Chapter 767: Chapter 766: Won both the European Championship and the Copa America, but it’s a pity that Fan Peixi missed the bottom.
The image of the Portugal team lifting the Delaunay Trophy became the most unforgettable memory of the summer.
Zidane then announced his retirement from the national team, marking the end of an era.
The claim that "Deng Kai forced Zidane into retirement" caused quite a stir.
After all, the fall of one king inevitably means the rise of another.
The succession of dynasties is just that cruel.
Figo, Rivaldo, Zidane, Ronaldo.
They became the kings of the last era.
And in this era, so far, there has been only one king... Deng Kai!
...
Soon, "Understanding Football" seized the moment to release an exclusive interview with Deng Kai.
Jiang Yunzhu: "Deng Kai, congratulations, you have won one of the highest honors for national teams in Europe."
Deng Kai: "Yes, it wasn’t easy, but we did it. Thanks to every opponent we met along the way and to everyone who supported us."
Jiang Yunzhu: "Feng Te scored the final goal of the tournament but did not make the Euro’s Best XI. His fans are dissatisfied. What do you think of his performance?"
Deng Kai: "Feng Te’s performance is beyond doubt. Whether it’s bubble tea or Kung Pao chicken, he always gets it just right, uh... he is a great player."
"Not being in the Best XI doesn’t mean he isn’t outstanding. Many excellent players didn’t make that list. Didn’t Ronaldo also miss out on it?"
Jiang Yunzhu: "Okay, I can imagine fans of Feng Te saying everywhere that Deng Kai thinks Feng Te is as good as Ronaldo. What is your opinion on Zidane?"
"The world is saying that you kicked Zidane into retirement."
Deng Kai: "This is something I need to emphasize. Zidane had long been considering retirement from the national team, and it has nothing to do with the results of this European Championship, and even less to do with me."
"If I must speak about my influence on Zidane, I hope that in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, the Portugal team can be drawn with the France team."
"That way, when we make it a bit difficult for France to qualify for the World Cup, I believe Zidane will return to the national team to help the French."
"Because he is forever the hero of the French."
"So actually, it’s quite the opposite. I didn’t kick Zidane into retirement, but I hope to kick him out of retirement!"
Deng Kai’s comments finally had the desired effect.
But what was astonishing was that seventy percent of people in France supported the idea of Deng Kai’s playing making it hard for the French national team to qualify for the World Cup group stage.
Because that seemed to be the only way the French could think of to bring Zidane back.
Late in July, the Copa América also came to an end.
In terms of influence, the Copa América could not match up to the European Championship, even if it tried.
The European Championship has become Europe’s version of the World Cup.
Its prestige is second only to the World Cup and is higher than the highest honors in club football, such as the Champions League, and so on.
But the Copa América is now merely a moderate honor, not quite heavyweight.
Even Brazil’s own squad was essentially a younger second team in the competition.
Past, present, and future core members of the national team like Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaka did not participate in this tournament.
Adriano was the biggest name on this Brazilian team.
Maicon followed closely behind.
Thiago Silva, based on his excellent performances for Manchester City, was also selected for the reserve team.
They fought their way to the final.
Their opponents were the Argentina team.
Compared to the nearly invincible Brazil team at that time, which only sent out its second team with a high posture, the glory-seeking Argentina team fielded their full-strength lineup.
Super striker Crespo, Claudio López aka "El Piojo," Inter Milan captain Zanetti, "The Witch" Veron, clown Airma, "Rabbit" Saviola, last year’s South American Footballer of the Year Tevez, Manchester United’s newly bought full back Heinze... and Manchester City’s semi-regular defensive midfielder Mascherano!
Such a glittering lineup ended up being equalized in extra time by Adriano with seven goals in six matches.
Ultimately, Manchester City’s third-choice goalkeeper Caballero proved why the club never let him play.
Argentina’s team was defeated by Brazil’s second team in the penalty shootout.
Adriano was crowned the best player of the competition and won the Golden Boot!
To the Brazilians, this might not have been a very important honor.
But for Adriano, it was a perfect summer.
He had reached the absolute pinnacle of individual and team glory!
The only person who shined brighter than him that summer was Deng Kai.
Afterward, the transfer window was set to explode!
...
"Fan Peixi, who had completely fallen out with van Marwijk, decisively decided to transfer, joining Arsenal for four and a half million euros!"
"Feyenoord: We hope Fan Peixi can learn emotional management at Arsenal. Wenger, Maxa, and Trigella are the only three people in the world who could possibly discipline him!"
"Manchester City had made an offer to Feyenoord, but Fan Peixi ultimately chose Arsenal!"
"Maxa: The guaranteed starting position promised to Fan Peixi by Arsenal is something we simply couldn’t match. We think that with Fan Peixi’s ability, he could get at least twenty appearances for the team, but we can’t give it directly, it wouldn’t be fair to the other players... Ah, wouldn’t this cause discord within Arsenal?"
Yes, Fan Peixi joined Arsenal at a bargain price.
Deng Kai really did want to buy low.
But at this point, Fan Peixi was still a rebellious young player. If you buy him and don’t give him the playing time he wants, he could turn into a "locker room bomb."
Nowadays, among the European giants, only Arsenal could really contain him.
On Manchester City’s side, they are already overflowing with forwards.
Adriano, Ribery, Villa, Torres— the last two were already having some objections to being part of a rotation.
Bringing in another player at the same level as Fan Peixi, there were bound to be some issues.
And don’t forget, Deng Kai activated winger mode during the European Cup, so who knows what position he’ll play next season.
Considering he has now grown to a height of 1.85 meters, even if he wants to play as a striker, Adriano might have to applaud for me from the bench.
Ronaldo: What? You’re 1.85 now? Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Deng Kai: Why impossible, because you’re only 1.83?
Ronaldo: Bullshit! I’m 1.85 too! No, I’m 1.87 now!
Deng Kai: How about we compare?
Ronaldo: Comparing your ass!
Arsenal’s move can only be said to be modest.
But over at Barcelona, after observing Ronaldinho for two years and confirming that he could indeed become the core of the team, the next Rivaldo, the management finally settled down.
Barcelona quelled all internal strife and began to truly exert force in athletics.
