Back in Monte Carlo, the President is desperately trying to find a new home for his unpredictable star player, but convincing Europe’s biggest clubs proves rather more difficult than expected.
Every sales pitch ends with another polite rejection, leaving the President increasingly creative as he attempts to persuade somebody—anybody—to take The Tiger off his hands before the transfer window closes.
The Sales Pitch
With the transfer window nearing its conclusion, the President begins making telephone calls across Europe.
His objective is simple.
Find a buyer for The Tiger.
Unfortunately, every conversation seems to end the same way.
Trying Every Angle
The President first contacts Liverpool, suggesting they may be interested in signing a hungry striker.
The reply is immediate.
“We’re not a feeder club. We’re a selling club.”
One opportunity disappears almost instantly.
A Great Trainer
Undeterred, the President contacts Madrid.
Rather than leading with goals or trophies, he describes The Tiger as “a great trainer.”
The response is wonderfully blunt.
“Why does everyone think I need a trainer?”
Another potential deal quietly collapses.
Transfer Window Desperation
With options running out, the President begins lowering expectations.
Perhaps wages can be reduced.
Perhaps another loan move will help.
Perhaps somebody else can be persuaded after speaking with The Special One.
The sales pitch becomes increasingly imaginative.
The Chief Gets Involved
As rumours spread across Europe, even text messages begin circulating.
The Chief quietly asks whether anyone might be interested in “unleashing The Tiger.”
The reply is less enthusiastic.
“Let me sleep on it… I don’t want to win the Europa League.”
The transfer gossip has now become part of the joke.
Fantasy Football Lessons
The Kid watches events unfold with amusement.
Transfer rumours dominate headlines every summer, yet fantasy football managers know better than to react too quickly.
Until a transfer is officially completed, player values, starting positions and fantasy prospects remain uncertain.
Patience is often the smartest strategy.
The Football Inspiration Behind the Comic
This episode was inspired by the constant speculation surrounding Radamel Falcao following his difficult spell in England and the endless transfer rumours linking Europe’s biggest clubs throughout the summer.
Storybook exaggerates those negotiations by imagining the President making increasingly desperate sales pitches as deadline day approaches.
Characters Featured
The President
Determined to move his star striker before the transfer window closes, the President quickly discovers that finding the right buyer is easier said than done.
The Tiger
One of Europe’s most feared goalscorers, The Tiger’s reputation remains enormous even though recent events have made clubs hesitate before committing to a transfer.
The Special One
Referenced during the negotiations, his opinion still carries enormous weight after previously working with The Tiger.
The Chief
Always close to the action, The Chief follows developments by text message as transfer rumours gather momentum.
Behind the Gag
The comedy lies in football’s transfer language.
Every selling club insists their player is world-class.
Every buying club suddenly becomes extremely difficult to convince.
By the end, nobody seems entirely sure whether they are discussing a footballer or trying to sell a second-hand car.
Looking Back
Originally published in 2015, The Sales Pitch captured the circus that surrounds every summer transfer window.
Agents negotiate, clubs brief the media and supporters follow every rumour, while reality often proves far less dramatic than the headlines suggest.
Storybook turns that annual football ritual into another piece of transfer-window satire.
