Ramon Calderón leaned back in his oversized leather chair, the morning sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his Real Madrid office, casting long shadows across the polished mahogany desk. His fingers danced across the keyboard as he refreshed the Daily Mail's website for the third time in five minutes, watching with immense satisfaction as the Maicon controversy continued to dominate headlines.
"Absolute madness at Leeds United," he muttered to himself, chuckling as he read another scathing opinion piece. "Arthur Morgan, you arrogant bastard, let's see you talk your way out of this one."
The phone on his desk buzzed. Antonio's name flashed on the caller ID. Calderón let it ring three times before answering, savoring the moment.
"You seeing this?" Antonio's excited voice crackled through the speaker. "It's everywhere! Sky Sports just did a fifteen-minute segment. Gary Neville called it 'one of the worst cases of player mistreatment he's ever seen.'"
Calderón swirled the expensive Rioja in his glass, watching the deep red liquid coat the sides. "I told you the English press would eat this up. They love nothing more than tearing down a rising star."
There was a pause on the line. Antonio's voice dropped slightly. "You don't think we went too hard? Maicon's still my client, and—"
"Relax," Calderón interrupted, rolling his eyes. "By this time next week, your boy will be wearing white at the Bernabéu, earning triple what Morgan offered, and this will all be a funny story you tell at cocktail parties."
As he hung up, Calderón's office door swung open without warning. Fabio Capello stood in the doorway, his trademark scowl deeper than usual, yesterday's copy of Marca crumpled in his fist.
"Ramon," the Italian manager growled, tossing the paper onto the desk. "Explain."
Calderón didn't need to look at the headline—he'd already seen the damning coverage. Instead, he gestured to the plush chair opposite him. "Fabio, my friend, come sit. Have a drink."
"I don't want a drink," Capello snapped, though he took the seat anyway. "I want a right-back who can actually defend. You promised me Maicon. Now he's buried in Leeds' reserves?"
Leaning forward, Calderón adopted his most reassuring tone. "This is all part of the dance. Morgan thinks he's untouchable after his little fairytale rise. We're just reminding him how quickly the media turns."
Capello's eyes narrowed. "And if he still refuses to sell?"
A wolfish grin spread across Calderón's face. "Then we activate Plan B. Philipp's already in São Paulo finalizing terms with that young Brazilian fullback we scouted—what's his name, the kid with the ridiculous hair?"
"Marcelo," Capello supplied grudgingly.
"Yes! Him. Or..." Calderón's eyes twinkled with mischief, "we could always hijack Barcelona's move for Sevilla's right-back. Either way, we win."
The manager exhaled through his nose, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Just get me someone who can actually mark a winger by January."
After ushering Capello out, Calderón returned to his desk, pouring himself another generous measure of Rioja. His phone buzzed again—this time a text from his media contact at AS:
"PFA releasing statement tonight. Pressure mounting on Leeds. Keep an eye on BBC Sport later."
Calderón smirked, tapping out a reply. The trap was set. Now it was just a matter of time before Arthur Morgan cracked under the pressure.
Somewhere over the English Channel, aboard a private jet bound for Spain, Arthur Morgan scrolled through the same headlines Calderón had been gloating over just hours earlier. His young assistant Lina watched him nervously from the opposite seat, waiting for some reaction to the media firestorm.
"You're not worried?" she finally ventured, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap.
Arthur didn't look up from his tablet. "About Calderón's little temper tantrum?" His lips quirked in amusement. "Let him have his fun. By the time he realizes what's really happening..." He tapped the screen, pulling up footage of Sevilla's recent match. "...it'll be too late."
The plane banked gently as it began its descent into Seville. Down below, completely unaware of the storm brewing, Dani Alves was finishing his morning training session.
And 1,200 miles away in Madrid, Ramon Calderón's carefully constructed house of cards was about to come crashing down.
****
While Ramón Calderón sat in his Madrid office envisioning the signing of the next big star, lost in fantasies of press conferences and roaring headlines, the real game had already kicked off—just not the one he expected to control.
Across the sunlit plains of southern Spain, the bustling city of Seville was alive with its usual mix of flamenco rhythms and café chatter. But in the cool, elegant meeting room inside the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, a different rhythm played out—one of sharp minds, swift moves, and silent calculations.
Arthur Morgan sat across from Sevilla FC's chairman, José María del Nido. The man was as sharp as the tailored suit he wore, with a lawyer's instinct and a football director's shrewdness in equal measure. Lina, Arthur's no-nonsense assistant, had already exchanged the customary greetings and handed over the portfolio of Arthur's club, Leeds United.
