NOVPUB
Chapter 180: A ’Chaotic New Reality’ of FC Girondins de Bordeaux
By the time Richard stepped back into the stands, the roar of Maine Road was louder than ever.
The final whistle had blown.
City had done it.
Manchester City 3 – 2 Queens Park Rangers.
On the sideline, Richard saw O’Neill tighten his fists, pumping them up and down as he held back from celebrating further. 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
"You put your right foot in~"
"You drag the ball out~"
"You do the Ronaldo, and you turn them about~"
"You stick the ball past the keeper’s head~"
"The ball’s in the back of the net~"
"Oh, Ronaldo, oh, Ronaldo~"
"Oh, Ronaldo, that’s what it’s all about~"
Oh, that’s because after Neil Lennon’s easy goal, the next two goals came from Ronaldo—which is why the fans were singing that song. However, that wasn’t what surprised everyone the most.
City Shock Premier League Returnees!
Though they came dangerously close to being clawed back — nearly falling victim to a dramatic comeback — the fans at Maine Road loved every second of the rollercoaster. The highs, the tension, the roar of the crowd; it was the kind of match that reminded everyone why they loved football.
After an unbeaten run in the lower leagues, sweeping past opponents in the League Cup, and now toppling Premier League’s QPR in the FA Cup, Manchester City finally captured the full attention of the media.
The Next Morning — Headlines Across Britain.
The Guardian:
[...City Prove Critics Wrong with Tactical Triumph Over QPR...]
The Independent:
[...Manchester City Announce Their Top-Flight Return in Style — 3-2 Victory Over Queens Park Rangers...]
Daily Mail:
[...Ruthless City Put QPR to the Sword — Maine Road Erupts...]
Satisfied with this, Richard then shifted his focus to the news Karren Brady had brought him about the situation with FC Girondins de Bordeaux in France.
It all started with the bribery scandal involving Bernard Tapie and his Olympique de Marseille, which had rocked French football to its core.
Although there was no direct link between Olympique de Marseille and FC Girondins de Bordeaux, the bribery scandal had triggered an investigation by the Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) into all French clubs.
This was when everything came to light — when they opened the club’s account book.
"The club’s short about 38.9 million francs (£5 million) just to balance the books," Karren explained. "They’ve been talking to a few businessmen about a possible takeover."
That was basically what she had told him yesterday, and as the probe deepened, things only got worse — sparking fears of a looming crisis.
The DNCG, France’s strict financial watchdog, had tightened regulations, scrutinizing every transaction with a magnifying glass. They had become wary of foreign influence. There were also cultural and political hurdles, which meant Richard would have to do more than just offer money — he had to earn trust.
Basically, he needed to convince the city, the fans, the DNCG, and the football federation that his intentions weren’t purely commercial. That he wasn’t there to gut the club and sell it off for parts, but to restore it.
But was Richard willing to go that far?
Of course not.
Richard then called Karren Brady, who was in France, to move forward with their plan. After discussing the details, Karren began explaining her way to solve the problem.
"So?" Richard asked via phone.
She must have a method to resolve the issue.
"Actually, it’s easy for Bordeaux to solve this," she said. "They just need to sell their best players and millions will pour into their pockets. But the current chairman, Claude Bez, adamantly refuses to sell them."
"Hmmm," Richard rubbed his chin. "Is there any reason why he refuses to sell them?"
"UEFA Intertoto Cup," Karren said.
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, or International Football Cup, was a summer football competition between European clubs.
Any club wanting to take part had to apply, and the highest-ranked teams in their domestic leagues who hadn’t qualified for other European competitions got the chance to enter.
The cup promoted itself as a way for clubs that usually wouldn’t make it into the UEFA Cup to get a shot. Bordeaux was really keen on the competition because this year, the cup offered UEFA Cup qualification spots — three spots instead of the original two.
With PSG running the show in Ligue 1, and unexpected dark horses like Auxerre, Metz, Lens, and Montpellier making waves, Bordeaux—who were hyped up as the new heroes to replace OM, with stars like Zidane, Lizarazu, and Dugarry—ended up stuck near the bottom of the table!
So for now, the Intertoto Cup was basically their best shot this year at getting into the UEFA Cup next season.
"Just yesterday, on Tuesday, some board members wanted the club to file for bankruptcy with Bordeaux’s commercial court to begin the necessary restructuring. They were hoping for some relief but the chairman rejected the idea, insisting that if they win the Intertoto Cup, all the problems will resolve themselves."
She continued, "Because of this, DNCG has asked the club to voluntarily give up its professional license, warning that if the club’s expenditures exceed the set threshold, Bordeaux could be immediately stripped of both its league position and its cup eligibility."
Richard was speechless. Why would he fight so hard if it meant they were heading for relegation anyway?
Sometimes the thinking of businessmen like this can be dangerous, especially when it conflicts with what’s best for the club. It was a reminder of how business-minded owners often prioritize profits and cost-cutting over tradition and fan loyalty.
