Football Dynasty-Chapter 192: Targeting the Out-of-Position Players

Young players are still growing, and their physical attributes—such as speed, strength, and endurance—can change dramatically during their teenage years.

A child who seems suited for defense at age 12 might develop the speed and agility to become a winger by 16.

This is because early training focuses on developing a broad set of technical and tactical skills rather than specializing too soon.

As players get older, their unique abilities—such as vision, passing accuracy, or tackling—begin to emerge, suggesting more suitable positions. Some players only discover their true potential or best position later in their youth careers, or even after turning professional.

For example, Didier "the Dragon" Drogba, the Ivorian striker who eventually pushed Andriy Shevchenko to the bench at Chelsea, originally played as a fullback. Similarly, Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes changed positions several times throughout his career—from fullback to midfielder, and then from midfielder to striker. Even the world-famous Argentine striker Gabriel "Batigol" Batistuta, even changed from playing basketball to playing football because playing football could make more money than playing basketball.

While City’s fixtures in January continued, Richard realized he needed to be prepared for the Premier League—especially the upcoming summer transfer window.

With a staggering +49 goal difference—and this being only the first half of the season—there was no guarantee they could retain their top talent, especially with major clubs circling.

The threat from European giants, particularly those in Italy, was very real. When a squad performs this well, it’s only a matter of time before the big names come calling.

Il Tardini Stadium, the current home of Parma.

For today, Richard made his way to the Parma vs AC Milan fixture, opting to witness the action firsthand. And there was every reason Richard felt confident about his mission this time in Italy.

Because he was targeting players who were currently playing out of position—those hidden talents waiting to be discovered.

For example, Gianluigi Buffon.

Who doesn’t know the legendary goalkeeper of Italy’s national team? However, in this very match, Buffon was unexpectedly playing in his very first official game as a goalkeeper!

As everyone know, with the crème de la crème of Italian football rolling into town, there was no room for mistakes. Before Buffon, the benchmark for elite Italian goalkeeping had long been set by Dino Zoff.

Zoff was blessed with an unshakable calmness on the pitch and, while he was a phenomenal shot stopper, his exquisite positional sense meant he was rarely forced to make spectacular saves.

There’s no denying that the parallels in career trajectory between Buffon and Zoff create an irresistible, lineage-based narrative. In fact, a closer look at the 1990s reveals a golden era for Italian goalkeeping—littered with top talents like Sebastiano Rossi, Francesco Toldo, Angelo Peruzzi, Gianluca Pagliuca, and even the aging Walter Zenga.

What made the difference, however, is that while most of them quite literally started their careers as goalkeepers, Buffon—long before beginning his football journey with La Spezia—did not.

When he joined Parma’s youth system in 1991, the team’s coach was immediately struck by his physical qualities. Later at the youth academy, he initially played in several outfield positions—especially as a midfielder. However, things took an unexpected turn when both of Parma’s youth team goalkeepers suddenly suffered injuries.

This unexpected crisis forced the coaching staff to think outside the box, searching for an unconventional solution to a problem no one had anticipated.

Buffon, who initially played as a midfielder, became interested in the vacant goalkeeper position. After numerous spontaneous training sessions experimenting between the posts, he decided to give it a serious try.

Buffon quickly adapted to the role, and within two weeks, he had been promoted to first-choice goalkeeper for Parma’s youth team. Still, he still couldn’t break into the senior squad, as the first team already had Luca Bucci and Giovanni Galli ahead of him, with even third-choice Alessandro Nista—who had decided this season would be his last at Parma—still in the mix.

Most clubs would naturally rely on an experienced and established goalkeeper to guard the posts. In fact, Nevio Scala, Parma’s current manager, had already recognized Buffon’s potential—but remained hesitant to play him regularly.

Buffon’s appearance today was, in truth, another test—a chance to evaluate him again and again. And thanks to that moment of uncertainty, Richard saw his opening.

