Chapter 2: System Activation

Stepping into The Ritz, Henry's heart was beating so hard that he didn't have the time to appreciate the grandeur of the place.

He came a little bit earlier than the agreed time as he was meeting Mr. George, after all, he didn't dare to gamble and come later just to be late because of the traffic or someone else losing a big opportunity.

Unexpectedly, he spotted George Mendes sitting at a corner table, sipping a cup of coffee, looking as relaxed as if he were just a normal rich man enjoying his life.

Henry approached, and Mendes stood up with a warm smile, extending his hand. "Henry Walker," he greeted, extending his hand. "Nice to finally meet you in person."

Henry shook his hand firmly. "Likewise, Mr. Mendes. Thanks for taking the time."

"Please, just call me Jorge," Mendes said as he took a seat. "I'm a football man before anything else. No need for formalities."

Henry took a seat, glancing around the room. "This place is something else. Not exactly where I thought I'd be discussing my future."

Mendes chuckled. "Well, when you're dealing with football, you never know where the wind will take you."

Henry nodded. His experience could confirm this—even in his wildest dreams, he never thought about the possibility of coaching AS Roma or, to be precise, coaching an Italian club. But here he was.

Mendes signaled the waiter and ordered an espresso before turning his full attention to Henry. "Before we get into the details of the offer, I want to hear your thoughts on the current football world. It's not every day that you can meet a successful young coach like you."

How to say, being called young at 36 felt a little weird, but when you consider the sector he was working in, a 36-year-old manager was really young. Still, Henry didn't understand why Mendes was evaluating him—wasn't his role as an agent to be an intermediary between Roma and him?

Still, maybe it was the meaning of AS Roma's management—maybe they were planning some kind of cooperation with Mendes?

He thought about his question, and thinking about it, the current football world was really changing very fast. "Football is changing rapidly, especially with the rise of analytics and high-pressing tactics."

"The days of just relying on individual brilliance are fading. Teams need clear structures and adaptability. Just look at Barcelona under Guardiola. They revolutionized the game with positional play."

"On the other hand, Mourinho's Inter proved that a well-drilled defensive unit can still dominate. It's all about playing to your strengths and maximizing the tools you have."

Although there was an argument about relying on Messi in Guardiola's success, Barça as a whole was really impressive, especially the midfield composition that hardly lost the ball.

Well, both of these successful managers he talked about had their own playing styles. Henry thought that maybe it was also time to find his own playing style. After all, leading a giant club meant one could no longer be without specialization, and even if he didn't join Roma, it wouldn't hurt to think about this question now.

Mendes, on the other hand, liked Henry's answer. It had a little bit of Mourinho's style—football now required more and more comprehensiveness, and a team could no longer completely rely on a superstar.

It seemed his decision was correct. Still, he didn't start talking about the AS Roma offer but mentioned something unexpected yet not strange. "I saw that you haven't signed any contract with any agency. I wonder what you think of joining my agency?"

To be honest, Henry had thought a little about this question. It was simply impossible for Mendes to help with the mediation so wholeheartedly—he had long thought that there must be a hidden agenda in this.

The reason he hadn't signed a contract with any agency was because the big and famous ones wouldn't value him that much, and the weak ones couldn't provide him with much help but would instead rely on him.

Although he didn't reject the idea of joining Mendes, it depended on what Mendes meant. Was he threatening him to sign, or he wouldn't join AS Roma? Or did he mean something else? "It's a surprising question that you've asked here, Jorge. I have my concerns, which didn't allow me to join other agencies. You also know that in this industry, every choice is crucial."

"Still, I would seriously consider your Gestifute, but can we talk about the deal with AS Roma?"

When saying this, Henry was carefully scanning Mendes's face to see the latter's emotions, but unfortunately, nothing could be seen—really.

"Haha, sorry, I was just too excited to see a talent like you. You know my job, after all. Alright, we can talk about AS Roma."

Jorge wasn't really annoyed—he thought that Henry was already his man. He was just testing now, and sure enough, the latter didn't reject it. As long as Henry really managed AS Roma, he could have another coach in the top league, which had too many benefits.

Henry didn't really understand Jorge's deep calculations—he was just a little bit relieved that the latter didn't seem angry.

Jorge was now more serious, showing that he didn't take the matter lightly. "Roma is in a transition period. The new ownership wants to modernize the club, bring fresh ideas, and build a competitive squad that can challenge Juventus, Milan, and Inter in the coming years."

"They were the club that spent the most in Europe last year, but unfortunately, Enrique didn't live up to the management's trust and even had some conflicts with them, leading to his departure four days ago."

"In fact, the management doesn't expect immediate success, but they want progress and stability. And most importantly, a coach who can work with what he has—not one who demands massive transfers every window."

Henry listened carefully. He understood exactly why they were looking at him now. In the first place, his position at Southampton had never been stable—how could he throw tantrums over transfers? He could only use players from the academy and, fortunately, did a good job.

He had proven at Southampton that he could take a struggling team and turn them into a cohesive unit. Now, he just had to do it again, but this time in Italy and on a bigger stage.

Henry took a moment to absorb everything. "I won't lie, Jorge. This is a massive opportunity. But I do have some concerns. First, the language barrier. I don't speak Italian, and communication is crucial in management. I don't want to be another Luis Enrique."

Mendes smiled. "That's not a major issue. You'll have a translator at the start, and the club will provide language lessons. Besides, football has its own language. The players will understand what you want soon enough."

Mendes's expression then turned serious. "As for the management interfering, that's a fair concern. I won't lie to you—owners always have opinions."

"But in Roma's case, while you won't have much control over transfers, how you use the players is entirely up to you. As long as you show progress, they won't interfere. In the end, everything depends on your ability."

In fact, Henry himself knew that he didn't have much bargaining power in the first place. Still, he was relieved to hear Jorge's promise—the latter directly represented the club, after all.

Mendes gave him a knowing look. "You've already made your decision, haven't you?"

Henry chuckled. "I'd be a fool to turn this down."

Mendes reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder, sliding it across the table. "Then let's make it official."

Henry opened the contract and scanned the details. A three-year deal. A respectable salary—not Premier League level, but more than what Southampton was offering. Performance incentives.

No unrealistic expectations in the first season, but there was a huge bonus for making it back to the international stage.

[System Activation Condition Met: Signed a managing contract with a team in the top four leagues or a Champions League-level team.]

[System Activation: 100%]