Godfather Of Champions

The meeting with Mourinho was outside the English Football Association building located in Soho Square, a small embankment where many London Plane trees were planted.

This time he did not look around at the skyscrapers while in the car. Even though the last time he came here was two and a half years ago, that one time had left him with a very deep impression.

Representing the Forest team for the appeal was Jack Landy, the lawyer who had defended Twain the last time. They met again without any of the tension of the first meeting. When Landy shook hands with Twain, he smiled and said, “I knew we were going to meet again, Mr. Twain.”

Twain squinted and said, “I don’t often get into trouble. I was afraid you were going to be unemployed.”

In view of everyone, the two men laughed as if there was no one else around.

Mourinho stood next to them without expression; or more accurately, he wore a straight face with slightly pursed lips and a crease in his brow. He clearly was not happy to see Twain acting so smug in front of him.

Next to him, Jorge Mendes lightly cleared his throat to introduce Mourinho to Twain.

On hearing the cough, Twain’s expression quickly changed, as if he was already adjusting his face. His smiling expression towards the Landy quickly disappeared, and his smile immediately became warmer and more cordial. However, no matter how one looked at it, it felt overly enthusiastic and too friendly.

He turned to Mourinho and extended his hand. “I never thought we’d meet this way, Mr. Mourinho. Anyway, thank you very much for being able to attend this hearing for Pepe.”

Mourinho did not intend to extend his hand. He continued expressionlessly, and his voice sounded a little cold. “Don’t get me wrong, Mr. Twain. I’m just as disgusted with the English Football Association as you are.”

His answer made the people present feel a little awkward. There was a momentary silence. Twain’s hand was still hanging in mid-air. He did not know what to do with it.

But soon Mourinho had a smile on his face, and he clasped Twain’s hand. “I also did not expect for us to collaborate in this way, Mr. Twain.”

After that momentary silence, the atmosphere returned to normal. Mendes was in a pleasant conversation with the Forest Football Club chairman, Evan Doughty. Evan introduced Jack Landy to Mendes. Although the lawyer was sometimes inflexible and stubborn, his service was impeccable. If Mendes had any disputes in England, he could employ his services.

Intentionally or otherwise, everyone seemed to be distancing themselves from Twain and Mourinho to give them space to talk alone.

It was June, and the London Plane trees were luxuriant and leafy overhead. The mottled sunlight spattered at their feet. The breeze was gentle, the light shimmering.

Mourinho looked around and turned his gaze towards the agent, Mendes, but he did not look at Twain. “I have a very good relationship with Jorge, so I agreed to help him.”

Twain looked up at the fragmented sky, divided by leaves overhead, and nodded. “Of course. I know.”

“But don’t be happy too soon. Nobody knows if the work permit will be successfully obtained. I’ve never heard of a successful application for a center back using the ‘exceptional talent clause.'” Mourinho’s tone showed clear disdain.

Twain returned his gaze and looked at Mourinho. “Then I’ll be the first to do it.”

Mourinho grunted and said nothing.

※※※

The hearing on Pepe’s qualification for the work permit was held inside the Football Association building. It was the same room that Twain had been in the last time. However, the secretary who received them was not Faria Alam, who walked around with her hips swaying. She was replaced by a capable male secretary. And in the boardroom, the Chief Executive of the English Football Association waiting for them was not Mark Palios. The two of them, him and Miss Alam, had both resigned a year ago after the “Zippergate” scandal. As for the more disgusting details behind the scandal, there’s no need to discuss them here.

The male secretary, leading the way, was surprised to see José Mourinho and Tony Twain together with his own eyes, so he said, “I didn’t expect Mr. Mourinho and Mr. Twain to be here at the same time.”

Without waiting for the two managers to speak, Jack Landy stepped forward. “Why? Is Mr. José Mourinho testifying for Pepe from the Forest team, not in compliance with the rules?”

The secretary realized his gaffe and quickly shook his head. “Oh, so sorry. I was just a little surprised. Please, come this way.”

As he turned to lead the way, Twain and Mourinho shook their heads at the same time. This damn lawyer! Count your luck, kid!

