Chapter 63: Chapter 63 Sports Weekly Press Conference
"Bola newspaper," "I admit that Chris may have been kept in the dark. Hugo was just being used, but the real mastermind behind the du football group is Deng Kai!"
"That’s terrifying! He’s only thirteen! He’s practically a devil!"
"Perhaps many people might think, what can a thirteen-year-old kid do? But let’s not forget, he’s a prodigy who finished twelve years of mandatory education in Portugal in just three years!"
"He’s the first to be admitted to the University of Lisbon under such exceptional circumstances and even received a scholarship!"
"Using the close kinship and moral constraints of the Chinese community, he built an impenetrable du football group. He’s really smart."
"It’s also fortunate that the outbreak of Chris’s football blunder alerted us to this embryonic du football group in advance. Otherwise, who knows how much wealth he would’ve rolled up from Europe!"
"The yellow race is truly detestable!"
Bola newspaper turned up the rhythm to the max.
But this time, no one dared to speak up for Deng Kai.
Even the articles by Jiang Yunzhu were all rejected by the chief editor of Record Report.
Because this time, the problem was grave!
Manipulating a du football group and involving players in minor du football is fundamentally different.
Once the evidence is conclusive, no matter if Deng Kai is thirteen or three, he will definitely go to jail, and life in prison won’t be easy.
What?
Juvenile protection law?
Human rights?
Don’t joke.
All special laws in the Western world protect capital.
If you have money, it’s hard even to get yourself arrested.
If you do have money and still get jailed, that can only mean someone richer than you wants you behind bars.
That’s all there is to it.
Private involvement in du football is serious for the football world, but for the entire European world and the world outside of football, it actually doesn’t have a significant impact.
Sentences are rare.
At most, you’ll be banned from playing for a while or expelled from the local league.
A lifetime ban is difficult to secure.
But once you’re involved in widespread, organized, disciplined, purposive behavior like this, the charges are different—they are serious economic crimes.
Even if you flee Europe, others will continue to pursue and arrest you.
Doesn’t Interpol ring a bell?
...
"Kai, what the hell is going on?"
"I’m under a lot of pressure on my end, and I might not be able to hold out. You need to be prepared."
"The club has already suspended me temporarily, I’m sorry."
Looking at the string of messages from Trigella.
Deng Kai felt that this guy was still reliable.
But unfortunately, Trigella had others above him.
With such a huge matter, even Trigella was powerless.
Sigh.
"Yunzhu, I have a favor to ask of you..." Deng Kai called Jiang Yunzhu.
After listening to Deng Kai, Jiang Yunzhu’s palms sweated, "Are you sure you can do this, Deng Kai?"
Deng Kai, "Sis, having heard what I said, don’t you also know that I’ll definitely be fine?"
"I know this puts you in a difficult position. But let’s not mince words, do you think they’re just targeting someone potentially involved in du football?"
"No, they’re targeting a Chinese descendant. My name, my bloodline, my skin, my hair—if it weren’t for these, the public opinion wouldn’t be like this, and the case proceedings wouldn’t be like this either. You, being so experienced, should understand better than I do."
"Moreover, thinking about your own situation, you’re a fairly well-known journalist in Europe now, but what about in China?"
"Without pulling off a sensational feat, it’s hard for China to recognize you. Do you want to settle for a section editor role in ten years?"
"Trust me, if this event is successful, you’ll have a strong case to compete for the chief editor position in the future!"
"This is indeed helping me, but it’s also helping yourself."
"And... haven’t you been waiting for the chance to introduce a Chinese football player playing in Europe to the fans back home?"
"I think there’s no need to wait anymore! The time is now!"
After a long pause, Jiang Yunzhu’s voice came through, "Okay! Since you’ve decided, I’ll join you this one time!"
Having said that and realizing that the word ’join’ might give rise to ambiguity, she immediately corrected herself, "I’ll confront this group of Portuguese capitalists with you!"
The next day, media outlets across Portugal received invitations, or rather notifications, from China’s Sports Weekly.