The game ended 0–0, with Buffon delivering a series of top-class saves against legends like Roberto Baggio and George Weah—an astonishing debut that turned heads across the stadium.

Seeing this trajectory align with what he already knew, Richard didn’t waste a second. He immediately called Marina, who was in Manchester at the time, and urged her to push through a bid for Buffon—offering a cool one million on the spot!

The bid received no response from Parma—unsurprisingly met with silence, if not outright disdain.

At just 17 years old, Buffon made a stunning debut as goalkeeper, performing exceptionally well against world-class players like Roberto Baggio and George Weah. It was clear—they weren’t ready to let go of their rising star. However, the next offer came so suddenly that it forced Parma’s management to hold an emergency meeting on short notice.

£3 million—cash, in pounds!

Like it or not, Parma responded: £5 million!

Faced with such a reply, Richard smiled. He wasn’t afraid of the amount they were asking—it was the silence from the other party that had unsettled him. But now that they’d responded, the rest should be easier.

What calcio fans didn’t realize at the time was that they had just witnessed the debut of arguably the greatest goalkeeper of all time. Twenty-two years later, that same 17-year-old has amassed over 1,000 appearances and still plays an integral role for both Juventus and the Italian national team.

After a tug-of-war in negotiations, Manchester City’s relentless bid ultimately forced Parma to concede, and the deal was settled at £3,5 million for 17-year-old Gianluigi Buffon!

Following that, Richard instructed Marina Granovskaia to finalize the deal officially as soon as possible, while he himself went to meet the future legendary goalkeeper.

Not to negotiate, but to give him motivation and a guarantee—as the owner of the club!

Richard arrived at one of Parma’s most renowned high-end restaurants—Antica Osteria del Teatro. It was here that he met with the young Gianluigi Buffon and his family.

The atmosphere was warm but charged with anticipation. Over plates of traditional Emilian cuisine—prosciutto di Parma, tortelli d’erbetta, and aged Parmigiano Reggiano—Richard didn’t talk numbers. He spoke of vision, legacy, and belief.

"I know what you’re afraid of," Richard began, gently setting down his glass of orange juice. "City’s still in the second tier. English football? Many say it’s no match for Serie A—the glamour, the stars, the history."

Buffon listened silently, his parents exchanging cautious glances.

"But that’s exactly why I’m here," Richard continued. "You could stay in Italy, be one of many... but do you really think you can break into the first team at Parma anytime soon—with Luca Bucci and Giovanni Galli ahead of you?"

"..."

Buffon and his family fell into silence.

Indeed, at most clubs, the hierarchy for goalkeepers is rigid: there’s a first choice, a backup, and then a third—often a veteran or a young prospect gaining experience. Breaking through that pecking order can take years, especially at a club like Parma, where the players ahead of him were seasoned and well-established.

Truth be told, after being named Parma’s starter for the 1996-1997 season, Buffon quickly established himself as one of the best young talents on the peninsula. The Gialloblu would go on to finish the season as runners-up to Juventus, while Buffon conceded a mere 17 goals in 27 appearances.

That’s why Richard thought it was better to recruit him early, before the season ended. After all, we’re talking about Gianluigi Buffon here.

"But City already has goalkeepers like Jens Lehmann, Richard Wright, and Nicky Weaver," Buffon said. "Even if I join City, I’d be the fourth choice—just like at Parma. I’d rather stay at Parma."

Richard smiled at this. Buffon knew about the current City goalkeepers, which meant he had already done his research—and wasn’t completely rejecting the idea.

He opened the contract and held it up before Buffon and his family, speaking calmly: "A weekly salary of £5,000. If we secure promotion, the contract will be updated to increase your salary to £7,500. Additionally, you’ll receive bonuses based on the team’s final league position. The contract lasts for five years."

This was the highest salary in the current City squad!

At that time, the highest earner at City was only making £3,000 per week—yet Richard was offering Buffon more than that. To a goalkeeper!

