Football's Secret Trade

Epilogue

Miguel Ángel Gil is at 4,000 feet in a business-class seat at the front of an Airbus A340 flying over Provence in the south of France. He is wearing a dark suit, tie askew as usual, and is carrying just an overnight case with him in the overhead locker. It's 8.40 p.m., on the last weekend in May, and it's his 53rd birthday.

In Milan, at that very moment, Atlético Madrid is about to start the Champions League final against Real Madrid – the second meeting of the teams in three years at the climax of the competition. Inside the stadium, 20,000 Atléti fans fill one end of the Giuseppe Meazza stadium, better known as the San Siro, which has played host to some of football's greatest teams. Stretched from one side to the other, they hold up a huge banner reading “Your values make us believe”. Even though they are outnumbered by Real Madrid supporters, it is the Atlético fans that make most of the noise. They scream “Atléti, Atléti…”. UEFA's idea of hiring pop star Alicia Keys to play a short set just nine minutes before the match was perhaps ill-advised.

The previous night Gil had listened to the Milan Philharmonic Orchestra perform Strauss at the city's other famous arena, the La Scala opera house. He had also dined at the theatre, which is decorated in gold brocade and red velvet, with Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and other officials.

After the meal, Gil had slept at the smart Meliá Milano hotel, a 10-minute drive from the stadium. After a low-key lunch with ...