Chapter 72 :

On January 30, 2020, journalists from various media outlets gathered inside the press conference room at Anfield, cameras set up, microphones adjusted, waiting for an announcement they had no prior knowledge of. The invitation had been vague, simply stating that Liverpool FC's ownership had a major update to share.

The reporters whispered among themselves, speculating about transfers, sponsorship deals, or stadium expansions. No one had the slightest idea of the real reason they were there.

After a few minutes, Liverpool CEO Peter Moore and owner John W. Henry entered the room, taking their seats at the front table. The murmurs grew louder—something big was about to be revealed.

Then, the door opened again.

Advay Rai walked in, dressed in a sharp black suit, moving with his usual calm yet commanding presence. A few journalists in the room recognized him immediately, their eyes widening slightly, but no one spoke just yet. Why was an Indian cricketer here?

Advay took his seat, adjusting his mic. The tension in the room shifted—this wasn't normal.

John W. Henry cleared his throat and leaned toward the mic.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us on short notice. Today, we are here to announce a major transition—Liverpool Football Club is being sold."

A shockwave ran through the room. Reporters sat up, stunned, fingers flying across keyboards as they scrambled to note the breaking news.

Henry then turned slightly, gesturing toward Advay.

"And now, let me introduce you to the new owner of Liverpool FC."

A pause. Then, Advay leaned forward, speaking into the mic with a steady voice.

"I'm Advay Rai, an Indian cricketer and the owner and CEO of Swiggy—and the new owner of Liverpool Football Club."

The room fell into complete silence for two seconds, before the cameras started flashing wildly.

The entire footballing world had just changed.

The room erupted into chaos the moment Advay finished speaking. Reporters, who had been silent just seconds ago, now scrambled over each other to ask questions, their voices overlapping.

"Wait, what?! You're saying Liverpool FC is now owned by an Indian cricketer?!"

"Mr. Rai, how did this happen? When did the negotiations start?"

"You're only 20 years old! How does someone your age pull off a deal like this?"

"Does this mean Swiggy is now connected to Liverpool FC?"

The sound of cameras flashing, chairs shifting, and microphones adjusting filled the room. Some reporters were still trying to process what they had just heard, while others were already broadcasting live, announcing the stunning development to the world.

Advay, however, remained completely calm—the same composure he showed on the cricket field. He held up a hand, signaling for the room to settle.

"One at a time," he said, his voice steady but firm. "I'll answer everything."

The reporters, still buzzing with disbelief, hurriedly jotted down notes, realizing that this was not just another football press conference—this was history in the making.

A reporter in the front row shot up immediately, his voice cutting through the chatter in the room.

"Mr. Rai, you are now the youngest owner of a Premier League club. With all due respect, this is Liverpool Football Club—one of the biggest institutions in world football. Do you really think you can handle this responsibility?"

The room went still, every camera now trained on Advay. The tension in the air was thick—this was the question on everyone's mind.

Advay didn't react immediately. He simply leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, his fingers interlocked. His eyes, sharp and unwavering, scanned the room for a moment.

Then, in a voice calm but firm, he said,

"I built Swiggy from the ground up when I was 11 years old, just with the help of my one and only investor. It's now a multi-billion-dollar hegemon, dominating the food and grocery delivery industry across multiple countries."

The reporters froze, their pens hovering above notepads, fingers hesitating over keyboards. The words hung in the air, undeniable, irrefutable.

Advay let the silence stretch just long enough before he tilted his head slightly, smirked ever so faintly, and added,

"So, do you think I can't handle it?"

For a moment, the room was dead silent.

The reporter who asked the question, clearly not expecting such a response, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He had no comeback.

Some of the other journalists glanced at each other, their expressions a mix of shock and realization.

Then, slowly, the whispers began. The cameras clicked faster, recording every detail of the moment.

John W. Henry, sitting beside Advay, glanced at him and smirked slightly, clearly impressed. Peter Moore, the CEO, simply nodded, as if the answer had confirmed everything he already knew about this young man.

Another reporter quickly stood up, still processing the magnitude of the moment.

"Why Liverpool, Mr. Rai? Of all the clubs in the world, why did you choose to buy this one?"

Advay's expression softened slightly, the sharp business-like aura giving way to something more personal.

He leaned into the mic. "Because Liverpool isn't just a football club to me. It never was."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "My sister, Aditi, and I are massive Liverpool fans. Growing up, we used to watch almost every match together. Late nights, early mornings—it didn't matter. We never missed a big game."

Some of the reporters glanced at each other, sensing this was more than just another billionaire acquiring a club.

"Liverpool is special," Advay went on. "This is a club built on passion, loyalty, and an unshakable belief that anything is possible. Istanbul 2005. The comeback against Barcelona in 2019. The Premier League titles . Liverpool doesn't just play football—they create moments that live forever."

