When the powerful and powerful people in European football gather together

Monaco has always been a place for wealthy and hermits.

is located on the Costa ça, where Ferrari drives into the famous casino square or luxury yachts slowly dock at the port of Hercules.

Money flows here, luxury handbags and expensive sports cars are just daily scenery. However, in the past 48 hours, Monaco has welcomed a completely different group of visitors.

The powerful and celebrities in European football gather in the world's second smallest sovereign country, just to participate in the draw ceremony of UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa League held at the Grimaldi Forum. The activities will be held on Thursday and Friday.

Whether it was Thursday afternoon, Chelsea co-owner Bechdard Egbali, along with Qatar Sports Investment Chairman and Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Gerlefi, the private restaurant of Radisson Hotel in the Costa del São, or football agents whispered in the corner with club executives, it seemed that there was a football feast worth listening to every corner.

It is still a while before most league transfer windows are closed (Monday, September 1), and the deal is still brewing. And when all the key figures gather in this small place, Monaco became the most ideal trading venue.

In just two days, this place has become the epicenter of European football.

As one of two designated hotels by UEFA in Monaco, Radisson Blu Hotel has a private beach and outdoor swimming pool, becoming a veritable social hive. The moment before, people might have glimpsed in the lobby that former Barcelona and Real Madrid superstar Luis Figo were in a hurry; the next moment, the figure of another Golden Globe and Champions League winner Kaka came into view again.

Rows of pitch-black Mercedes vans, with UEFA logos printed on the body, are neatly parked outside the hotel, ready to send club executives and representatives to the Grimaldi Forum Conference Center to ensure that they participate in the lottery draws of various top club events on time.

In addition to the luxurious accommodation and free transportation in five-star hotels, VIPs also received a special gift: a beautiful portable Bluetooth speaker.

Before the Champions League draw on Thursday night, Egbali had already talked with UEFA Secretary-General Teodor Theodoridis in front of his seat.

Chelsea Chief Operating Officer Jason Cannon received a special commendation award from UEFA President Alexander Cheferin to commemorate the club's collection of three major European trophys - after winning the Champions League in 2012 and 2021 and winning the Europa League in 2013 and 2019, he was crowned the first European League champion last season. After the Champions League draw, VIPs and executives including FIFA Secretary-General Matthias Grafström moved to the luxurious Monte Carlo Sports Club to attend the party. They enjoyed a hearty meal and drink, and then enjoyed a UEFA-themed drone light show.

FA Chairman Debbie Hewitt was also among the guests. The legendary Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had just received the Chairman's Special Award earlier, did not show up at the party.

Another joint owner of Chelsea, Todd Burley, originally planned to fly from London, but the flight was delayed due to bad weather and failed to arrive in time.

However, he eventually showed up at the party. The next morning, he was wearing shorts, flip flops and a Los Angeles Lakers T-shirt (he was also the co-owner of the NBA team), holding a stack of documents.

Another absentee was Evan Galos Marinakis, the owner of Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest. He did not show up at the official event, but instead set off a new world and held a private party at the "Sas Cafe". This celebrity gathering place decorated with leopard wall decoration and furniture was still brightly lit and hustle and bustle until the early morning.

The draw ceremony between the Europa League and the Europa League was held one after another, and a subtle "same-frame" drama was staged: Crystal Palace president Steve Parrish and Marinakis were only two rows of seats apart, and were only a few meters away from each other.

Crystal Miyamoto directly advanced to the UEFA Cup because he won the FA Cup last season, but UEFA ruled that its boss John Texto's "Eagle Football Group" held a majority stake in Ligue 1 Lyon Club, violated the rules of ownership of multiple clubs, was disqualified and relegated to the third-level Europa League (and had to pass two rounds of play-offs before qualifying for the main match). Forest was therefore "replaced" to get tickets to the Europa League.

When the UEFA Cup draw ended, Marinakis got up and left the seat and walked straight to the exit - which meant he had to pass in front of Paris. The short and silent "pass" between the two seemed to condense the complex tension of the game between power changes and rules in football.

In the underground passage of the Grimaldi Forum, the European Union draw is still in progress. Marinakis was witnessed in an in-depth conversation with top agent Rafaela Pimenta. Not far away, his son Mirthiadis, the group's global football director Edu, and the Brazilian's close ally Chia Jurabuchian are also on the side. This scene is like a microcosm of the core circle of a football empire.

Although the focus and core of this gathering - the Champions League draw - has come to an end, everyone has made full use of the convenience of this inch of land.

club executives were able to communicate easily at the lunch table overlooking the Mediterranean and make plans; football agents took this opportunity to face the most influential figures in the football world, finalizing the final details for the deal before the transfer window was closed (until January next year).

The secret talks whispering between the corridors, the business cards exchanged in the elevator, and the handshakes meaningfully in the corner of the party are all proof of the silent flow of power and interests in this short and dense 48 hours.

When dark Mercedes vans carried executives from afar to Nice Airport, their backs gradually drifted away seemed to have taken away this short football feast.. However, they may have been looking forward to: at this time of the coming year, we will re-enact this Monaco star gathering staged on the Costa delle of the Blue, in the interweaving of money, power and ambition.