The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 645: Liu's boss's "green ambition"!!!
Time flies and it is now 1997.

On January 1, at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England, the cold wind was accompanied by sporadic rain and snow.

In the VIP seats, a middle-aged man in a custom-made suit clenched his fists and stared at the fighting in the arena with sharp eyes.

As the club's chairman, Liu Shudong, a Southeast Asian business tycoon, is now holding his breath like an ordinary fan.

The kick-off of this Premier League focus match between Manchester United and Liverpool was delayed by half an hour due to heavy snow.

Ferguson's "Class of 92" youth storm was sweeping England: Beckham's crescent-shaped scimitar, Giggs's wing runs, Scholes' deadly long shots... However, the opponent Liverpool relied on Michael Owen's powerful attack to force the score to 2-2.

In the injury time, Beckham made a 50-meter long lob near the center line. The ball streaked across the night sky like a meteor and fell straight into the net! 3-2!

The Dream Theater was boiling instantly. Liu Shudong's palms were scratched by nails, and the roar of tens of thousands of people echoed in his ears: "Glory Glory Man United!"

Liu Shudong was full of praise for Manchester United's outstanding performance this season. In his opinion, with the "Red Devils" currently in an unstoppable state, they are fully expected to achieve the feat of winning two consecutive Premier League titles.

This seemingly young Manchester United team actually has amazing strength, and the lineup is full of stars: from the invincible "King" Cantona on the front line to the rock-hard Schmeichel and Stam on the back line;
From the iron-blooded captain Keane in the midfield to the talented "Class of 92" golden generation - Beckham's crescent moon knife, Scholes' surgical pass, Giggs' lightning from the wing, plus the fatal blow of striker Andy Cole, this team is one of the most talented lineups in the history of the Premier League.

Since "Liu's Overseas Investment" successfully acquired Manchester United three years ago, this century-old giant has shown unprecedented vitality thanks to the continued heavy investment from its parent company.

In just three years, Manchester United has won two Premier League championship trophies, one Champions League trophy, one League Cup, and two FA Cups, almost sweeping all major competitions in European football.

Today, this invincible "Red Devils" is writing a new legendary chapter in English football.

While the "Red Devils" Manchester United swept across the European football scene with unstoppable force, the major subsidiaries of the "Liu Overseas Investment" Group also took advantage of the situation, launched international strategic layouts, and rapidly expanded their business territories around the world.

This strategic acquisition not only perfectly fits the group's strategic goal of global development, but also creates remarkable business value. It can be regarded as one of the most successful cross-border M&A cases in recent years!

……

It is no coincidence that "Liu's Overseas Investment" acquired Manchester United Club.

December 12, three years ago, Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong.

Liu Shudong stood in front of the private jet's gangway and looked up at the gray sky.

Although the Hong Kong River in December is not bitterly cold, the sea breeze is still humid and makes people feel cool.

He tightened his Burberry cashmere scarf, which was custom-made in London last year. The dark blue plaid pattern complemented his calm temperament.

"Chairman, the luggage has been arranged." Mr. Wrinkle Huai, the general manager of "Asia Pacific Film and Television Group", walked over quickly with two documents in his hands, "The final itinerary confirmation sent by the Premier League, and the background information of Manchester United Club."

Liu Shudong took the document and quickly browsed through its contents.

As the chairman of "Liu's Overseas Investment", he has long been accustomed to handling official business on the move.

He is only forty years old and his hair is already a little gray, but he has maintained a good figure. A tailor-made dark gray suit outlines his tall and straight features, and his every move reveals the elegance of an old-fashioned gentleman and the majesty of a business tycoon.

"How has Manchester United performed this season?" Liu Shudong asked as he closed the document.

Wrinkle Huai is a senior football fan. He pushed his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes sparkling with excitement behind the lenses: "It's unstoppable. The '92 Golden Generation' created by Sir Alex Ferguson is beginning to emerge, and the 'King' Cantona is at his peak.

They are currently 6 points ahead of second-placed Blackburn in the standings, and this Christmas battle is crucial to the championship."

