Chapter 543: Chapter 542: The Old Boss Sends a Big Gift Pack, Famous Generals Gather at Maine Road
"It’s Mr. Mansour, the owner of Manchester City," Deng Kai introduced to Feng Te.
Feng Te immediately made his stance clear, "Mr. Mansour, sign me up, you definitely won’t regret it!"
Mansour thought it was a good idea, so he started asking for the price, "Then, what’s your transfer value?"
Feng Te stiffened, "Well, most of our rotational players are valued between eight to twelve million euros. But since I only have one year left on my contract, it’s definitely going to be cheaper, probably around five to six hundred thousand."
"If Xiao Kai is willing to put in a good word for me, maybe it could even be done for two hundred thousand!"
Mansour was stunned, "Two hundred thousand?"
WTF!
The twenty-million-euro Feng Te, full of pride and aggression!
The ten-million-euro Feng Te is a total rip-off!
The two-hundred-thousand-euro Feng Te... the epitome of maturity and stability, right!
Feng Te thought Mansour still found it expensive, so he immediately backtracked, "No, no need for money! Not a penny! As long as Manchester City wants me, I’ll sort out the transfer fee with the team myself!"
Mansour was bewitched.
Out of his own pocket?
This...
What have I done to deserve this at Manchester City!
Feng Te, did you owe Manchester City in your last life?
"Done! It’s settled!" Mansour’s hands were shaking as he hung up the phone.
He now finally understood why Deng Kai had stopped the twenty million euro bid for Anelka.
In Deng Kai’s hands, that money could probably buy... several Anelkas?
Deng Kai: Ahem, be bolder.
That evening, Record Report scooped the headline: "Lisbon Sporting and first-team player Feng Te reach contract termination, Feng Te buys out his contract for two hundred thousand euros!"
Just as people were trying to make sense of the deal, Record Report followed up with: "Feng Te splashes on plane ticket! Announces he’ll join Manchester City for free! Pays two hundred thousand out of his own pocket, rushes to show loyalty to Deng Kai!"
Bola newspaper: "Feng Te, a player like this, is a disgrace! Lisbon Sporting lost at least five million by letting him go!"
Record Report: "Lisbon Sporting congratulates Feng Te on his move to Manchester City, eager to contribute to the King of Alvalade’s new home!"
Of course, it was said that Feng Te paid out of his own pocket, but in the end, Deng Kai still managed to compensate Feng Te.
After all, Feng Te was just a bench player, and two hundred thousand euros might have been all he had!
Some players grow corrupt when they have too much money.
But some players fall into decay when they have no money at all.
Ensuring the player’s livelihood and financial status is an important means to maintain unity and combat effectiveness in a team.
That’s why the NBA plans to offer economic courses to players in the future.
Feng Te: Uh, that... Xiao Kai, aren’t you completely unaware of your fan club’s spending power? I’ve made quite a bit in the group!
Deng Kai: Uh, that... Te, is it possible that I know about their spending power, but I just hope you stop diverting public funds?
Feng Te: ???
Feng Te: Don’t send me to jail! I’ll spit it out, I’ll spit it all out! I’ll cover it with my salary! I’ll run a football training camp during the offseason to make up for it!
With the arrival of Feng Te’s big gift package,
a series of transfers soon followed.
Manchester Evening: "Deng Kai’s second signing! Manchester City nabs Yaya Toure for four million euros, a friendly price!"
The Times: "Wenger slams Lisbon Sporting’s sporting director as crazy! They purchase young Toure for six million, claiming he’s not for sale, then turn around and send Toure to Manchester City for four million?"
In response, Lisbon Sporting said, "The ’not for sale’ meant not for sale to anyone but Manchester City."
Wenger, RIP!
Manchester Evening: "Deng Kai’s third signing! Manchester City takes Maicon for four million euros! Inter Milan’s bid of seven million euros was previously rejected!"
At this moment, Manchester City’s fans were happy.
They felt the influence of the King of Alvalade at Lisbon Sporting.
"Deng Kai yyds! Isn’t this too awesome?"
"Still calling him Deng Kai? Call him Xiao Kai to show you’ve been a fan for a long time, call him Emperor Kai to show your respect, call him Coach Kai if you understand tactics, call him Director Kai if you get economics! Call me Kai if you’re one of us!"