Landy looked back and smiled at the two of them. Mourinho looked up at the ceiling and Twain seemed more interested in the photographs in the corridor.

According to the rules, the judge’s panel must be made up of the English Football Association, a British government official, a member of the Professional Footballers’ Association, and three experts during an appeal for a player’s work permit. Their opinions determined whether a player could obtain a special work permit.

Apparently, the members of the judging panel were somewhat surprised when Mourinho and Twain appeared at the same time.

It seemed that the disagreement between Twain and Mourinho was well known.

The entire appeal process was very procedural. The members of the judging panel read Pepe’s personal information first, including documents and images. The judging members from different departments would have different appraisals of Pepe’s ability. Twain and Mourinho were here mainly to deal with their questions.

First up as the “mentor who discovered Pepe,” Mourinho testified that Pepe did indeed have outstanding ability and limitless potential. His words clearly carried more weight than the data.

Twain sat on the side and watched Mourinho stand in the middle of the room to answer one question after another in correspondence to his wishes. He felt that aside from their mutually competitive relationship, Mourinho was actually a good person.

When it was Twain’s turn, the questions were mainly focused on Pepe’s position.

“Mr. Twain, obviously Pepe is a center back…”

Twain forced a smile. He actually gritted his teeth and asked in return, “Yes, what’s the issue?”

“What I am more interested in is this: in using this “exceptional talent” quota for a center back, is the Forest team not planning to bring in a striker this summer? Eastwood’s injury has not healed yet, has it?”

Twain looked at the other members of the panel and asked, “Is this a question that must be answered in accordance with the procedure?”

Someone in the panel stood up. “Don’t misunderstand, Mr. Twain. It’s just a little bit of curiosity from some of us.” The man who stood up and said this was one of three experts, Gary Lineker, who had retired long ago and now worked in television. He had agreed to serve in the judge’s panel at this hearing because it was Nottingham Forest’s appeal and Tony Twain was bound to come.

Twain glanced at Lineker. It had not been his question, but he guessed that the man must have had a part in coming up with it.

“When people talk about talent, the first thing that comes to mind is the striker, the midfielder, or the attacking midfielder… how can it be that there are no talented defensive players?” Twain spat out the words that had been in his heart for a long time. “Is there anyone who thinks that Rio Ferdinand is not a genius? Does anyone think George Wood is a not a genius? If I can apply for an attacking player under the ‘exceptional talent’ label, why can’t I apply for a center back, who truly has great potential and is really a genius, as an ‘exceptional talent?’ Pepe’s ability is described in detail in the information. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten Mr. Mourinho’s statement just now. I don’t want to prove whether Pepe is an exceptional talent or not. I just want to ask: Mr. Lineker, what do you consider genius?”

After he finished speaking, the three experts on the judge’s panel put their heads together and whispered. Other than their three voices, no one else asked Twain a question. Twain waited quietly.

After about five minutes, more and more members of the panel joined in the three-person discussion. The Football Association official had to stand up to announce the end of the hearing. The judging panel would need to continue to their discussion and review. They would notify the Nottingham Forest Football Club whether Pepe would be eligible for a work permit two days later.

“So that’s it?” As they came out of the Football Association building, Twain shrugged his shoulders and asked Landy, “Is this always the case with the FA? Will they take another two days to finish the discussion when everything is clear?”

Landy shook his head in puzzlement. “No, this is the first time I’ve ever seen it. Mr. Twain, perhaps your player has divided their opinions.”

“And does that mean there’s no difference between our current situation and yesterday’s as far as whether Pepe is able to receive a work permit?” Twain asked again.

Landy nodded and did not speak. Beside him, Mourinho smiled and took over the topic. “Mr. Twain, it’s not easy to be the first. There are still matters to be taken care of in the club. Sorry, I have to make a move first.”

After that, without waiting for Twain’s response, he slightly nodded to the other people and then left. He did not even shake hands with Twain. It did not look like the two men had just fought against the Football Association shoulder to shoulder. It looked more like they had just ended another match against each other.

Mendes smiled at Twain and shrugged.

Twain admitted he had no such luck.

Mourinho was so adamant in leaving that he did not give him a chance to fight back.

It looked like he had to wait until the new season began to get him back.