Football feast, starting from the acquisition of European clubs

Chapter 15 Bought a Captain

"Mr. Chen, frankly speaking, your plan is very attractive. But the Middlesbrough club has treated me well, and I am still the captain of the team. So I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't agree to your invitation."

"Mr. Southgate, don't make a decision so quickly, don't you want to hear the plan I made for you?"

"Okay. I have to admit, I'm a little curious."

"Mr. Southgate, you are now 33 years old. It is undeniable that you have entered the end of your career. Have you envisioned a plan after retirement?"

"Well, maybe I will be a coach."

"Bingo! You and I think the same. My vision is that after you join Crystal Palace, you will be the team captain and assistant coach. You can play football while accumulating coaching experience, so that your future coaching journey will be smooth. A lot. What do you think of this arrangement?"

"Mr. Chen, I am dissatisfied with you, but in fact, this is exactly what I want."

Southgate's eyes lit up when he heard it. Chen Ran's arrangement allowed him to complete the seamless switch from player to coach, which can be said to have completely reached his heart.

"If you join Crystal Palace, I can sign a three-year contract with you, and the salary will be based on your current standard without a salary cut. Then you will be 36 years old, and it is up to you to decide whether to continue playing football or retire as a coach. Are you satisfied with this condition?"

Hearing this, Southgate couldn't help being moved, the Chinese man in front of him was really sincere to him.

For a 33-year-old veteran, few clubs will give a one-time three-year contract.

Usually it is signed once a year, and it is generous to sign once every two years.

And Chen Ran also promised not to cut his salary, Southgate had to admit that he was tempted.

Although Middlesbrough is a Premier League club and Crystal Palace is only a Championship club, Southgate knows in his heart that it is impossible for Middlesbrough to give him such conditions as Chen Ran.

Moreover, Middlesbrough is only a mid-lower team in the Premier League, and it is unlikely to win any championship honors there.

Comparing the two, Southgate's inner balance has begun to tilt towards Chen Ran at this moment.

"Mr. Chen, thank you for your importance to me. However, I am now Middlesbrough's main central defender and captain of the team. I am afraid the club will not agree to let me leave."

"Mr. Southgate, you don't have to worry about this. This is a matter between Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough. As long as you agree to the transfer, we will handle the rest."

"Okay then, I'd like to go back to Crystal Palace."

"Looking forward to your joining, Mr. Captain."

After getting Southgate settled, Chen Ran approached the Middlesbrough club.

The Middlesbrough Club was of course unwilling to sell the captain and main central defender, and Chen Ran didn't hesitate, and just took the money.

Middlesbrough paid £650m for Southgate from Aston Villa two years ago.

Now, Chen Ran offers 600 million euros.

Moreover, facing the Middlesbrough club chairman who personally received him, Chen Ran only said two words:

"Mr. Chairman, Southgate is excellent, but he is 33 years old. If you miss this opportunity, I believe you will never be able to sell at this price again."

"Also, football may mean a lot to players and coaches and even fans. But for you and me, football is just a business."

Cold, ruthless, but very real.

The chairman of Middlesbrough was a little surprised, and looked carefully at Chen Ran again. The owner of the Crystal Palace in front of him was so young that he was jealous.

"I didn't expect Mr. Chen to see it so thoroughly at such a young age. It seems that those people outside have underestimated you."

So, Chen Ran won Southgate in this way.

The old rules, two years, 300 million euros per year.

After leaving Middlesbrough, Chen Ran went to Birmingham, a city in central England, to buy Crouch who was being sold around.

This guy scored 6 goals in two seasons at Aston Villa, no wonder he was liquidated.

It's a good deal to buy a substitute for Tony for 100 million euros.

When Chen Ran returned to London, Louis also sent news from Brazil.

Both Thiago Silva and Maicon have been found, and the fat man patted his chest to promise that they will be taken within three days.

The Figel family deserves to be the big names in Brazilian football, and their efficiency is high.

"Stephen, it's time to meet our head coach. Tell Dovey to come to my office this afternoon."

"Chen, what are you going to do with Dao Wei? I heard from Louis that the replacement you had planned didn't work out, did you?"

"That's right, that Klopp rejected me. Let's see Dovey's performance later. If he is honest and obedient, he will stay temporarily; if he has any dissatisfaction, let him go."

"Then if you fire him, who do you plan to use as the head coach? Chen, I must remind you that you have almost spent the 3000 million euros on loan."

This money is really worthless.

In fact, Chen Ran knew it well, and the system remembered every expense clearly for him.

"Stephen, don't worry. After Luiz bought those two players in Brazil, the signing of Crystal Palace during this transfer period will be over."

"That's good. But what about the head coach? The remaining money is not enough to hire famous coaches."

"Don't we have three players and coaches?"

"What do you mean? You mean Guardiola, Simeone and Southgate? Coaching a Championship team requires at least a UEFA A-level coaching certificate. Do they have this qualification?"

"They don't, but I do."

"I know that. You kept researching and testing when you were in school. Wait. Chen, do you mean that you will come to be the head coach yourself?"

Stephen couldn't close his mouth in shock, and now he finally felt what Louis felt.

This guy Chen Ran really doesn't play his cards according to common sense!
"That's right. After taking so many certifications, I could only lead the youth team before, but now I can finally lead the professional team to try my skills. And with this coaching opportunity, I can also pass the UEFA professional coaching certification. Perfect!"

"Well, well, you are the boss and you have the final say, as long as you are not afraid of ruining the team."

"Don't worry, Stephen. This is just a backup option. Maybe Dao Wei is very obedient, so I will continue to use him as the head coach."

In fact, Chen Ran's real thought deep in his heart was to see if he had the talent to be a head coach.

If he could, there might be a day in the future when he would be able to command the Chinese players he trained to enter the World Cup.

There are still dreams, if they come true.

In the afternoon, Chen Ran made a rare appearance in the chairman's office of the Crystal Palace Club.

He hadn't sat down for 5 minutes when Dao Wei came.

Chen Ran took a meaningful look at Stephen next to him. It seems that Dao Wei has a lot of eyeliners in the club, brother.

Stephen understood what Chen Ran meant, and nodded with a sullen face.

"Mr. Chairman, what do you think of the signing list I gave you last time? How many does the club plan to introduce?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Dao Wei couldn't wait to ask about signings.

"Mr. Dovey, I went to the European continent this time and bought a lot of players back."

"Unfortunately, I didn't buy any of the players on that list."

(End of this chapter)