"I feel like Lisbon Sporting is our brother club!"
"Brother club? Be bolder, it’s a father-son club now! And it’s the Chinese parental style, the kind that asks for nothing in return!"
"Crying! Lisbon Sporting is now my forever second-favorite club!"
"Honestly, what does it mean to thrive? Deng Kai is thriving! Lisbon sends off Deng Kai with a ten-mile-long procession! Even though he’s gone, the tea stays warm, as the club remains his forever home!"
"Doing well à la Kai" became a unique standard for a time.
But in the world of football, it was almost impossible for a player to achieve this level.
If the home team could ask for a few million euros less, it was already showing a lot of respect for the player.
Where else could you find a situation like Deng Kai’s?
Of course, the happiness at Manchester City wasn’t something other teams could feel.
They could only bitterly say, "Deng Kai just knows how to live off his past glories!"
Not to mention not leaving any transfer fees for the team, he even poached from his former employer!
And the players he brought with him weren’t necessarily all that great.
Feng Te, Maicon, Tu Lei, just three substitutes.
Hardly contenders.
Why didn’t you bring over Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, or Kaká?
As for these remarks, Deng Kai simply ignored them.
So, is it really a case of harbouring a grudge over gifts of rice?
Aren’t they satisfied with what they’ve got?
...
"Kai, we’ve come to an agreement with Leeds United; they’re willing to accept an offer of five million euros," Deschamps reported to Deng Kai.
Manchester City had also been in contact with Leeds United before, hoping to acquire Robbie Fowler.
Despite the fact that the once-genius Liverpool striker’s form had declined rapidly due to poor lifestyle habits, his killer instinct was still intact and he could help Manchester City on their quest to avoid relegation.
But Leeds United’s asking price was not low.
Twelve million euros!
To be fair, that price wasn’t outrageous; it was actually quite reasonable.
Mansour had almost agreed to it previously.
But then Deng Kai arrived and left Leeds United hanging for a while.
Next, he opened up three gifts from Sporting Lisbon.
Leeds United became anxious at that point.
They themselves didn’t want to use Fowler, and they were also facing a financial crisis; they had to sell, no matter how cheap.
Eventually, after several bouts of negotiations, Leeds United let go of the injury-prone Fowler for five million euros.
"Genius striker joins Manchester City! Can Fowler rediscover his form with the help of Deng Kai?"
"Former opponents in the UEFA Cup final have now become teammates! Fowler expresses: Deng Kai’s growth has exceeded everyone’s expectations!"
"Behind the five million euros clearance sale is Fowler’s glass physique! He can play at most twenty matches a season, hardly fitting for a big role!"
Fowler’s signing didn’t shift the Premier League spotlight onto Manchester City.
But Guardiola could.
"Another strong reinforcement! Guardiola joins Manchester City on a free transfer, having retired from the Spanish national team, he can now devote himself fully to the club!"
"Still at his peak! Whether last season or the World Cup, Guardiola was a constant starter for the team, he still has the level of a top-flight midfielder!"
"Injury report! Guardiola has a history of injuries, attendance may be an issue!"
"Guardiola: My main job at Manchester City won’t be playing football. I’ll help the team captain ensure stability in the dressing room, and will also assist the head coach with training and tactical planning!"
"Study while you work! Officially a player, but actually an assistant coach! Guardiola’s move to Manchester City is to prepare for his coaching transition!"
Once the English media figured out Guardiola’s role, they "saw through" Manchester City’s tricks to appear more intimidating than they were.
If you’re so capable, why don’t you find a big-name player who actually plays football?
Stop bouncing around with these insignificant little soldiers.
"Exclusive release from the Football Emperor! Brescia’s extension with Roberto Baggio fails! The melancholic prince joins Manchester City for free! He will compete at Maine Road Stadium next season!"
???
Roberto Baggio?
The stylish old chap with a ponytail?
The Melancholic Prince?
Are you sure it’s not a case of mistaken identity?
This... this is a true world superstar!
He is a pearl of Serie A! One of the iconic figures of the smaller World Cup!
To Italy, Baggio is what Matthaus is to Germany!
