The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 235: Commitment

If we were to list the names of every football superstar in the world and trace their lives from start to finish, we would find that over 90% of these giants have a tale of perseverance and struggle.

Ten years from now, fans of Cristiano Ronaldo could rattle off countless praises for him, while detractors would have their share of criticisms as well.

However, before Ronaldo rose to fame, his journey deserves universal respect and admiration.

In this era of scouting for talent, how could Aldrich forget this Portuguese star?

When Andrew's company was founded, Aldrich quickly shared Ronaldo's name and some basic information with him, asking him to help in the search.

Unlike Messi, who is from Argentina's second-largest city, Ronaldo hails from an incredibly remote place in Europe—on the very edge of the continent. If not for Ronaldo's inclusion in the national team's youth ranks and Andrew's scouts having established a network in Portugal six months prior, Aldrich might have struggled to find this raw gem living in dire conditions.

Though it might not strictly qualify as a slum, Ronaldo's neighborhood resembles his own childhood home: humble and rundown, yet vibrant. Amidst a decaying environment, flowers tended by his parents bring hope to their lives.

Since Aldrich handpicked Ronaldo, Andrew's scouts conducted thorough research while gathering information in the area.

The neighborhood was abysmal, devoid of any positive influence. Neighbors were drunks, and the youth were lost in despair. Even Ronaldo's friends and family succumbed to the demons that crushed their spirits.

His brother struggled with addiction.

Some of his teammates on the national team were also involved in drug use.

Despite his family's financial struggles, with Ronaldo being thin and frail, he relentlessly pursued his football dreams, unaffected by the decline around him; he showed maturity beyond what one would expect from a 12-year-old.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's mother Dolores was leafing through a Millwall Football Club brochure, his father Dinis returned home. Dinis currently works as a groundskeeper for local amateur team Antonio Football Club and helped Cristiano enter the club for training at the age of seven. Two years ago, Ronaldo was selected by Clube Desportivo Nacional. The price paid by the club was only two new sets of jerseys and sneakers worth 600 euros.

Of course, this does not mean that 10-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo was valued at 600 euros. At his age, clubs couldn't legally bind him; this was merely a customary practice to maintain good relations between clubs. It's similar to how Aldrich might offer a nominal transfer fee to some amateur teams. Legally speaking, Aldrich could have signed players like Klose and Barzagli for free since, even if Klose was already 18, his contract was still an amateur one, and the buyout fee wouldn't exceed 10,000 pounds.

After Dinis introduced himself to Aldrich, he and Dolores sat down with great seriousness, examining the Millwall FC brochure.

Although Dinis had limited abilities working as a groundskeeper and part-time gardener, his income was meager. From the moment Ronaldo could walk, Dinis would train him in football whenever there was an opportunity. The influence of his father on Ronaldo's football journey left deep, indelible marks in his memory.

They read about the significant transformations at Millwall FC over the last three years under Aldrich's leadership—breaking records in the English League and entering the Premier League, becoming the second team in English history to win both the league and FA Cup in one season, and the first-ever treble winner encompassing the league, FA Cup, and European competitions.

Although Millwall might not have the same resounding fame in Portugal as Real Madrid does in Latin regions, it was enough to impress the couple, making them believe that Millwall was indeed a remarkable club.

After some discussion, Dinis revealed his concerns: "Mr. Hall, to be honest, I genuinely wish for my son to join Millwall for football training. The environment there is exceptional, with so many top-notch facilities, nutritionists, doctors, and professional coaches. That's what I want my son to have. But we simply cannot afford the costs of living abroad."

Aldrich calmly retrieved a document from his briefcase and handed it to them, saying gently, "Please take a look at this."

Dinis and Dolores examined the document together. After fifteen minutes of reviewing, their astonishment was palpable.

"Five hundred thousand pounds! You're offering us five hundred thousand pounds?! Why? Are you trying to buy my son?"

Dinis expression shifted, caught between shock and a rising panic fueled by his speculations.

Dolores tightly squeezed her husband's hand, shaking her head slightly, as if she genuinely believed Aldrich was trying to buy their son.

Aldrich, still composed, asked, "Sir, Madam, may I ask you a question? Do you believe Cristiano Ronaldo will become a professional football player?"

Dinis nodded vigorously, answering loudly, "Yes! Definitely! Everyone who has seen him play praises him endlessly!"

"A star player?"

"Absolutely!"

"Will he be one of the greatest stars in the world?"

"That..."

Although Dinis firmly believed in Ronaldo's potential, he hesitated to confidently declare how high he would succeed.

"He will!"

As Aldrich stated this with unwavering conviction, the couple stared in disbelief at the young man before them.