Liu Shudong nodded.

Although he is not an avid football fan, as the largest broadcaster of the Premier League in Asia, he still has a basic understanding of the event.

The "King" Cantona during this period was really strong. He joined from Leeds United two years ago with a transfer fee of 180 million euros and officially started his career as a Red Devils.

On December 6, 1992, Cantona made his debut for Manchester United in the match against Manchester City.

In the second half he came on as a substitute wearing the No. 12 jersey.

Manchester United won the match 2-1, but unfortunately Cantona did not score that day.

However, a few days later, Manchester United drew 1-1 with Chelsea away. Although it was a pity that the team failed to get all three points, Cantona scored his first goal in his Red Devils career in that game.

After Cantona joined Manchester United, the team only lost two games, and helped the team win the league championship in his first season at Manchester United, which was also the first league championship won by Manchester United since 1967.

It was due to his outstanding performance this season that Cantona was ranked fifth in UEFA's best player award.

Ferguson built a completely new lineup that season.

In the 1992-1993 season, Manchester United's main goalkeeper was Schmeichel, defenders were Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, midfielders were Lee Sharp, McClair, Ince, Giggs, and forwards were Mark Hughes and Cantona.

The Asia Pacific Film and Television Group, a subsidiary of "Liu's Overseas Investment", has obtained the exclusive broadcasting rights of the Premier League in Asia since 1989, bringing the group amazing profit growth in five years.

Therefore, Liu Shudong also attaches great importance to the influence of the Premier League.

"Let's go. Don't keep the people from the Premier League waiting too long." Liu Shudong stepped onto the gangway.

The cabin of the Gulfstream IV is exquisitely decorated, and the leather seats exude a light leather scent.

Liu Shudong took the whiskey handed to him by the flight attendant, and the ice cubes gently collided in the amber liquid.

He looked out the window at the gradually shrinking Hong Kong skyline, and his thoughts drifted back to ten years ago.

Liu Shudong, who was only 24 years old that year, was entrusted by his family to go to Hong Kong to manage overseas business.

Relying on the huge financial support from his family and his own business acumen, Liu Shudong started with a commercial bank and gradually built a huge business empire spanning real estate, finance, industry, shipping, ports, aviation, infrastructure, electronics, chemicals, energy, mining, catering, textiles... and media.

Today, the tentacles of "Liu's Overseas Investment" have extended to Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States, and its assets exceed US$2500 billion.

"Chairman, do you want to take a break? The flight time is twelve hours." Wrinkle asked softly.

Liu Shudong shook his head: "Show me this year's Manchester United financial report again."

The plane flew eastward through the clouds. Liu Shudong studied the materials in his hands attentively, occasionally making notes on the margins with a Montblanc pen.

As a listed company, Manchester United's financial situation is quite transparent.

Although the club itself had limited profits, its brand value and influence in Asia caught his eye.

"Mr. Zhou, do you have any specific data on the number of Manchester United fans in Asia?"

Wrinkle took out a survey report from his briefcase: "According to our research last month, there are more than 400,000 Manchester United fans in Hong Kong alone, and the number in Asia is conservatively estimated to be over 20 million.

The ratings of Manchester United games broadcast by Asia Pacific TV are 30% higher than those of other teams.

Hearing this, a gleam of light flashed in Liu Shudong's eyes.

He took a sip of the whiskey, feeling the complex flavor of the alcohol spreading on his tongue.

His business instinct told him that there were huge opportunities here.

Twelve hours later, the plane landed at Manchester Airport.

A cold rain and fog enveloped this industrial city. Unlike the humidity in Hong Kong, the cold here was even more biting.

"Mr. Liu, welcome to Manchester!"

A tall Englishman came up to them, his thick brown beard still streaked with raindrops.

He is Mark Williams, the Premier League's director of international affairs, and he is responsible for receiving Liu Shudong and his delegation.

"Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Williams," Liu Shudong responded in fluent English, with a firm but brief handshake. "The cooperation between Asia Pacific Films and the Premier League has always been very pleasant."

