In the afternoon, the sun was setting in the west.
The pitch at Old Trafford in Manchester was half in shadow and half bathed in sunlight.
The stands were packed, and the stadium was buzzing with noise. Just being there was a unique experience.
The Roses Derby is one of the most famous rivalries in Premier League history. The hatred and entanglement stem directly from the historical Wars of the Roses, where Manchester United and Leeds United were fierce enemies with a deep-rooted grudge.
However, as Leeds United declined over the years, the rivalry faded, gradually replaced by other derby matches.
For example, the Manchester Derby or clashes involving the Red Devils.
In recent years, with Leeds United's strong resurgence, the Roses Derby has once again drawn the attention of football fans worldwide.
Especially this summer, after the fallout between Manchester United and Leeds United, Ratcliffe, a die-hard Manchester United fan, publicly declared that he would rather lose to anyone than Leeds United.
This statement undoubtedly gave this edition of the Roses Derby its most prominent label.
It became Manchester United's most important Premier League match.
Both clubs are marketing-savvy, and the Premier League also gave it a strong promotional push. The result was that the Roses Derby became an instant global media and fan focus, almost like a Premier League version of El Clásico.
And Leeds United now has the strength to go toe-to-toe with Manchester United.
...
Deloitte had just released its club revenue report for last season.
In the Champions League, the team with the highest revenue was Real Madrid, who won the title, with €134 million, followed closely by Paris Saint-Germain with €130 million.
Both sides reached the final, so earning the most was expected.
Third on the list was Leeds United, who reached the semi-finals, earning €120 million. While lower than the finalists, it was still an impressive figure, thanks to their outstanding performance from the group stage onwards.
In the Premier League, the television broadcasting revenue and bonuses were also released.
Despite winning the league, Manchester City did not top the revenue list. Liverpool ranked first with an astonishing €194 million, nearly €200 million, taking the number one spot.
Leeds United followed closely behind, placing second with €190 million, while Manchester City was third. This was mainly because City had fewer televised matches than Liverpool and Leeds, and even fewer than Manchester United, playing only 25 games.
Liverpool and Leeds each had 29 games, while Manchester United had 27.
In terms of matchday revenue, Leeds United surpassed Arsenal and Manchester United, reaching €130 million and becoming the highest in the Premier League. In Europe, only Barcelona and Real Madrid were ahead.
Since moving into their new stadium, Leeds United's matchday revenue has steadily increased.
Relatively speaking, their ticket prices are not high, and the lowest-priced tickets haven't increased in nearly 20 years, something widely known among the club's supporters.
However, with the new stadium opening and constant improvements to retail and service facilities, Leeds United's matchday revenue kept breaking records.
From €100 million to €120 million, and now to €130 million, they were climbing year by year.
According to club management, their target for the new season was €140 million, narrowing the gap with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
But to achieve this, Leeds United needed to maintain strong performances, particularly in the Champions League and cup competitions.
By contrast, both Manchester United and Arsenal had seen significant declines in matchday revenue, and this trend had continued for several seasons. Both clubs were now hovering around €100 million, only slightly ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.
The main reason was their poor or even non-existent performances in European competitions, leading to a sharp drop in income.
Leeds United's combined revenue from matchdays, Premier League broadcasting rights, and Champions League earnings reached €440 million. Their commercial revenue also hit a record high of €350 million, representing substantial growth.
This brought Leeds United's total revenue to €790 million, surpassing Manchester United and Bayern Munich, and placing them just behind Real Madrid and Barcelona among European giants.
Looking at the revenue rankings, Leeds United still trailed Real Madrid and Barcelona by around €100 million, which was a notable gap.
However, Deloitte was very optimistic about Leeds United's momentum, predicting that they could surpass both Spanish clubs in the next three years to become Europe's highest-earning football club.
This confidence stemmed from two rapidly growing revenue streams.
One was global operational revenue.
Deloitte noted that Leeds United was the first club in Europe to adopt a "self-management" model.
This meant that Leeds directly opened offices in regions like the United States, China, and the Middle East to connect with local sponsors and negotiate commercial deals.
Most other top clubs, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, worked with intermediaries. While this made things easier, it also meant a significant portion of the profits went to the middlemen.
