?"
Kanté, still in disbelief, quickly nodded. For someone from a grassroots background, an invitation from a Premier League giant was a dream come true.
Unlike those who came through professional academies, Kanté's journey was arduous. He had been rejected by several youth academies and played for a semi-professional club until he was 19. In 2010, he finally joined a professional club in Ligue 2, but they got relegated to the third tier. After gaining some experience, he joined Caen and helped them secure promotion to Ligue 1.
Guardiola and Lin Quan were impressed by Kanté's story and determination. After sealing the deal with Kanté, Guardiola turned to Lin Quan for more advice.
"The team still needs a center-back, a midfielder, and a forward. Do you have any other recommendations?"
Lin Quan thought for a moment. "For center-back, Stuttgart's Rüdiger is good. He's affordable, especially after his recent injury. Around €15 million should do it. As for a midfielder, I know someone who could be as good as Makelele at his peak. His name is N'Golo Kanté, and he plays for Caen in Ligue 1."
Guardiola was stunned but intrigued. Lin Quan's suggestions had been spot-on so far, and he trusted his judgment. They both agreed to secure the players before bigger clubs took notice.
The reality was that Caen was a weak team. Halfway through the season, they were at the bottom of Ligue 1 and were likely to be relegated back to Ligue 2. N'Golo Kanté, born in 1991, was about to turn 24. Spending a few more years in lower leagues would waste his prime as a professional player.
So, Guardiola's offer from Manchester City was like a lifeline for Kanté. He would have accepted even if it had come from a mid-tier Premier League team like Leicester City. Guardiola was surprised at how easily he secured Kanté, expecting more negotiation.
To avoid any complications and to compensate Caen, Manchester City offered £8 million. After some negotiation, the final price was set at £9 million, approximately €11 million. On January 25th, Manchester City announced the transfer on their club website.
This transfer was done so quickly that the public had no prior knowledge of it until Manchester City's official announcement. Fans were puzzled by the signing of Kanté, as they knew nothing about him. How could Manchester City be interested in a player with such an obscure background, one who had mostly played in lower leagues?
Guardiola, unfazed by public opinion, focused on finding a defender and a forward next.
In a Stuttgart hospital, a tall, young black player lay on a bed, staring at the ceiling. Antonio Rüdiger had suffered a meniscus injury a month ago, ending his season and requiring knee surgery. For a player not yet 22, such an injury was a significant risk. He was likely to lose his starting spot at Stuttgart and had already seen potential suitors retract their offers due to his injury.
The stark contrast between his past acclaim and current uncertainty left Rüdiger disheartened. His agent, Saif Rubie, visited him, trying to lift his spirits.
"Hey, Antonio, you need to stay strong!" Rubie said. "Focus on your recovery, leave the club matters to me. Trust me!"
Rüdiger was moved by Rubie's unwavering support during his low point, deepening his trust in him.
"I've discussed with Stuttgart. Once you recover, we'll see if you can get back into the starting lineup. If not, we'll look for a loan move. You need regular games to develop at this age."
Rüdiger nodded in agreement. Approaching 22, he needed playing time to maintain his growth, and a loan move could provide that opportunity. Without the injury, he wouldn't have faced any issues securing a starting spot.
"Where would the loan be? Germany or abroad?"
"I've spoken to Roma. They're interested in you. If you recover well, you could play in Serie A."
Roma was a reputable club, competitive in Serie A. Playing in Italy could help him develop his defensive skills. As Rüdiger was about to agree, Rubie received a phone call that left him smiling widely.
"Good news! We don't need a loan anymore. A top club has made an offer!"
"A top club? Who?"
"Manchester City!"
On January 26th, shortly after announcing their second winter transfer, Manchester City revealed their third: Stuttgart's main center-back, Antonio Rüdiger, transferred for €10 million. Last summer, clubs had offered €15 million for Rüdiger, but Stuttgart declined. His severe injury devalued him by a third, and Stuttgart, fearing permanent damage to his performance, quickly accepted Manchester City's offer.
With two new defenders and a midfielder, Guardiola concluded his defensive and midfield signings. As the transfer window neared its end, only a forward remained on his shopping list. On January 27th, The Sun reported that Manchester City had made a £12 million bid for Chelsea's Mohamed Salah.
(Chapter End)