Claire stepped out of the restroom beside the locker room once again, only to find that the previously noisy corridor had fallen silent. Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were nowhere to be seen—only two Old Trafford janitors remained nearby.
Leaning against the wall for support, Claire's face was pale. Her legs still felt weak from the recent "bond" trigger, making it hard to move. Just then, a familiar voice called out to her.
"There you are! I went to the training ground looking for you, but no one knew where you'd gone." Claire turned to see Denis Irwin, dressed in a sharp suit, hurrying toward her with concern.
"What's wrong?" Denis asked, immediately steadying her as they walked back into the locker room. Claire collapsed onto a bench, exhausted.
"Do you need an ambulance?"
"No, Uncle. It's just a sudden discomfort, but it's nothing serious," Claire replied weakly. "You seem in a hurry—did something come up?"
Denis' worried expression melted into excitement. "The signing fee from Warner Bros. Records came through yesterday. And I've decided—I'm going full-time as your football agent!"
Claire fell silent. She knew her uncle well.
Denis Irwin had been known as the "nice guy" of Manchester United in his playing days, but "high emotional intelligence" wasn't exactly his defining trait. His reputation in football was built on sincerity, not shrewdness.
Claire had suggested before that he become her full-time agent, but Denis had always refused, insisting the timing wasn't right. For him to suddenly announce this now… someone must have convinced him.
"Did Costa Majo talk to you last night?"
Denis handed her a glass of water, surprised. "He already told you? I wanted it to be a surprise!"
Claire took a sip before speaking carefully. "Uncle… have you ever thought about owning a football club someday, like Malcolm Glazer?"
Denis blinked, caught off guard by the question.
"I think the reason you've stayed at United all these years isn't just loyalty—it's because you still have unfinished dreams, right?"
For a long moment, Denis didn't answer. Then, with a bitter smile, he admitted, "You're right. I did have ambitions… but over time, I let go of the idea of coaching."
"Why not try now?" Claire pressed. "The Castle, a community club in Newcastle-under-Lyme, could be perfect. They have their own stadium, and they're based in London. The £4.5 million from Warner Bros. would be enough to buy it outright, with some left over for upgrades."
She leaned forward. "With your connections at United, we could grow it fast. Even if we only push them to the lower leagues, it's still a solid investment."
Football was more than a sport in England—it was culture, identity, and community. London alone had over 260 registered clubs by 2005, many struggling to stay afloat.
The Castle, founded in 1964, had cycled through 13 owners in just 15 years. Its current owner, a Japanese car dealer, was on the verge of bankruptcy due to rising German auto competition. In a town of just 70,000 people, the club was barely surviving.
Claire had read about them during her hospital stay. At first, she hadn't paid much attention—but now, with her "bond" growing unstable, she needed money, fast.
She wanted it all—to be a singer, a footballer, and wealthy.
Seeing Denis hesitate, Claire pushed further. "You've taken care of me all these years, even when Auntie complained. This is my way of repaying you. Plus, owning a club would actually save me money in the long run."
"If I'm going to stay in the Premier League, I can't keep borrowing Ronaldo's training staff. You could build a team for me under the club's banner—better coaches, better facilities, all while cutting costs."
She locked eyes with him. "And Uncle… if you don't chase this now, you might never get another chance."
Denis exhaled, a flicker of ambition in his gaze. "Running a club isn't easy. Newcastle-under-Lyme's population alone can't sustain the expenses."
Claire grinned, energy returning. "Leave the money to me! Remember how I gave United free rights to The Nights? We can use that song to our advantage."
——
Outside, players were running drills on the pitch. Claire jumped up, shouting, "Wait for me! I'm joining!"
Denis turned to Costa Majo, who stood nearby with a frown. "Please don't take Claire's comments the wrong way. She didn't mean any disrespect to Warner Bros.—she just wants to secure her future beyond music."
Costa sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. We'll arrange promotions with YouTube, traditional media, and radio stations. Just make sure football doesn't ruin her voice."
please vote this story to motivate me post 2ch/day