The room fell quiet, listening intently. Even John W. Henry and Peter Moore looked at him with a newfound appreciation—this wasn't just a business deal to him.

Advay continued, his voice steady. "Liverpool fans don't just support the club; they live and breathe it. I know, because I've been one of them my whole life. This club stands for something bigger than football. It's about fighting against the odds, about never giving up."

He sat back slightly, his eyes scanning the reporters. "So, why Liverpool?" He let a small smile play on his lips. "Because I didn't buy this club to make it mine. I bought it because, in many ways, it already was."

The cameras flashed wildly, the journalists scribbling furiously, knowing that this was a headline moment.

A reporter near the back raised his hand, then spoke quickly.

"Mr. Rai, owning a club of this stature isn't just about passion. It requires significant financial backing. How do you plan to invest in Liverpool FC?"

Advay didn't hesitate. "I think you're asking the wrong question."

The reporter blinked. "Excuse me?"

Advay leaned forward, his voice calm yet unmistakably assertive. "Investment isn't the problem. Liverpool FC doesn't need saving—it needs sustaining at the top. And to do that, you need stability, vision, and most importantly, resources."

He paused, then added, "And I have all three."

The room remained silent, waiting for him to elaborate.

"I am the sole owner of Swiggy. I hold 99.97% of the company. I also now own 94% of Liverpool FC."

Some reporters visibly stiffened, realizing the sheer scale of his control over two financial giants.

Then, with a slight smirk, Advay delivered the line that would dominate headlines worldwide.

"So, to put it in simple terms—Swiggy's vault is Liverpool's vault."

A wave of stunned murmurs spread through the room. The cameras flashed non-stop, capturing the moment. Some journalists had to double-check their notes, making sure they heard correctly.

John W. Henry, sitting beside Advay, couldn't help but chuckle slightly at the way the room reacted. Peter Moore just nodded, impressed.

The reporter who had asked the question cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. "So you're saying—"

Advay cut him off with a small, confident nod. "I'm saying Liverpool will never have to worry about financial strength under my ownership. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever."

The weight of those words settled over the room.

Advay let the silence hang for a moment, letting his words sink in. The reporters were still processing what they had just heard, some hurriedly typing, others whispering among themselves.

Then, with complete confidence, he leaned forward once more and spoke into the mic.

"Football will welcome the Liverpool era."

The sentence sent a shockwave through the room. The statement wasn't just bold—it was a declaration.

The journalists scrambled to write down his words, the cameras flashing nonstop, capturing the exact moment Advay Rai made his mark on world football.

Without another word, he removed the mic, stood up, and buttoned his suit jacket. John W. Henry and Peter Moore followed his lead, rising from their seats.

As Advay walked off the stage, the murmurs in the room grew louder, discussions breaking out among the stunned journalists.

The press conference had ended, but the news cycle had just begun.

After leaving Anfield, Advay's next stop was Liverpool's training ground—Melwood.

As Advay walked onto the Liverpool training ground at Melwood, the players turned to look at him, their expressions a mix of amusement, disbelief, and respect.

Just two months ago, this same man had been standing in their locker room as a guest, taking a photo with them after a match. Back then, they had known him as Advay Rai, the cricketer and Liverpool fan.

Now, he was Advay Rai, the owner of Liverpool FC.

Virgil van Dijk crossed his arms and smirked. "Two months ago, you were just another fan taking a picture with us. Now, you're our boss. Should we be calling you sir?"

Jordan Henderson shook his head, grinning. "Seriously, mate, how did this even happen? One day you're in the stands, the next you're in the boardroom!"

Mohamed Salah chuckled, nudging Sadio Mané. "We should've asked him for investment tips back then!"

Andy Robertson, always quick with a joke, clapped his hands. "So, does this mean we can finally get that heated dressing room floor we've been asking for?"

The squad burst into laughter, while Jürgen Klopp shook his head, grinning. "Come on, lads, let the man breathe!"

Advay, standing in the middle of them, simply smirked. "You should've seen this coming. It was only a matter of time."

The players exchanged looks, some shaking their heads in disbelief, others nodding, realizing that this wasn't just another rich businessman taking over.

Advay smirked, stretching his arms as he looked around at the Liverpool squad. "So how about I train with you guys for an hour?"

The players exchanged amused glances, clearly not expecting that.

Van Dijk raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You think you can keep up with us?"

Andy Robertson chuckled, shaking his head. "Tell you what, mate. Let's make it interesting."

Jordan Henderson nodded, gesturing toward the field. "We place the ball 30 meters from the goal. Alisson will be in goal. If you can score, we'll let you train with us."

