Chapter 644: Chapter 643: Did Deng Kai Once Want to Transfer to Real Madrid?
It’s not that their strength has declined that much.
At present, most people acknowledge the peak performance of Manchester City.
They rise to the challenge!
They have a fifty-fifty chance against anyone!
This is Manchester City!
But people have spotted Manchester City’s biggest vulnerability—Deng Kai!
Manchester City without Deng Kai is like the West without Jerusalem!
With Kai, Manchester City is a top-four level team.
Without Kai, Manchester City seems only capable of fighting relegation.
And Deng Kai couldn’t possibly maintain health and peak condition throughout an entire season.
Don’t forget, last season Manchester City was competing on three fronts.
They gave up the league for this.
This season, they have the added matches of the UEFA Europa League.
Fighting on four fronts.
What will they have to give up this time?
If they don’t give up the league, even sacrificing two cup competitions might not be manageable.
After all, how many matches are there in the FA Cup and League Cup?
The league and the UEFA Europa League matches are numerous.
Wenger gave a sharp comment on this, "Over this past summer, Manchester City strengthened many positions in their own way."
"Regardless of whether the public approves of the abilities of these new players, Manchester City at least resolved the issue of lacking substitutes. For instance, the full-backs, centre-backs, centre-forwards, etc."
"But Manchester City made a very serious mistake; they did not prepare another Deng Kai!"
"Or rather, they didn’t realize that the kind of player they needed to prepare most was one like Deng Kai, a superstar midfielder who could significantly boost their strength."
"I really like Fabregas, and I’ve observed David Silva; they are both very excellent midfielders. I believe they both have the potential to become world-class midfielders."
"I even think that Fabregas could become the midfield core of any team, including Arsenal!"
"But not now, rather in three to five years’ time."
"Manchester City clearly has so much money, but for Deng Kai’s authority, they have always brought in young and older players. This has upheld Deng Kai’s dominance in the team, allowing for no dressing room issues and enabling Manchester City to unleash their greatest power."
"They absolutely trust Deng Kai’s professionalism, and indeed, it’s proven that Deng Kai does not rule alone in Manchester City, nor does he seize team resources, nor does he exploit his teammates. Instead, he protects them from the elements, and he is an outstanding leader."
"But the price is, Manchester City can’t, won’t, and doesn’t want to bring in midfield players who are close to Deng Kai’s level or style. While maintaining Deng Kai, Manchester City has lost the ability to resist risks."
Real Madrid President Florentino also said, "Manchester City’s approach is immature. After acquiring a superstar, you should bring in more superstars, not leave the team with just this one superstar."
"From any perspective, a single-superstar lineup is too unreliable."
"When we brought in Beckham, we also considered Deng Kai. We even asked Beckham, Zidane about their impressions of Deng Kai, acknowledging their good personal relationship."
"They did not mind playing with Deng Kai; they were even interested in it."
"However, the response from Deng Kai’s side was disappointing."
"Deng Kai expressed that he could not accept ’ordinary treatment’."
The reporter immediately asked, "Was the salary demanded by Deng Kai too high?"
Florentino laughed, "Real Madrid would never lose any superstars over a salary issue, that has never been a problem between us."
"In fact, if Deng Kai’s requirement was salary, I think he would have been playing at the Bernabeu this season."
"But unfortunately, what he wants is something Real Madrid cannot and will not give!"
Soon, reporters dug out Deng Kai’s team’s response to Real Madrid.
Sky Sports: "Deng Kai seeks tactical authority from Real Madrid!"
"According to insiders, Deng Kai has a very high demand for tactical involvement, which is tantamount to asking for an absolute core status within the team."
"This is a right that neither Zidane nor Ronaldo ever possessed."
After this news was exposed, it indeed sparked discussions among people.
Because nearly every club would find such demands unacceptable.
The Times: "We cannot deny Deng Kai’s talent, strength, leadership, and no one can question his legend and greatness!"
"But...we need to remind everyone, from the start of Deng Kai’s career, his coaches have always been Trigella and Mr. Maxa."
"They are two of the top coaches in the world. They possess a very high level of tactical expertise and are very good at nurturing young players."
"Deng Kai’s development is inseparable from their training."
"They granted Deng Kai an unrivalled tactical status. Deng Kai, in turn, repaid their favor and trust with trophy after trophy."
"However, apart from them, no coach and no team could again accept such a situation."
The Echo Report even directly criticized Deng Kai: "A player should stick to his own role, Trigella and Maxa’s magnanimity does not mean that Deng Kai can continue to encroach upon the coach’s authority and meddle with team tactics."
"After all, not every coach has the ability of Trigella and Maxa to patch up the series of issues caused by Deng Kai’s private tactical adjustments."
"Deng Kai has always touted himself as the Emperor of Manchester City, yet he contacted Real Madrid, it must be said, he deceived Manchester City’s fans, he deceived the entire Manchester!"
This accusation was much more powerful than the previous ones.
Many even believed it to be true.
Forced by the situation, Deng Kai had to accept a media interview with a heavy nasal voice, "First of all, I must clarify that I have had no contact with Real Madrid."
"Real Madrid has not made any offer for me to Manchester City."
"As everyone knows, some transfers don’t just start at the moment of the offer."
"Real Madrid’s deal to bring Figo on board can be traced back to when Florentino announced his candidacy for the presidency of Real Madrid."
"Real Madrid’s signing of Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham, these were all rumors that had been going on for several years."
"My situation is similar to theirs."
"Of course, I would not communicate with Real Madrid, but when Zidane invited me to his kid’s birthday party, I couldn’t possibly not go. We get along very well, and I wouldn’t want to miss such important moments—his kid really likes me!"
"While dining, we do chat and talk about everything under the sun."
"I told Zizou that if he came to Manchester City, I could even give up my central midfield position to him."
"Zizou also told me that if I went to Real Madrid, Florentino might be able to offer me the same salary, but with Real Madrid’s commercial development power, my actual income might multiply several times!"
"There’s also the ability to operate awards and global influence, all of these could take me to another level."
"But I told Zizou that’s not possible, because if I go to a team, I must be deeply involved in the construction of team tactics."
"Not built with me as the core, but it must be constructed by me!"
"Does such casual conversation mean I hope to transfer to Real Madrid? Does it mean that Zidane no longer wants to play at Real Madrid?"
"Obviously not."
Later, Zidane confirmed this in an interview as well, "Florentino indeed consulted with me about bringing Deng Kai to the club, and my response was it’s not happening, Deng Kai is not coming, and I relayed the conversation I had with Deng Kai to Florentino."
"So I hope the fans of Manchester City will not doubt Deng Kai, because he is absolutely the best player you could encounter."
"He even made a pact with me, in case I want to retire, could I play at Manchester City for a year before retiring."
"He cares about Manchester City more than anyone, truly."
