I sit in my office, feeling the weight of the recent transfer window's intense activity. Beside me, Ancelotti leans back, his demeanor as calm and measured as always. Across from us, Luis, who has been working tirelessly over the past few weeks, is ready to give his report on the extensive transfer dealings we've undertaken. The club's future is riding on these decisions, and we all know it.
Luis straightens in his chair, shuffling a stack of papers on his lap. He has been at the heart of the transfer negotiations, meticulously overseeing every detail. For weeks, he has traveled, negotiated, and handled countless phone calls with clubs, agents, and players. Now, after wrapping up the final deals, he's here to deliver the outcome.
"We've managed to complete all our major transactions," Luis begins, his voice steady but carrying the weight of the work he's done. "First, let's go over the incoming transfers, starting with some key acquisitions for the squad. We secured Marquinhos from Roma for £30 million—a crucial defensive addition. His youth, combined with experience playing in Serie A, should help solidify our backline for the foreseeable future."
Luis pauses briefly, allowing the information to sink in. I nod in approval, knowing how essential it is to reinforce our defense after last season's struggles due to the fact that our best Center Backs were Old.
"Next, we signed Christian Eriksen from Ajax for £13.5 million," he continues. "His vision and playmaking abilities will be vital in our midfield, especially given the demands of both domestic and European competitions. We believe Eriksen will complement our existing midfield structure perfectly."
As he speaks, I can already imagine the possibilities Eriksen will bring to the team—his pinpoint passing, his ability to unlock defenses with a single touch. He's the type of player who could turn tight games in our favor.
Luis continues. "Then, we brought in Antoine Griezmann from Real Sociedad for £25 million. He'll give us a versatile option in attack—someone who can play as a forward or in a wider role. Griezmann's energy and technical ability will add another dimension to our offense, especially given his strong work rate and knack for finding space in tight areas."
I glance at Ancelotti, whose expression remains neutral but thoughtful. I know he has high hopes for Griezmann, who has shown immense promise in La Liga. We both agree he could be a game-changer, especially when combined with our current forwards.
Luis moves on to the next signing. "João Cancelo was brought in from Benfica for £5 million. He's a promising young fullback with excellent attacking instincts. He'll provide much-needed competition for the right-back spot. Shaw, meanwhile, came from Southampton for £15 million to shore up the left side of our defense. His physicality and attacking prowess make him an exciting prospect, and we believe he can grow into one of the best left-backs in the league."
Luis takes a deep breath before continuing, clearly proud of his work. "Guerreiro from Caen was another bargain signing at just £2 million. He's versatile, capable of playing both left-back and further up the pitch. Rodri, a free transfer from Atletico Madrid, will add depth and physicality to our central midfield. And finally, the most interesting of all the free transfers—N'Golo Kante. We managed to bring him in without a transfer fee. His stamina, tenacity, and ball-winning ability are invaluable. With all these moves, our total expenditure on transfers this window has reached £90.5 million. Factoring in agent fees and additional costs, we've spent £106.45 million overall."
Luis pauses, his eyes scanning the room to gauge our reactions. The acquisitions are undeniably impressive, a mix of young talent and proven quality. But as much as I appreciate the incoming players, I'm eager to hear Ancelotti's perspective. His experience is second to none, and I value his opinion on how these new signings fit into our overall strategy.
Ancelotti, always measured in his judgments, finally speaks. "The players you've secured are solid," he says slowly, as though considering each word carefully. "I think most of them will integrate well into the squad, especially Marquinhos and Eriksen. I do, however, have some concerns about Kante. His role will be pivotal, and I'm not entirely convinced he's ready for the intensity of our system just yet. But let's see how he performs once the season kicks off. I'm willing to reserve judgment until then."
I nod, understanding his cautious approach. Kante, though talented, does represent a bit of a gamble. But if he can replicate his performances in a more prominent league, he could turn out to be a vital cog in our midfield machine.
I turn back to Luis, eager to hear about the outgoing transfers. "What about the players we've let go? How do we stand in terms of our outgoings?"
Luis flips a few pages, then begins to list the sales, his tone remaining businesslike. "We've offloaded quite a few players, starting with Ben Amos, who was sold to Cardiff for £1 million. Sam Johnstone went to Burnley for £200,000. Phil Jones secured a £15 million move to Everton, and Johnny Evans was sold to Stoke for £13 million. Michael Keane moved to West Ham for £500,000."
He continues, "We also sold Patrice Evra to Juventus for £6 million, and Alexander Büttner was transferred to PSV for £3.5 million. Rafael was sold to PSG for £15 million, and his twin brother, Fabio, went to Fulham for £4 million. Cleverley made a £10 million switch to Arsenal, and Anderson moved to Getafe for £3 million. Shinji Kagawa returned to Dortmund for £8 million."
Luis pauses momentarily, gathering his thoughts before finishing the list. "There were a few free transfers as well: Bebe and Macheda were both let go for free. Danny Welbeck was loaned out to Arsenal with a £10 million buyout clause, and Javier Hernandez, Chicharito, was sold to Sevilla for £13 million. Januzaj was loaned to Antwerp, and James Wilson was released on a free transfer. All told, our outgoing transfers have brought in £102.2 million, leaving us with a net loss of just £4.25 million for the window."
I take a moment to absorb this. We've managed to recoup a significant amount through sales, far more than I had expected. Some of the prices we got for players were remarkable, especially considering the performances of a few in recent seasons. I glance at Ancelotti to see how he's processing the squad turnover.
Ancelotti, always pragmatic, studies the updated roster. He seems deep in thought, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of our current squad. "Our squad is in a good place," he finally says. "It's sizable and balanced. We have the talent and depth to push for our goals this season. While I don't think we're quite ready to challenge for the Premier League title just yet, we're certainly strong enough to qualify for the Champions League. A quarterfinal finish in the Champions League is realistic, provided we avoid major injuries and the new players adapt quickly."
He then begins to list the current squad positions, as if cataloging the team in his mind:
Goalkeepers:De Gea, Lindegaard, Donnarumma
Center-Backs:Vidic, Ferdinand, Van Dijk, Smalling, Marquinhos
Fullbacks:Carvajal, Kimmich, Young, Valencia, Shaw, Cancelo, Guerreiro
Midfielders:Kroos, Eriksen, De Bruyne, Carrick, Fletcher, Kante, Lingard, Rodri
Wingers:Nani, Giggs, Sane, Dembele, Mahrez, Coman
Strikers:Lewandowski, Rooney, Griezmann
Looking over the list, it strikes me how versatile and well-rounded this team is. There's a balance between experienced veterans and emerging young stars, between defensive solidity and attacking flair. With the likes of Lewandowski and Griezmann up front, and a midfield capable of controlling games, we certainly have the firepower. The defense, too, looks formidable with Vidic, Ferdinand, and the newly signed Marquinhos and Van Dijk.
As I reflect on the squad's potential, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement. We've done the hard work in the transfer window. Now, it's time to see if these pieces can come together on the pitch.
"I think we're set for the season," I say, leaning back in my chair. "The squad looks ready, the transfers have been finalized, and now it's all about seeing how it unfolds."
Ancelotti nods, his eyes still scanning the squad list. "Indeed. Now, let's see if the results follow."