Chapter 75: A Perfect Match

"You mean… José is interested in the shares we hold?"

It had been a year since they last met, and it seemed that Antonio Asensio had changed considerably. A year ago, he had been a lively old man, though thin, he had seemed to be full of energy. However, a year later, his complexion had grown much paler, and his already thin body had become even more frail, with frequent coughing fits.

Seeing him like this, Juan couldn't help but feel upset. He had known his father's health wasn't great for quite some time. In fact, it was his father's declining health that had prompted him to step down from the president position a year ago. After all, a sharp, capable man like Asensio, with a strong desire for power, would never have resigned from the position of president of Mallorca if not for his health.

During his time as president, Asensio had led Mallorca to the most glorious years in its history, including winning the Copa del Rey, the Super Cup, and finishing third in La Liga—achievements that had never been reached before. In terms of club management, Asensio had been outstanding, keeping the second-largest shareholder, Grande, completely in check. Unfortunately, despite his successes, Asensio's health was no match for Grande's. Grande was younger and healthier, something Asensio could not accept.

He wasn't alone in his frustration—anyone would feel the same. If he had known Chinese history, he might have compared himself to Zhuge Liang, with Grande as the ever-resilient Sima Yi. But luckily for him, he had a good friend by his side—someone capable of managing Mallorca, someone with no stake in the club but a strong relationship with Asensio—Alemany.

Thus, before stepping down as president, Asensio's final act was to place Alemany in charge. Asensio was pleased with this decision, knowing that Alemany, without any shares in the club, would essentially be working for the Asensio family, who still held the majority of the shares. Asensio trusted Alemany's ability to manage the club well and continue bringing in profits. If he had known Chinese history, he might have compared his actions to Zhuge Liang's strategy to eliminate Wei Yan.

However, Asensio wasn't exactly Zhuge Liang. While he had foreseen Alemany becoming even closer to the Asensio family, he also calculated that Alemany's experience would be useful to Juan, as Juan would struggle against Grande without Alemany's help. But one thing Asensio hadn't foreseen was the impact of the Champions League reform.

Before the 1999-2000 season, the Champions League, although expanded to include second-place league teams, was still largely dominated by a few top clubs. The income from the competition was not very significant for most teams, and the level of competition in domestic leagues wasn't as intense as it would later become. Therefore, top clubs were still cautious with their investments.

However, from the 1999-2000 season, the Champions League expanded further, and more clubs could benefit from it. The increased revenue immediately sparked investment from clubs, including Mallorca, who, eager for the Champions League's lucrative rewards, raised the salaries of their players and increased expenses. This was a normal move—after all, if a club's income increased, but players' salaries remained stagnant, the players might start seeking transfers.

But Asensio and the other shareholders overlooked one detail: while the Champions League revenue was still uncertain, the increased expenses had to be paid upfront. This difference would lead to Mallorca's financial troubles, setting the stage for a disastrous period.

Gómez clearly demonstrated the difference between a regular coach and a renowned manager. Under Cooper's leadership, Mallorca played ugly football but still achieved impressive results. Had Cooper stayed, the increased spending might not have been a waste. Unfortunately, under Gómez, Mallorca lost their hard-earned Champions League qualification in a matter of days and ended up in the UEFA Cup.

Although José later arrived to save the situation and led the team to its first-ever European trophy, Mallorca still suffered heavy financial losses. A deficit of 10 million euros greatly affected Asensio's health, and his condition worsened further.

Thanks to José's efforts, Mallorca made a profit from selling Tristan, turning a potential disaster into a success. However, Asensio knew that the club couldn't continue relying on player sales to cover losses. If the club didn't develop more talent, it would soon face relegation.

Cooper had always been able to bring out talented young players, but after José took over, he relied heavily on experienced veterans, and although he developed Tristan, the team's lack of youth players and poor start to the season left Mallorca in a precarious position. Without Champions League qualification, the club's deficit would likely worsen.

Asensio's family wasn't just Asensio alone—there were others, and without dividends to keep them happy, they wouldn't tolerate their money being tied up in a failing club. When Asensio had acquired his shares in Mallorca, it hadn't been with his personal money but with his family's.

So, in reality, Juan's growing desire to sell his shares in Mallorca was heavily influenced by his father. The two had often discussed selling shares, and Juan had always been in favor of it—he preferred to invest the money in Málaga, as he was a fan of that club.

However, very few people had both the interest and the means to buy Mallorca's shares. Grande was a potential buyer, but Asensio refused to sell to him. For Asensio, admitting defeat to Grande was worse than death.

Now that José expressed interest in buying Mallorca's shares, Juan was surprised, but after leaving José, he immediately went home to report it to his father.

Hearing his father's question, Juan nodded. "Yes, that's right… Although he seemed casual about it, I know José well enough that when he wants something, he tends to act like he doesn't care. He's the same as always."

Juan felt a bit pleased with himself—he wasn't easily fooled, after all! But José's mannerisms were probably just habitual; only a childhood friend would pick up on them.

Asensio, though, wasn't aware of this, being someone who had been reborn with memories of his past life. Many of his habits had unconsciously returned, and even he didn't notice how familiar he had become to Juan.

"Haha, Juan, I'm relieved you can see through him." Asensio chuckled, followed by a few coughs. "Son, I trust your judgment. José is ambitious, and since you two get along, I'd rather sell the shares to him than to someone else."

"I feel the same," Juan nodded. "Mallorca isn't worth much. To be honest, aside from the training ground, we don't even own our stadium. The club's market value is only about 50 million dollars. I remember when father invested in Mallorca, it was for less than 10 million dollars. Every year we get a return, and if we sell, we'll make several times our money back. It's a good deal."

"It was 8.3 million dollars. If we sell at market value, we should get around 30 million dollars. In four years, nearly four times the return—it's a good deal," Asensio said, nodding. "I know that Alemany's family has a lot of money, but he hasn't used it recklessly, so I don't think he'll overpay for the shares. Since we're letting go, there's no need to haggle over it. We don't want to seem too petty."

Asensio suddenly started coughing heavily, and Juan stepped forward to pat his father's back. After a while, the coughing subsided.

"My health is getting worse, son. If I were in better shape, I'd find a way to kick Grande out. That guy is insufferable—no grace, no manners, and so greedy." After catching his breath, Asensio said bitterly.

Juan nodded in agreement, feeling the same way about Grande. The Alemanys felt the same—Grande was universally despised.

"Where was I? Ah, yes, don't be too greedy. That's right," Asensio instructed. "One thing you should remember, though: asking for a high price doesn't mean you're giving Alemany's son a good deal. Even though I've known his father for over 20 years, and you know him too, we're businessmen. We have our principles. We don't make bad deals. Whatever the market price is, that's what you bring back in cash. Not a cent less, and no installments. If they agree to these terms, I'll sell them the shares. If not, we'll find another buyer. There's no shortage of people interested in Mallorca's shares."

Juan silently nodded, understanding that his father was also teaching him a valuable lesson. As he looked at his father's haggard face, he couldn't help but feel anxious.

Father, what will happen if you're not here anymore?

"Alright, go ahead. Handle the negotiations with José. I trust you won't disappoint me."

Asensio waved his hand, signaling Juan to leave. After Juan left, Asensio stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.