Chapter Five: Not a Charity Home

“They promise a memorial plaque,” Mara said. “Our purchase right?” “Match the bid within sixty days. Deposit: £440,000.” Meanwhile, their second-highest-paid player had missed three sessions. Marcus Reed, a former Premier League academy centre-back, was gifted and overweight. After being substituted, he told Oscar he would not learn defending from an amateur old man. Lin summoned him. “Six conditioning sessions. How many completed?” “I'm the best on matchday. Read the data.” “One.” “You signed me because Bluehaven discarded me. Now you use elite standards?” “Greyport standards.” Marcus laughed. “Everyone here has a sad story. You won't release me.”