[Team hotel, Pittsburgh. Thursday 26 July 2018. 08:40.]
"Say the number, Marcus."
"You are not going to like it."
"Marcus."
"30 million euros." He turned the laptop round so I could see it in writing. "26 and a half in sterling."
I sat down on the arm of a hotel chair.
Manchester City paid 60 million pounds for a full back last summer. We took 75 for Serge Gnabry off Bayern 6 weeks ago and Steve Parish went and stood in a car park about it.
26 and a half million pounds for an 18-year-old that a room full of professional coaches could not name on Wednesday night.
"I am aware of what City would pay." He shut the lid.
"Boss, that clause was written for a boy who had made 0 first team appearances. He signed it 14 months ago. He was in the B team and nobody in Portugal had heard of him.
"Benfica have not touched it since, because until about 6 weeks ago there was nothing to touch."
"And now?"