Deloitte stated that more clubs were now shifting toward Leeds United's model. Bayern Munich did it early on, followed by Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, who were gradually transitioning.
Leeds United's subsidiaries had been deeply rooted in the US, China, Asia, and the Middle East for years. These were now bearing fruit, with commercial revenues growing rapidly.
The other was their self-run ventures, such as jersey and merchandise sales. These revenues had seen explosive growth year after year, especially over the past year, after signing partners in China and other Asian markets.
Deloitte stated that Leeds United's jersey and merchandise sales were unmatched in world football, showing clear signs of continued growth. With product lines expanding, sales were expected to keep climbing in the future.
These two revenue sources gave Deloitte the confidence to project that Leeds United could become the top-earning football club in Europe within two to three years.
...
However, unlike their revenue, Leeds United remained very conservative with their wage structure.
In the Premier League, they ranked around sixth in terms of total wage spending, far behind heavy spenders like Manchester City and Manchester United, and only slightly ahead of Arsenal.
Starting this season, Leeds United had raised their wage cap, with the highest-paid player now earning £200,000 per week. This improved their competitiveness, but they still only ranked fifth in the league for wages, far below their revenue standing.
Whether looking at on-pitch performance or Deloitte's financial report, it was clear to everyone that Leeds United was now a genuine powerhouse in the Premier League and European football. They were no longer the underdogs they were when they first returned to the top flight.
In terms of financial strength and squad depth, Leeds United could now match Manchester United.
Maybe even surpass them.
...
This was the first time Gao Shen had met the British aristocrat, James Ratcliffe, whom he had long been curious about, in person.
His long hair was neatly parted, making the man in his sixties look much younger.
He casually adjusted it, wearing a friendly smile on his face.
As soon as he saw Gao Shen from a distance, he came over to greet him.
"Mr. Gao, it's a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to Old Trafford!"
"Thank you, Sir Ratcliffe," Gao Shen replied, shaking his hand politely.
Ratcliffe didn't look like someone in his sixties. His face showed no signs of aging, and even with a grey beard, he appeared full of energy and dressed in a youthful fashion.
Put simply, rich people don't age.
Although they had clashed several times through the media, this was their first meeting in person.
In the executive lounge of Old Trafford, they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, like two old online friends meeting for the first time. Their tone was especially warm.
James Ratcliffe maintained the demeanor of a gentleman throughout.
In fact, this was exactly what an English gentleman should look like.
He complimented Leeds United, saying Gao Shen's management was something to learn from and aspire to. He hoped Manchester United would also become as exciting and dynamic under his leadership.
Of course, he also maintained his stance that Manchester United should remain rooted in its local identity.
"No matter how globalized Manchester United becomes, the blood of the Red Devils still flows through its veins. We must preserve our English DNA."
Gao Shen naturally agreed.
Without local identity, globalization would become rootless.
No matter how far Premier League clubs expanded globally, their roots would always be in England.
In front of Ratcliffe, Gao Shen remained humble, repeatedly saying that Leeds United was still young and had a long way to go, with much to learn from veterans like Manchester United.
Ratcliffe also praised Leeds United's youth academy, noting that many United players had come from Leeds, and expressed hope for more collaboration in the future to leave past misunderstandings behind.
Gao Shen readily agreed.
After all, they were all in the Premier League. There were no eternal enemies. Everyone hoped to grow the league together and share in the success, right?
The two men acted like long-lost friends, while the people around them looked visibly puzzled.
It proved the old saying: "Say the most gentlemanly words, do the most ruthless things."
On the pitch, both teams were ready to kill each other.
But here, the atmosphere was incredibly cordial.
In the end, Gao Shen politely declined Ratcliffe's invitation to watch the match together, choosing instead to go to a different area arranged by Manchester United. Ratcliffe understood and did not insist.
If he had to work with someone like Gao Shen, it might drive him mad.
After Gao Shen and his family left, Ratcliffe's smiling expression froze. His face darkened, turning cold and stern.
...
"Mom, didn't Dad say we're mortal enemies with Manchester United? Why are we being so nice to them?"
When Gao Shen heard his son asking Su Qing in Chinese, he turned and smiled at Gao Ming.
"Because we are gentlemen."
Yes, exactly.
That's the reason.
(To be continued.)