Chapter 810 – The Greatest Club in the World
With Manchester United's 3–1 victory over Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich at Lisbon's Estádio da Luz, the 2019–2020 season — one of the most turbulent in modern football history — finally came to an end. United had once again been crowned the kings of Europe, becoming the first club since the 1992 Champions League reformation to achieve three consecutive titles.
While the rest of Europe was already preparing for the start of a new season, the Manchester United players began their mandatory three-week vacation — Bruno Fernandes included.
Since the Premier League's restart in late June, Bruno had played 16 high-intensity matches in less than 70 days. Even for a physical marvel like him, the fatigue was real.
To recover and prepare properly for the new campaign, Bruno decided to rest, following the same plan as his teammates.
The pandemic still raged across the globe. Although many nations claimed vaccines were entering clinical trials, widespread inoculation had not yet begun, keeping travel and public movement under strict restrictions.
As a result, the traditionally dramatic summer transfer window was eerily subdued.
The Premier League's 2020 summer transfer market had officially opened on July 27 — one day after the season ended — and would run for ten weeks until October 5. Yet compared to the frenzied activity of previous summers, this one was quiet.
The reasons were clear: global restrictions hampered player movement, and the economic blow of the pandemic left many clubs hesitant to spend.
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Of course, there were exceptions — a few clubs defied the trend, spending aggressively despite economic uncertainty. Chief among them was Chelsea.
After two transfer windows of bans, the Blues had barely signed anyone. Their performance had suffered as a result.
In the 2019–2020 season, under club legend Frank Lampard, Chelsea had managed a top-four finish and a Champions League qualification spot — but their squad was thin and clearly in need of reinforcements.
Determined to reclaim domestic glory and make a mark in Europe, Chelsea launched a massive spending spree.
Inside a modest Manchester household, the television blared a sports news report — German midfielder Kai Havertz was on the verge of joining Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen.
A well-known transfer expert appeared on screen, confidently claiming Havertz would travel to London for his medical as early as the next day.
The broadcast even showed excited Chelsea fans being interviewed, planning to gather at Heathrow Airport to welcome their new signing.
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Chelsea's summer business had been relentless.
They had already completed several blockbuster deals.
On July 1, the club officially announced the €40 million signing of Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech from Ajax.
That same day, they unveiled another major signing — German striker Timo Werner from RB Leipzig for €53 million.
By late August, Chelsea confirmed yet another addition: left-back Ben Chilwell from Leicester City, in a deal worth £50 million.
Three transfers alone had cost nearly €150 million.
And they weren't done — free transfers followed, including center-back Malang Sarr from Nice and veteran defender Thiago Silva from Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea were even targeting more additions: they wanted Manchester United academy graduate and Sheffield United standout goalkeeper Dean Henderson, and above all, Bayer Leverkusen's star playmaker — Kai Havertz.
At just 21, Havertz had already captained Leverkusen — the youngest captain in Bundesliga history. With 12 goals and 6 assists in the previous season, he had scored double digits for two consecutive years and became the most prolific player under 21 in German league history.
His market value stood around €81 million.
Leverkusen's failure to qualify for the Champions League made his departure inevitable. Media consensus declared it was time for him to join a major club.
And every outlet seemed certain it would be Chelsea.
Transfer journalist Peter — a household name among fans — repeatedly claimed Havertz's move to London was imminent. Neither Chelsea nor the player denied it, fueling the excitement among supporters.
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Watching the smiling Chelsea fans on TV, Manchester United supporters felt a touch of envy and frustration.
More than a month into the transfer window, United had made almost no moves — much like the previous summer.
No first-team players had requested transfers, not even fringe members like Juan Mata, Sergio Romero, or Phil Jones. Only a few youth players had left on free transfers after contracts expired.
As for arrivals, United were silent.
Their lone action was internal — promoting England U20 midfielder Jude Bellingham from the academy to the senior squad, as a backup for N'Golo Kanté.
Unnoticed by many, Kanté was approaching thirty. Though still a key performer, Mourinho planned prudently for the future.
Fred, meanwhile, offered depth but limited upside. Mourinho viewed him strictly as a rotational option — not a long-term starter.
To fans accustomed to blockbuster summers, two consecutive quiet windows felt strange.
But to the media, it signified something else entirely — that United had matured. The empire stood secure.
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Although nearly every key player had renewed their contracts over the past year, the rumor mill continued to buzz. According to tabloids, Manchester United had "sold" their entire squad multiple times to various European giants — at least on paper.
The one name always at the center of speculation was Bruno Fernandes.
Every major club desired him. Everyone knew it was virtually impossible — yet the temptation persisted.
No manager, no director, no club could ignore the allure of football's current best player.
Real Madrid's pursuit was the most relentless.
Spanish outlets reported that Florentino Pérez himself was obsessed, making no secret of his ambition to bring Bruno to the Bernabéu.
Even The Guardian joked that the Madrid president, after being rejected repeatedly, was "hopelessly lovesick for Bruno Fernandes."
In China, fans laughed at memes saying Florentino had once told Bruno privately:
"Mock me a thousand times, and still I love you as I did the first."
It wasn't far from the truth. Florentino's fascination went back years — ever since Bruno's early days shining at Novara. Real Madrid had coveted him since then, but it had always been one-sided. Bruno never had any desire to join Los Blancos, the self-proclaimed greatest club in the world.
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Despite the apparent stagnation in United's transfer activity, which left some fans questioning the board's ambition, most analysts and journalists viewed it differently: this was proof of dominance.
Manchester United had reached a stage where even Real Madrid could no longer pry away their stars.
During the Ferguson era, United had been a powerhouse — a global symbol. Yet even then, when players like Cristiano Ronaldo or David Beckham heard Madrid's call, they eventually succumbed to the allure.
Ronaldo's departure became the defining example.
Despite his unprecedented success at United — winning the Ballon d'Or and the Champions League — and his close bond with Sir Alex Ferguson, the Portuguese forward couldn't resist Florentino's offer. He risked the disappointment of a mentor he saw as a father to fulfill his dream of joining the "Galácticos."
But things had changed.
Now, United had accomplished what even Real Madrid couldn't: three straight Champions League titles.
They had ascended to the throne — undisputed rulers of Europe.
This shift wasn't just about trophies, but about mindset.
Bruno wasn't the only one coveted by Madrid. Names like Kanté, Van Dijk, Harry Kane, and Mbappé had also drawn discreet inquiries. Yet every single one of them had declined.
That — that was the true mark of greatness.
The confidence, unity, and ambition that defined the world's number one club.
At Manchester United, no one wanted to leave — not until their careers drew to a natural close.
(END CHAPTER)
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