The next few days were a brief window of rest as Manchester City spent time sightseeing in Japan before their final big match and the flight back to England.
That evening's match was an unusual one. City were set to face the 1998 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A champions, Corinthians, with both clubs meeting on neutral ground in Japan.
Although City had enjoyed a surge in popularity in Japan after their association with Hidetoshi Nakata and their recent summer tour across the country, even Richard was momentarily speechless when he saw what Karren Brady had managed to arrange—bringing City and Corinthians together for a high-profile friendly on Asian soil.
At first, it felt like a strange logistical stunt. However, after hearing the reasoning behind it, Richard understood.