After the greetings, the group took a Mercedes-Benz car arranged by the Premier League to the hotel where they were staying.

Christmas decorations have been hung on the streets of Manchester, but the gloomy sky and occasional drizzle have greatly reduced the festive atmosphere.

"Tomorrow's game is Manchester United vs. Blackburn Rovers, a direct match between the top two teams in the standings," Williams introduced enthusiastically. "We have arranged a VIP box for you at Old Trafford, and you will have the opportunity to have dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson after the game."

Liu Shudong nodded politely to express his gratitude, but his eyes were on the pedestrians hurrying past the car window.

Many wore the red jerseys of Manchester United, even on this cold winter day, and he marveled at the brand loyalty.

The next afternoon, two hours before the game started, the area around Old Trafford was already bustling with people.

A sea of ​​red surged from all directions, fans sang team songs, and the air was filled with the smell of beer and barbecue.

"It's impressive." Liu Shudong stood at the VIP entrance and looked around.

As one of the richest men in Hong Kong, he had witnessed countless big scenes, but this was the first time he had witnessed a civilian carnival on such a scale.

"Manchester United's home stadium can accommodate 55,000 people, and the tickets for today's game were sold out three months ago," Williams said proudly. "In the Premier League, scenes like this happen every week."

Through a dedicated passage, they arrived at the VIP box located in the middle of the main stand.

The spacious space is furnished with leather seats and has a full-length floor-to-ceiling glass in front, offering an unobstructed view of the entire stadium.

The box has a private bar and dining area, and several waiters in uniform are making final preparations.

"Mr. Liu, please allow me to introduce you to some friends." Williams guided Liu Shudong to the small lounge area on the other side of the box.

Several men in suits stood up, among whom an elderly man with gray hair was particularly eye-catching.

He is not tall, but there is a sense of majesty in his every move.

"This is Mr. Martin Edwards, Chairman of Manchester United." Williams introduced, "Martin, this is Mr. Liu Shudong, the owner of Asia Pacific Film Group and the most important partner of the Premier League in Asia."

Edwards shook Liu Shudong's hand, smiling warmly but with a scrutinizing look in his eyes: "I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Liu. Thank you for your support for the Premier League and Manchester United."

"Manchester United is a world-class club and it is our honor to work with you," Liu Shudong responded, noting the conspicuous ruby ​​ring on Edwards' index finger as he shook hands.

After the greetings, everyone took their seats.

The waiter brought champagne and appetizers. Liu Shudong took the glass but only took a symbolic sip.

He was more interested in observing the interactions in the box - club executives, sponsor representatives, local politicians. This small space brought together forces that could influence the city.

As the game time approaches, the atmosphere in the stadium gradually heats up.

When players from both teams entered the field to warm up, deafening cheers broke out from the stands.

Liu Shudong walked to the glass window and observed the players on the field closely.

"Is that curly-haired Frenchman Cantona?" He pointed to a haughty-looking player in Manchester United's team.

Wrinkle nodded with a smile: “Yes, the king of Manchester United.

Although he has a rebellious personality, his football skills are impeccable. ”

After the game started, Liu Shudong was quickly infected by the atmosphere on the scene.

Unlike TV broadcasts, watching the game live allows you to feel the force of every tackle, the power of every shot, and the vibration of the stands beneath your feet when more than 50,000 people cheer at the same time.

Manchester United and Blackburn launched a fierce offensive, the pace was so fast that he was dazzled.

"This is a real football match." Liu Shudong exclaimed to Zhou Qiming during the halftime break, "It's ten times more shocking than what you see on TV."

Wrinkle said with a smile: “That’s why fans are willing to spend a lot of money to watch the game live.

This experience is irreplaceable in home entertainment.”

Liu Shudong nodded thoughtfully.

He noticed that most of the billboards around the stadium were international brands - Nike, Canon, Sharp. Manchester United's commercial value is self-evident.

On the way to the bathroom, Liu Shudong ran into an unexpected person in the corridor - Manchester United legendary star Bobby Charlton, now the club's honorary chairman.

