Chapter 342: Everyone Welcomes Bruno

Chapter 342: Everyone Welcomes Bruno

As August approached, Bruno, still on vacation, was asked by Vanessa, "By the way, when are you going to Manchester?"

"The contract negotiations have been going on for two months. It should be finalized soon. After a couple more days of rest, I plan to go to Manchester to look for a house," Bruno replied.

His agent, Mendes, was already preparing for this. It wasn't just Bruno; Kanté had also asked where he would live, planning to be Bruno's neighbor. Maguire was also waiting for Bruno to choose a house so they could all live in the same neighborhood.

Bruno didn't plan to buy a house in Manchester city center. Living there would mean no privacy due to constant fan and paparazzi attention. Instead, he considered buying or renting a house in a high-end suburb. Manchester's real estate prices were not high, especially for upscale detached villas. Bruno thought he might stay in Manchester for a long time, possibly retiring at Manchester United, so he considered buying a house.

He remembered renting a house in Udine for three years, which doubled in value after he moved out. This was rare for the stagnant real estate market in Udine, and the main selling point was that Bruno had lived there. So this time, Bruno thought it would be better to invest in a house himself.

He had already asked Mendes to look for properties in Manchester. After a couple more days of rest, he planned to go to Manchester with Vanessa to check them out.

Vanessa, already wealthy, had made a fortune by betting on Leicester City's championship last season, earning £50 million. Now, her net worth exceeded Bruno's. However, neither of them cared much about this. Their relationship was very strong, and Bruno was already planning to marry Vanessa. He had entrusted her with managing all his earnings so he could focus solely on football.

As July ended and the new season of European leagues approached, the summer transfer market heated up.

Manchester United, under Mourinho's leadership, had played two friendly matches in China: one against Borussia Dortmund in Shanghai on July 22 and another against Guardiola's Manchester City in Beijing on July 25. The squad traveling to China included only the older players. New signings, including Ibrahimović, missed the friendlies due to their participation in the European Championship.

According to UEFA regulations, players who participated in the European Championship were required to have at least three weeks of rest. Although Ibrahimović joined Manchester United on July 2, he did not join the China tour to ensure he got enough rest. Mourinho considered giving him his debut in the friendly against Galatasaray on July 30 or against Everton on August 3.

As for Kanté, he wouldn't be available until the Everton friendly at the earliest.

In an interview, Mourinho expressed his excitement about signing the Swedish striker, considering him the best striker in the world who would play a crucial role in the new season. Mourinho admitted that coaching Manchester United had been his dream for many years but also acknowledged the immense pressure, given the strong competition from Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. However, he was confident in leading the team to success.

Regarding the widespread rumors that both Manchester United and Manchester City wanted to sign Portuguese superstar Bruno from Udinese, Mourinho stated that United needed to act swiftly. He even expressed his willingness to personally persuade Bruno to join.

"I hope he comes to Manchester United because I know him well. I know he is one of the best players on this planet, and I can maximize his potential and even further improve his skills," Mourinho said.

He revealed that he had wanted to sign Bruno while at Chelsea but had failed to do so. He believed that Manchester United was the best choice for Bruno.

"If he goes to Barcelona or Real Madrid, he will always be under Messi and Ronaldo. But at Manchester United, he would become the darling of Old Trafford and a hero to all Red Devils fans."

In addition to Mourinho, Swedish star Ibrahimović also welcomed Bruno.

"I know the club is actively pursuing Bruno, and I think they should keep up the effort. If there's anyone in the world who can impress me, it's definitely Bruno!"

"I believe if he joins Manchester United, we will form the strongest attacking duo on the planet."

Manchester United captain Rooney also welcomed Bruno in an interview, saying the dressing room would fully support his arrival.

"He is a phenomenal player, and we need someone like him more than ever. I promise him that the dressing room will welcome him unconditionally!"

Martial, despite losing to Bruno in the European Championship final, also hoped he would join Manchester United.

"He is an exciting superstar and one who can bring victories to the team. No one would reject him."

The high-frequency invitations from Manchester United, from the coach to the captain to the dressing room, showed the club's sincerity, catching the attention of global media and fans.

The Manchester Evening News conducted a poll on their website: "Who do you most want to see join Manchester United next?" Bruno led the poll by a landslide, being the top wish for Manchester United fans.

The Manchester Evening News also revealed that new owner Jassim, in an interview, stated that Manchester United would do everything possible to sign Bruno from Udinese, as it was crucial for the club's success over the next decade.

Jassim's remarks were seen as a positive signal to reassure impatient Manchester United fans. However, local rival Manchester City was also increasing their efforts. The Manchester Evening News reported that Manchester City might offer €200 million to lure Bruno from Udinese and provide a weekly salary of £300,000, far surpassing Rooney's salary at United.

Guardiola, in an interview, also publicly stated, "There is no issue with Bruno and De Bruyne coexisting. Both are top players, and their cooperation would create the most beautiful football in the world."

This was seen as Manchester City's final push.

As Manchester United flew back from China, Bruno and Vanessa Hessler quietly arrived in Manchester, avoiding media attention.

They visited three detached villas in Cheshire arranged by Mendes, priced between £3 million and £6 million. Two were second-hand, and one was newly renovated. All were very nice.

The security measures in these villa areas were very tight, similar to top villa communities in other countries, making it difficult for outsiders to enter. The communities had 24-hour patrols, ensuring absolute security.

Cheshire was a famous wealthy area in England, especially favored by football stars. Not only did players from Manchester's two teams like living there, but footballers from other parts of the UK also bought homes there. Chelsea captain Terry and Liverpool legend Dalglish owned top properties in Cheshire.

Notably, Ferguson, Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney, and Carrick had houses there.

After viewing several villas, Bruno and Vanessa finally decided on one.

This villa was in the core area of the Wilmslow community, covering 30 acres. The plot was rectangular, surrounded by high walls covered with ivy. Inside, there was a dense layer of barbed wire. If anyone attempted to break in, the alarm system would be triggered, and security would arrive within five minutes.

From the street, through the high walls, it was clear the property was large with excellent greenery. Around the wall was a row of trees, and through the gaps, the upper floors of the white building could be seen.

The gate was simple, with surveillance cameras facing the street and walls. According to the real estate agent, the villa had the most advanced and secure smart security system.

The most attractive feature for Bruno was the gate's number, a classic Arabic numeral 8.

"This is Plot No. 8 in the Wilmslow community. The original building was an old house bought and rebuilt by a foreign investor a few years ago, designed by two famous British companies. The design concept was a garden-style landscape."

"The villa occupies 30 acres, with a building area of 1,500 square meters. It has seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, a four-car garage, an indoor swimming pool, the most advanced gym, a cricket and tennis court, a spa, and a home theater. The rest is garden, each with different landscapes. The arched gate corresponds with the round wall of the building, providing unique structure and privacy."

(End of Chapter)

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