Luis and I stepped off the plane onto the tarmac at Munich International Airport, feeling the crisp Bavarian air hit our faces. We had just arrived in Germany, and waiting for us was a representative from Bayern Munich. As we moved through the airport toward the exit, a man in a smart suit approached us with a friendly yet professional smile.
"Good day, gentlemen. My name is Frank, and I am both your guide and a representative of the club. Your meeting with the board is scheduled for two hours from now. In the meantime, I'm here to assist with anything you may need," he said, speaking with the kind of efficiency that you would expect from someone in his role. While he spoke, we were already being escorted to a sleek black car waiting outside.
"Thank you for your hospitality," I replied, exchanging a glance with Luis. "We don't require anything at the moment, so we're happy to wait until the meeting."
Frank nodded but quickly added, "I understand, but while you wait, I can offer you a tour of our facilities and the club's grounds."
Luis and I exchanged another glance, intrigued by the offer. "That sounds good," I agreed, and soon enough, we were on a guided tour of the impressive facilities. The scale and attention to detail in Bayern Munich's complex was astonishing—state-of-the-art training fields, fitness centers, and a media room that rivaled some of the best I'd seen.
Two hours later, after the tour, we were escorted to a high-ceilinged conference room where Bayern Munich's sporting director, Matthias Sammer, awaited us. As we walked in, he stood to greet us with a firm handshake, exuding the calm authority of someone who had spent years in football at the highest level.
"Congratulations on your recent acquisition of Manchester United," he began, smiling. "The news was quite a surprise."
"Thank you," I replied, taking my seat. "I felt the time was right to take over. The Glazers didn't leave much to be desired in their management of the club."
Matthias nodded knowingly, clearly familiar with the controversies that had surrounded the Glazers' tenure. He leaned forward slightly. "Well, let's get straight to it, shall we? What brings you to Munich today?"
I took a deep breath, knowing this was the critical moment. "We're interested in bringing Toni Kroos to Manchester United. I believe he could be a transformative player for our midfield."
There was a pause as Matthias processed my request. He glanced at some papers in front of him before responding. "Toni Kroos is undoubtedly one of our most valuable players. While we could be open to negotiations, our new coach has specifically requested that he remains for the upcoming season. He sees Toni as crucial to his plans."
I nodded, but I had done my homework. "With all due respect, Matthias, if your coach truly valued Kroos that much, he wouldn't be making moves to bring in Mario Götze for a hefty fee. We both know Kroos and Götze play similar roles, and it's unlikely they can coexist on the same team for long."
Matthias leaned back in his chair, clearly weighing my words. He was a seasoned negotiator, and I could tell he was testing the waters to see how serious we were.
"I see you've come prepared," he said with a slight smile. "What's your opening offer?"
"We're willing to offer £20 million as a straight transfer fee, paid in full," I stated confidently, knowing that Bayern Munich valued Kroos highly but hoping the upfront payment would tempt them.
Matthias' eyebrows raised slightly, betraying his surprise. "£20 million is a strong offer, but I don't believe it's quite enough. Toni's market value is higher than that. We would need at least £30 million to consider letting him go."
I expected him to push back. Bayern Munich wasn't a club that needed to sell players, and Kroos was one of their valued assets. But I wasn't ready to back down just yet. "I understand your position," I began, "but I still believe £30 million is excessive, considering Kroos' contract situation. However, we're willing to make a compromise. We'll meet you at £20 million, with an additional £5 million in bonuses if we win the Premier League within the next two years."
Matthias leaned forward, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the table. He wasn't someone who rushed into decisions, but I could tell he was intrigued by the offer. After a few moments of consideration, he nodded. "Your offer is reasonable. We can agree to those terms. You're free to speak to Kroos and his representatives about a contract."
We stood and shook hands, sealing the deal with a sense of mutual respect. As we walked out of the room, I turned to Luis. "I'll leave you to handle the contract negotiations with Kroos. I have another flight to catch—there's a striker whose signature we need to secure before the window closes."
Luis nodded, and we parted ways, each of us knowing that this was just the beginning of a new chapter for Manchester United.