Buffon and his family were stunned. They hadn’t expected such an attractive offer. It was significantly more than Gianluigi was earning at Parma.

They felt tempted. After all, professional athletes earn most of their living while they’re young, and careers are not only short but also filled with risks like injuries and fluctuating performance.

Wanting to earn more is natural—there’s nothing wrong with that. But for Buffon, what mattered more was getting playing time and playing outside Serie A.

Well, even if his family agreed, Gianluigi Buffon might still hesitate.

"I understand your concerns," Richard said, leaning forward slightly, sensing Buffon’s hesitation. "At City, we already have Italians like Marco Materazzi and Gianluca Zambrotta in the squad—you won’t be alone. And you know how English football works: we compete in three major tournaments—the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the Premier League. Unlike Serie A, which offers only the league and the Coppa Italia."

He paused, letting the words sink in.

"If you decide to join us, I’ll personally speak with the manager to make sure you get minutes—real opportunities—in at least one of those competitions. We’re not signing you to sit on the bench, Gianluigi."

Buffon’s eyes lit up. "Really?" he asked, hope and curiosity flickering in his voice.

"Yes," Richard nodded firmly. "And if I break that promise, we’ll put it in writing—something clear, something binding. If you don’t get enough playing time, or if we fail to earn promotion to the Premier League, you’ll have the right to walk away. No questions asked."

He paused, then met Buffon’s eyes with quiet conviction.

"This is my sincerity to you. You’re not signing away your future—you’re taking control of it. I’m not here to sell you a promise; I’m here to build one with you. And one more thing—when the time comes, when you’ve made a name for yourself and Italy calls you back, I won’t stand in your way. If the offer is right, I’ll let you go. Once again, this is my sincerity—written in black and white." freēwēbηovel.c૦m

With the owner of the club himself making promises—backed by a written contract—how could Buffon and his family not be moved?

Had Giorgio Pedraneschi, the owner of Parma, ever spoken to them so directly?

Even Nevio Scala, the manager, had likely shared only a few brief words with Buffon before his debut.

"I... I need to think about it first," Buffon finally said. The weight of the decision was clearly written across his face.

"Of course," Richard replied, rising from his seat with a calm smile.

"January is still a long way off—we’ll wait for you. If you’ve made up your mind, please contact me as soon as possible, or reach out to our CEO," Richard said as he handed over two business cards—his and Marina’s.

The deal, for now, was delayed—but Richard wasn’t disheartened. He had planted the seed.

Buffon and his family had seen the sincerity, the opportunity, and the future laid out before them.

With the meeting concluded, Richard didn’t linger. He boarded his private jet and took off for Brescia, heading straight to Stadio Mario Rigamonti.

One Chapter was paused—but another was about to begin.

He also personally instructed Marina Granovskaia to fly directly to Brescia. His intention? Not to close a deal. Not to scout talent. But to learn.

Richard believed that, for all Marina Granovskaia’s brilliance in handling high-stakes transfers and multimillion-pound contracts, but the current version of her was too rigid—too stoic, too bound by logic. She lacked something essential: the nuanced understanding of what truly drives a player, a family, a career.

Negotiating with footballers wasn’t the same as cutting a deal with corporate executives or agents. It was more layered, more delicate. Emotion often mattered more than logic. It was deeply human.

Richard didn’t want her to read report after report, fax after fax, or handle every negotiation at City the same way she had under Roman Abramovich, back when she was just his intern secretary.

If Marina Granovskaia was to evolve from a master negotiator into a true architect of footballing vision, she needed to transcend the business.

This is how the future Iron Lady of Chelsea, famed for her steely negotiations and sharp business acumen, came to be known as the most powerful woman in football.

Marina Granovskaia’s reputation wasn’t built solely on deals and contracts; it was forged through an uncanny ability to balance strength with empathy, strategy with intuition.