The squad grinned, expecting this to be over in a few seconds.

Advay, however, simply cracked his neck and smirked.

System activated.

In an instant, he used up all his SP (Skill Points) to buy the Ronaldo template, feeling the sudden burst of footballing instincts flood through him. He had made up his mind—not to spend anything more on cricket. That would make things too easy.

But this? This was just for fun.

He walked up to the ball, placed it carefully, and took a few steps back. Alisson Becker, one of the best goalkeepers in the world, stood in front of him, smirking.

"Whenever you're ready, boss," Alisson said, flexing his fingers.

Advay took a deep breath. Then, with perfect form, he sprinted forward and struck the ball cleanly with his right foot.

The ball rocketed through the air, swerving with insane dip and power, heading straight for the top corner.

Alisson dived full stretch, but it was too fast, too precise.

The ball smashed into the top corner of the net, bouncing inside before hitting the back.

Silence.

Then—an explosion of reactions.

"Wait, WHAT?!" Robertson shouted.

Salah, eyes wide, looked at Van Dijk. "Did you see that?"

Henderson ran a hand through his hair. "No way… That was perfect technique!"

Alisson stood back up, looking at Advay with disbelief. "That's not normal. That's world-class."

Advay simply shrugged. "So, am I in?"

Van Dijk burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Alright, Rai. You're in."

For the next hour, Advay trained with the Liverpool squad, seamlessly blending into their drills.

The players, who had initially thought he was just a cricketer messing around, were now watching in disbelief. He was matching their pace, his movements crisp, his dribbles smooth, and his finishing on point.

At one point, Sadio Mané nudged Salah. "You sure this guy isn't a footballer?"

Salah chuckled. "Mate, I think he's playing the wrong sport."

Robertson, after watching Advay effortlessly curl a shot past Kelleher, shook his head. "why are you wasting your time in cricket?"

Virgil van Dijk smirked. "Seriously, if you ever get bored of batting, give us a call."

Advay, breathing steadily, just grinned and shrugged. "Nah, cricket keeps me entertained. But this is fun too."

Henderson patted him on the back. "Well, if this is you just having fun, I don't even want to know what you'd be like if you took this seriously."

Klopp, watching from the sidelines with arms crossed, just smiled to himself. "Interesting… very interesting."

As the training session wrapped up, the players dispersed, some heading to the locker room while others stayed back for extra drills.

Advay, still catching his breath, noticed Jürgen Klopp standing alone near the sidelines, watching the team with his usual thoughtful expression.

He walked over, adjusting his sleeves, and greeted him. "Coach."

Klopp turned, his sharp eyes studying Advay before breaking into a wide grin. "Ah, the man of the hour."

They shook hands firmly.

"So," Klopp said, tilting his head slightly. "You own the club, train like one of the players, and still have time to dominate cricket. Tell me, Advay… how do you do it?"

Advay smirked. "Balance, coach. It's all about balance."

Klopp chuckled, nodding approvingly. "I can see that. But you know… for someone who claims to be a cricketer, you play football very well."

Advay shrugged. "Guess I just pick things up quickly."

Klopp's grin widened, and for a moment, he just watched him—curious, intrigued. "I think you're going to be very interesting to work with, Advay."

Advay chuckled. "Likewise, coach."

As they walked into Klopp's office at the training ground, the atmosphere was noticeably different from a usual owner-manager meeting. There was no tension, no formality—just two men who understood what it meant to win.

They sat down, Klopp resting his hands on the table while Advay leaned back slightly, looking completely at ease.

After a brief silence, Advay spoke first.

"You can build the Liverpool you want. I'll give you full signing rights. You don't have to worry about the money—money is never an issue."

Klopp blinked, then tilted his head, intrigued. "That's… not something owners say often."

Advay smirked. "That's because I'm not like most owners."

Klopp studied him for a moment, then leaned forward, lacing his fingers together. "And why are you doing this? Most people who buy clubs want control. They want to leave their mark."

Advay met his gaze directly. "I don't need to leave my mark. You already have the blueprint for greatness. You just need the resources to make sure Liverpool stays at the top."

Klopp exhaled, leaning back, his usual grin returning. "You really are something, aren't you?"

Advay shrugged. "Like I said, money isn't an issue. Winning is."

Klopp let out a small chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "You know, most owners like to be involved in transfers, tactics, board decisions. But you? You're just handing me full control?"

Advay leaned forward, his expression unwavering. "As long as Liverpool wins, I don't care."

Klopp raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "No interference?"

Advay smirked. "I didn't buy Liverpool to play manager. I bought Liverpool to make sure you never have to hold back because of money."

Klopp exhaled, rubbing his chin, a mixture of surprise and admiration in his eyes. "Well then… this is going to be fun."