They will hold a press conference at noon.
They will provide specific answers regarding the matter of the Chinese football player Deng Kai.
And they emphasized that this is a significant event concerning the friendship of both sides and hopes that Portugal will handle it with care!
Additionally, all the major well-known football media in Europe have also received this invitation.
If it were any unknown media, the Portuguese media wouldn’t bother with it.
Because someone has already instructed these media not to speak in favor of Deng Kai.
An invisible force caused the Portuguese media to lose its vitality, and since the exposure of the forces behind Deng Kai, it seemed to be set in stone.
However, media outside of Portugal are very interested in this matter.
On one hand, they are interested in the matter itself, a thirteen-year-old future football conglomerate mogul?
That sounds like it could sell a lot of newspapers.
On the other hand, this represents a rare stance from Chinese media stating, "I have something to say, it’s a big deal, stop nagging, come and listen."
Instantly, journalists from many famous media flocked to fly to Lisbon.
Those who couldn’t fly over immediately found local partners in Lisbon to purchase exclusive rights or to broadcast the content.
In response, Athletic Lisbon clearly stated that this matter had nothing to do with them and did not allow team members to attend the press conference at the hotel.
But on that day, Trigella still appeared, attending the press conference on his own behalf.
Ronaldo also made multiple requests and ultimately was able to support Deng Kai at the scene.
The two people in the middle of the press table were Jiang Yunzhu and Deng Kai.
"Hello everyone, I’m Jiang Yunzhu, a journalist for Sports Weekly stationed in Portugal," Jiang Yunzhu began today’s topic, but at the same time, her phone was bombarded with calls.
Because the headquarters of Sports Weekly in China had no idea this event was taking place.
They had only just learned from their colleagues about the grand press conference they had called in Portugal.
Using the sour tone of a South Korean journalist, it was somewhat like, "Wow, Sports Weekly, how impressive to convene all European football media in Portugal. What big announcement do you have to make? Are you Chinese capitalists going to acquire Athletic Lisbon, or are you setting up a football award to replace the Golden Ball?"
Upon hearing this, the chief editor of Sports Weekly was terrified.
This could ruin all the connections they had established in Europe, but more importantly, could it negatively affect the official foreign diplomatic strategy?
Jiang Yunzhu, you historical sinner!
You...
But from Deng Kai’s perspective, to be honest, Sports Weekly had damn near no connections in Europe.
You think of them as friends while they see you as a mark!
You can’t even manage to send one or two young players to play football in Europe, ptooey!
Many good talents from China, if they could go play abroad, wouldn’t need to match Sun Xingmin, but even being a main player in a lower-tier league would satisfy the fans.
So they’re your friends when they can make money from China through you, but they’re not your friends when you need them to do something for you?
Is this what you call a friend?
As for impacting official strategy, let’s not discuss whether civilian matters have such energy. But just looking at it, incessant amiability may not always bring respect; sometimes you need to flex some muscle!
After Jiang Yunzhu opened the topic, the focus moved to Deng Kai.
Under countless flashes, he slowly began, "Regarding the Portuguese anti-football gambling association’s accusation, investigation, confirmation of my participation, and belief that I organized gambling, I am aware of it."
"Before discussing this matter, I’d like to clarify something for everyone. That is..."
"Over ninety percent of the members in this Portuguese anti-football gambling association have close economic ties with the football gambling institutions in Portugal, Spain, and across Europe."
"Many members’ family members, or even the members themselves, serve as executives in these gambling institutions!"
Boom!
The whole venue burst into excitement.
WTF!
Has he lost his mind?
Who in this field doesn’t know about what Deng Kai is exposing?
Aren’t the members of the anti-monopoly association all from monopolistic giants as well?
But usually, no media dare to report news like this.
Because doing it is one thing.
But to talk about it, that’s another matter.
Some things, once spoken of, even a fool would start to suspect there might be a problem.
And indeed, there are problems.
And since Deng Kai had the courage to speak out, it means he’s going to pull no punches!