Aldrich said with utmost seriousness, "But for him to become a superstar, he will need to put in ten or a hundred times the effort of an average person! He will also need the strength of his family, supervision, and proper guidance! This money isn't about me buying your son; it's about freeing you from financial worries so you can dedicate all your energy to nurturing him. This way, he can focus on playing football without concerns for his parents or siblings! Use this money to buy your own house, open a shop—create an environment where we can work together to nurture his talent. If you're open to it, I can also provide funds for your older children's schooling and help that unfortunate child battling addiction get the treatment he needs."

Dinis felt a surge of emotion; it took a while for him to turn and look at his wife, only to see Dolores in tears.

Every day, they yearned for Ronaldo to grow up, achieve success, and change their impoverished lives.

But before that day arrived, help came knocking at their door.

In any case, it was their youngest son who brought this change.

"We should move to England," Dinis said, embracing his wife softly.

Dolores shook her head, refusing. With a choked voice, she replied, "No, let him learn to be independent! He can't always be reliant on us; he needs to experience life on his own to grow up quickly."

Dinis hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then let's stay in Portugal. We'll listen to you and let him become independent."

Aldrich, noticing the reluctance on Dinis's face, interjected, "The club can cover his travel expenses back and forth between Portugal and England every fortnight."

"No! No! No! He can't come back! Absolutely not!"

Emotion overwhelmed Dolores, causing her to cry out, releasing the pent-up feelings from the hardships they had endured.

"He can't come back! He doesn't belong here!"

Dolores instinctively understood that their community was filled with sin and degradation. Every day, she prayed that her youngest son wouldn't go astray or fall into crime, that he wouldn't become like his brother, caught in the grips of addiction.

Most of the children who grew up alongside Cristiano were still not even 15, yet they were entirely ruined. Dolores feared that if Ronaldo returned, he might be influenced by those negative peers.

Aldrich likely sensed the mother's anguish and fell into a contemplative silence.

Just then, Cristiano Ronaldo returned home.

At 12 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo was scrawny yet already showing the faint outline of his future self. Sporting his curly hair and the Nacional jersey, he was completely muddy, a testament to the intense training he had put in that day.

Upon seeing his father holding his mother while she sobbed uncontrollably, he panicked. He grabbed a cup from the table and, facing Aldrich, shouted, "Who are you? You bastard!"

It's hard to imagine a 12-year-old boy standing up for his family with such conviction in front of his parents—this might be a glimpse of the fighting spirit that characterized Ronaldo's future.

"Enough!" Dinis scolded Ronaldo and then explained everything but omitted the offer of 500,000 pounds.

Ronaldo became elated but when he learned that his parents wouldn't be moving to London, his expression darkened. He stomped off into his room, shouting that he wasn't going anywhere.

Dolores wiped her tears and apologized to Aldrich, saying, "Mr. Hall, I'm sorry. He's still just a child who can't be away from his mother. I'll talk to him."

Once she finished speaking, Dolores entered Ronaldo's room. The acoustics in the room were terrible, and the mother and son ended up bickering at first. Ronaldo's voice faded away gradually, but ultimately, he gave Aldrich a rather unfriendly stare.

In doing so, they scrutinized Aldrich's appearance and finally realized he was quite a prominent figure.

"You... You're Aldrich Hall?"

Aldrich nodded solemnly. Before Ronaldo could ask further, he leaned down to meet the boy's gaze and said softly, "Cristiano Ronaldo, answer me this: do you believe you can bring happiness to your family?"

Ronaldo was taken aback but soon straightened his chest and declared, "Of course! I'll make a lot of money playing football in the future!"

"When will that be?"

"18 years old! No, 17! No, 15! I'll definitely be a star player by 15!"

Ronaldo beamed with confidence.

Aldrich nodded, "So what can you do for your family in the three years leading up to your 15th birthday?"

Ronaldo was suddenly at a loss for words, his expression darkening.

Dolores felt for her son and wanted to speak, but Dinis pressed her hand down, shaking his head seriously.

Aldrich placed a hand on Ronaldo's shoulder and said firmly, "You think you're already an adult and a man. That's good, and I won't treat you like a child. Let's make a deal."

Ronaldo looked up, intrigued. "What kind of deal?"

"Come with me to London. For the next three years, you'll train hard and dedicate every moment to football. That will be your contribution. If you promise to do this, I will arrange for your siblings to go to prestigious schools and cover your family's expenses, including rent for a high-end apartment. This is how you can make your family happy before you become a star. If you fail to meet this commitment, not only will you not become a star player after three years, but your future will also look bleak, and your family's conditions will deteriorate. How does that sound?"

Ronaldo's eyes sparkled with determination as he gritted his teeth, saying, "It's a deal!"

Aldrich smiled faintly, responding, "It's a deal."

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