"Mr. Charlton, it's an honor to meet you." Liu Shudong took the initiative to extend his hand, "I am Liu Shudong, the boss of Asia Pacific Film and Television Group."

Charlton shook hands in a friendly manner: "Ah, friends from Asia! Thank you for bringing the Premier League to the East."

During the brief conversation, Charlton mentioned inadvertently: "Football is globalizing, and more international capital will enter the Premier League in the future.

In fact, there are already some overseas buyers who have expressed interest in Manchester United..."

These words struck Liu Shudong like lightning.

He remained calm on the surface, but his mind was already racing.

The second half of the game was more intense.

Manchester United launched a fierce attack under the leadership of Cantona. The Frenchman first scored with a wonderful lob and then assisted the young player Giggs to score.

When the final whistle sounded, Manchester United defeated Blackburn 3-1 and thunderous cheers broke out in the stands.

"A wonderful game!" After returning to the hotel, Liu Shudong still couldn't hide his excitement, "Qiming, make arrangements. I want to see the complete financial report and equity structure of Manchester United as soon as possible."

Wrinkle Huai was slightly surprised: "Chairman, are you interested in acquiring Manchester United?"

Liu Shudong stood at the window of the suite, looking at the night view of Manchester.

In the distance, the lights of Old Trafford are still bright, standing like a red castle in the center of the city.

"The influence of the Premier League in Asia is growing day by day, and Manchester United is the leader among them." He said slowly, "The major groups under Liu need to be internationalized, and the influence of sports is immeasurable.

Especially football, as the world's largest sport, has hundreds of millions of fans around the world.

The broadcasting rights of top European football leagues such as the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, etc. are sold at extremely high prices. Taking the Premier League as an example, its broadcasting rights are sold for billions worldwide.

Major brands are also keen to place advertisements in football matches. Sports brands such as Nike and Adidas as well as non-sports brands such as Coca-Cola and Budweiser have invested a lot of money in the football field.

The companies under the "Liu Overseas Investment" Group are currently mainly concentrated in Hong Kong Island and Southeast Asia. Although a solid business presence has been established in these regions, if they want to become one of the world's top companies, they still face the challenge of geographical limitations and need to go through a long development process.

At a time when global competition is becoming increasingly fierce, raising brand awareness by sponsoring top international sporting events is undoubtedly a strategic shortcut to achieving leapfrog development.

This high-exposure marketing method can not only quickly expand international influence, but also effectively establish an emotional connection between the brand and global consumers.

The 1990s was the golden age of Manchester United Football Club's rapid development.

This new Premier League team has achieved outstanding results under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson and its business operations are also thriving.

Faced with such high-quality assets, it is not easy for "Liu's Overseas Investment" to complete the acquisition.

What is more noteworthy is that since the establishment of the Premier League, there has never been a precedent of foreign capital successfully acquiring a club.

This special historical background means that any overseas capital that wants to get involved in Premier League teams will face numerous obstacles.

In such an environment, it is conceivable how difficult it would be for Liu Shudong to try to take over the Manchester United club, which was at its peak.

This not only requires strong financial strength, but also requires breaking through the inherent perception and resistance to foreign investment in the British football world at that time.

Despite the difficult road ahead, Liu Shudong's determination to move into Old Trafford has not diminished in the slightest.

After in-depth research, he realized that the key to successfully acquiring Manchester United Club lies in winning the support of two heavyweights - the meritorious coach Sir Alex Ferguson and the club's honorary chairman Sir Bobby Charlton.

If Liu's Overseas Investment can gain recognition from these two Manchester United legends, its acquisition plan will be much more effective.

In contrast, the club's major shareholders, Magnier and McManus, are not a cause for concern.

These two Irish businessmen, known for their shrewdness, have always put profit first. As long as Liu Shudong offered an attractive enough price, they would even sell their underwear.

Sure enough, the first ones to be dealt with were Magnier and McManus.

"Liu's Overseas Investment" finally reached an agreement to acquire 28.7% of the shares owned by Magnier and McManus, and obtained a controlling stake of 57% in Manchester United.

(End of this chapter)