As the assistant returned with two cups of freshly brewed tea, Del Nido leaned forward with the weight of authority and opened the conversation, skipping any small talk.
"Mr. Morgan," he said with a respectful nod, "Mr. Allen already briefed me on your intentions during our call earlier. But I still feel the need to state clearly—if you've come here to negotiate for Dani Alves, I must warn you, he will not come cheap."
Arthur gave a polite smile and nodded, his fingers loosely interlocked as he leaned back in his chair. On the outside, he radiated calm; inside, he was quietly amused. That's fine, he thought. Whatever I pay today, Calderón will end up paying even more when he tries to outbid me later.
Arthur glanced at Del Nido, letting the silence stretch just long enough to unsettle the chairman before replying with measured confidence.
"I wouldn't have flown all the way here unless I meant business," Arthur said. "I'm not here to test the waters—I came ready to swim. I know Mr. Morse offered you eight million euros during the summer window. I'll double that—sixteen million. What do you say?"
There it was. A bold move straight out of Arthur's playbook: skip the cautious footwork and go for the jugular. The chairman blinked, clearly taken aback. His eyebrows rose—just slightly—but enough to betray his surprise. He had expected a slow negotiation, an opening jab at ten million, maybe eleven. Sixteen was an uppercut.
He masked his reaction with a sip of tea, using the moment to regain composure.
"That's… certainly a strong starting point," Del Nido said slowly, setting his cup down with deliberate care. "But, Mr. Morgan, I must admit… it's still below our valuation for Alves. He's young, explosive, and improving with every match. His value will only increase in the coming years."
Arthur didn't blink. He already knew that two years down the line, Barcelona would pay a whopping forty million for Alves. But this wasn't two years later. This was now—and now, Arthur had the upper hand.
Before Del Nido could launch into a long-winded justification, Arthur cut him off with a grin.
"Twenty million," he said.
A beat of silence followed.
The room held its breath.
And just like that, Del Nido exhaled.
"Deal," he said, trying—poorly—to contain the excitement bubbling beneath his professional demeanor.
It was a masterstroke. Sevilla had paid just 550,000 euros to bring Alves from Brazil to Spain. Now they were making more than 36 times that. It was the kind of return that club treasurers fantasize about. Del Nido could talk about valuations all he wanted, but even he knew when it was time to shake hands.
Arthur stood and extended his hand. Del Nido took it without hesitation, the faintest glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Always a pleasure doing business with professionals," Arthur said, giving the chairman a firm handshake.
"Likewise, Mr. Morgan. Likewise."
The paperwork was initiated immediately, and while lawyers pored over contracts, Arthur waited in the same conference room, now bathed in the golden afternoon light streaming through the tall windows. Lina, ever efficient, typed notes into her tablet and confirmed arrangements with the club's legal team.
An hour later, the door opened again—and in walked Dani Alves.
The 23-year-old Brazilian defender entered with a confident stride, his signature curly hair slightly tousled from the wind outside. He was accompanied by his agent, a wiry man in his forties who wore sunglasses indoors and had the slick polish of someone who'd done this many times before.
"Mr. Morgan?" Alves said, stepping forward and extending a hand. "It's an honor."
Arthur rose to greet him, his smile warm and inviting.
"Dani," he said, shaking his hand firmly. "I've been watching you for months. You've got fire in your boots, and the kind of work rate we need. Leeds United is building something special—and I want you to be a key part of it."
Alves raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"You're not just offering money, then?"
Arthur chuckled. "If I were, you'd already be in a bigger club's orbit. No—I'm offering you the right role. A place to shine, not hide behind stars. I want you bombing down the right wing, linking up with our attack, feeding crosses, terrorizing defenders. I'm offering Champions League football, starting now. And yes, we'll double your current salary."
That last part made Alves' agent's head snap toward him. But Dani didn't even glance back. His eyes stayed on Arthur, studying him. Assessing.
"And the fans?" he asked. "Will they believe in a Brazilian fullback who likes to dribble more than he defends?"
Arthur grinned. "They'll sing your name before Christmas."
The silence that followed was charged, but in a good way. Alves turned to his agent, exchanged a quick nod—and then turned back.
"Then let's do it," he said.
And with that, Arthur Morgan secured one of the most electrifying right-backs of the decade—before Real Madrid, before Barcelona, before the world had truly woken up to what Dani Alves could become.
As the contracts were signed and hands were shaken, Arthur allowed himself a quiet moment of satisfaction.
While Calderón sat scheming, Arthur had made his move. Bold, fast, and decisive.
And the game was only just beginning.