Richard then reflected on Manchester United’s future under INEOS, where "redundancies" became the excuse for every tough decision — even going so far as to refuse to pay for staff tickets to matches, cutting corners wherever they could.
Now, Claude Bez, too fixated on his successes in the 1980s, was ignoring the current state of the club. Blinded by past glory, he failed to recognize how much Bordeaux was struggling, unwilling to adapt or make the tough decisions needed to save the club from its mounting problems.
"Does this mean we’ve failed to acquire the club?"
This was the most important question to him — more than anything else. He had already invested significant resources into establishing Maddox Football Group as the SPV for the Bordeaux deal, and now it looked like it was all falling apart.
"If we’re talking about a full acquisition of Bordeaux — we’ve likely failed," she admitted. "But..."
"But?"
Was there still a way forward?
"It’s possible—we’re not going for a full takeover, just a minority stake," she explained. "Right now, the whole place is tense. Everyone’s watching their backs, but Chairman Bez still holds all the power. If we come to him with an open hand—not trying to push him out, but offering to work alongside him — I believe he’ll say yes."
"You really think he’ll give up control of his own club?"
"Let’s be honest — he probably doesn’t want to. But at this point, does he really have a choice? The DNCG is already breathing down his neck after all the reckless spending on scouting over the past few decades."
"Is that so? What about the other stakeholders?"
"They’re already trying to find the right price to sell their shares. Bez is the only one still unwilling to let go of his, but he can’t control them."
"How much do you need to acquire the minority stake? Would the two million I gave you earlier be enough?"
"It’s enough for now. What I need is your green light. Then I’ll move to buy the shares."
Richard closed his eyes for a moment, processing the ins and outs of the situation.
To be honest, he was tempted.
From his point of view, it’s a lot less worrying—after all, the ownership still lies with Chairman Claudio Bez.
It’s a similar approach to how Manchester United’s operations might unfold in the future. The Glazers, facing intense backlash from fans over their ownership style, stepped back and allowed Sir Jim Ratcliffe to take a more active role in the club. So instead of the Glazers directly managing things, it was Ratcliffe—a minority shareholder—who oversaw Manchester United’s day-to-day operations under their continued ownership.
"I’ll support you in this," Richard said firmly, "but I have conditions."
"..."
Karren waited patiently on the other end of the line. The silence stretched between them as she sensed he was choosing his words carefully.
Finally, Richard spoke. "It has to be on terms that give us real influence — not just a figurehead role. I want you to control over key decisions, especially the academy, scouting, and all player transfers. Otherwise, what’s the point?"
"..."
On the other end, Karren mulled this over. To be honest, the academy was easy — the department itself was already nearing closure. As for scouting, she knew Bordeaux had begun pulling back all their overseas scouting stations. Transfers, though... she thought it through again and again, but in the end, she agreed.
"I understand. I’ll do my best."
"Good. My second condition — this winter transfer window, help me secure two players."
"Who?"
"Nantes’ Claude Makélélé and Patrick Vieira from AC Milan."
Karen gasped on the other end of the line, stunned by Richard’s boldness.
How could he even think of poaching a player from AC Milan? But Richard had already done the math.
To be honest, when Vieira signed for Milan, he was ready to give up on him. Unexpectedly, Vieira hadn’t played a single minute yet!
He seemed to be struggling to break into a starting lineup packed with the likes of Albertini, Desailly, Donadoni, and Boban — which made Richard believe there was still a chance.
Zidane would be the perfect link to persuade them — both Makélélé and Vieira had already played alongside him in the France U21 squad, building chemistry that could now be rekindled at Bordeaux.
They’re still playing in France, still in the top league, with a chance to qualify for the UEFA Cup next year—and with the kind of salary they’re offering, the bait was just too strong!
This is why, if she pulled it off...
Richard swallowed hard.
Could Bordeaux really end up with Zidane, Makélélé, and Vieira?
And if she really took control of Bordeaux for him, would that mean there’s a high chance City could land all of them at once in the future?
The £2 million investment suddenly seemed very worthwhile, especially since it wouldn’t be a full acquisition, meaning there wouldn’t be any issues with dual ownership rules to worry about.
This arrangement could give them access to a rich talent pool without the headaches of complete club ownership — a smart move both financially and strategically.
"I know, but given the club’s current condition, I’ll probably need additional funds if you want me to sign both of them," Karren said frankly.
"I understand. Don’t worry — I’ll send someone to Bordeaux to explore potential sponsorships as soon as you take charge of the club for me. You know what I’m getting at, right?"
Karren paused for a moment, then allowed herself a small smile.
’Ah, if that’s the case...’ she thought. It was a clever arrangement — and one she could work with.
"Then it’s settled, then," Richard said, before pausing as something crossed his mind. He glanced back at the phone and asked,
"Oh, and what about Adidas? Were you able to persuade Tapie to sell it to us?"
