The Young Lion

A hearty victory came to an end. Millwall accumulated 11 points after five games, qualifying ahead of schedule, and at the same time secured the first place in the group.

As for the other opponents in the same group who will live and who will die, this is not Millwall's concern.

The stars of Millwall took their curtain call on the pitch and returned to the dressing room for a short celebration. The smoke of the battle cleared and everyone bathed and changed their clothes, but the excitement in their hearts had not subsided. Go play two sets of snooker and then go home.

Outside the parking lot, when Ronaldinho drove away, he rolled down the window and waved to Henry who was just about to open his car door. He laughed and made a provocative move of drag racing. Henry smiled helplessly, and had no intention of engaging in such an adventurous game with the other party.

When Henry got into the car, his cell phone rang suddenly, and he took it out to answer it.

Thierry, where are you?

I'm about to go to a billiards room in the city and play two sets of snooker with my teammates.

Let's meet now.

why?

I have something important to talk about.

it is good.

After writing down the meeting place, Henry drove there. On the way, he seemed preoccupied.

The caller was his agent.

This is his second agent.

In the summer of 1996, Henry, who was born out of nowhere, led the French u18s to win the European Cup Youth Championship. At that time, it attracted the attention of many European clubs. This meant that Henry needed a professional agent to help him plan his career. To live and deal with related affairs, he hired an agent himself, and at this time Real Madrid offered him an olive branch. It was the agent hired by Henry himself who negotiated the joining conditions. Just when everything seems to be falling into place. However, Monaco handed over a complaint to FIFA because Henry's agent did not have the agent qualification certificate recognized by FIFA. At the same time, Monaco tried its best to keep Henry and introduced Henry A professional agent, FIFA ruled that Monaco won the case, and the agreement between Henry and Real Madrid was invalid, so Henry continued to stay in Monaco. Since then, he has been served by this new agent.

Henry sent a text message to his teammates on the way to meet with his agent, and it seemed that he could not play snooker.

The meeting place with the agent was in a hotel suite in the city.

Henry sat opposite his agent.

What are you going to talk about?

Talk about your future.

I don't understand, I feel fine now.

Henry is trying his best to hit the Premier League Golden Boot, or even the European Golden Boot. At the same time, Millwall's defending league champion is in sight, and the Champions League has also advanced to the quarter-finals. Is there anything more wonderful than this?

His agent was gentle and solemn, and said in a deep voice: I know, Thierry. You are now the top scorer in the Premier League, and you will definitely win the trophy this year. But are you satisfied with this? .

Henry frowned and asked, What are you questioning?

Do you still have the ambition to become the world's number one striker? To become the top figure among the great strikers in history?

You shouldn't question my aggressiveness.

Henry's expression was slightly displeased. He is not a child, and he doesn't need to express his determination to his parents, especially if the other party is only his manager, and he doesn't need to prove anything to the other party.

Then you should go to the world's No. 1 league to prove yourself! Become the world's No. 1 striker in the world's No. 1 league!

The manager's words were resounding, hitting Henry's heart hard.

He lowered his head and pressed his fingers together against his forehead, and asked in a low voice, Which club are you trying to persuade me to join?

Juventus, they have shown enough sincerity, but this is not the main reason, think about it, you go to Juventus, there is your friend Trezeguet from the national team, and Zidane, the world A frontcourt of champions working together, what else can't be done?

These words are indeed very seductive.

Henry closed his eyes and said after a moment of silence: But I can also get a lot of honors at Millwall, and Millwall's achievements over the years are no lower than Juventus.

The agent replied loudly: Don't you understand? In Millwall, how important are you? Larsson is Mr. Golden Ball, Nedved is also Mr. Golden Ball, Ronaldinho is almost Described as Hall's half-brother! You? You can only be in their shadow forever! If they value you so much, why did you perform so well in this year, but you didn't mention the consecutive appointments? Ever? You earn as much as Ronaldinho, that Brazilian, but you're a world champion! What does he have? You score more than twice as many goals!

As far as the club is concerned, no matter how good the words are, no matter how good the personal relationship is, even the commitment of the main force is far less serious than the sincerity that money can embody.

Henry said with little confidence: Maybe the boss thinks it's not the time yet, and we shouldn't talk about money now. Our attention must be on the court.

Don't be stupid, Thierry, let me tell you, Larson and Nedved have an annual salary of one million pounds more than you, and they also have a million pounds more bonus than you!

Henry raised his head in surprise, and asked, “Really?”

The agent nodded solemnly and said, It's absolutely true!

He was absolutely not lying about this.

I don't know from which channel he got the inside news of Millwall.

The weekly salary of Larson and Nedved is higher than that of Henry. At the same time, there will be an extra one million bonus this year. Not only the two of them have this bonus, Southgate also has one million. Other players such as Schneider , Materazzi, Makelele and other players also have a bonus of 800,000 yuan.

The emergence of this bonus is not accidental, it is not given to the players on a whim by Millwall, but the loyalty clause in the player's contract has come into effect.

All players who have played for Millwall for five years will have a loyalty bonus starting in the sixth year!

And the loyalty clause is not a reward for loyal players to eat their money. It will be directly linked to the attendance rate. For example, after a certain number of appearances in the season, they can get the full amount, and if they are not enough, they will be discounted.

Henry's agent did not specify the content of the bonus. Not like Ronaldinho either. Pirlo does not have this bonus. Its intentions, if you can't figure it out deeply, you can't see it positively.

Millwall's team salary structure is not at the highest level in the Premier League. For example, the player with the highest weekly salary in the Premier League is Manchester United player Roy Keane. Just three months ago, the midfielder renewed his contract with Manchester United and received A weekly salary of £50,000.

The three captains of the Millwall club team are the representatives of the highest salary, and their weekly salary is 40,000 pounds.

But if you count the loyalty clause bonus. On average, their weekly salary is more than 60,000 pounds, which has reached the highest in the Premier League, but bonuses are bonuses after all. Compared with dead wages, there are uncertainties.

Henry's weekly salary is indeed not very high in Millwall, it can only be regarded as a middle grade. His weekly salary is 25,000 pounds, which is a big increase from his weekly salary when he played for Monaco two years ago. , even if he came to the team with the first worth of signings in Millwall's history. But the contract treatment he received at that time was really average, because during the same period, Nedved and other players had different salary increases after winning the Champions League.

Henry’s head was a little confused. After being bewitched by the agent, I always feel that my thoughts are flying, and some things feel strange and unreasonable, but I can't find where it is unreasonable.

If Aldridge were here, he would bluntly tell Henry: In the summer of 1998, with a weekly salary of 25,000 pounds, what are you not satisfied with? Will you be given a salary increase after joining the team for one year? You were recuperating for half of last season, recuperating!

After Henry left, his agent took out his phone and made a call.

I've already started convincing him.

how is the progress?

In summer, you can move faster, and you should be sure.

Then I'll wait for your good news.

Where's my 400,000 reward?

As long as he agrees to the transfer, it will be transferred to you on the same day.

It's a deal.

The football circle and various small circles in society have the same characteristics, full of shady conspiracies, instigation, bewitchment, betrayal, and choices. Even though the stories here cannot affect the trend of the world, and cannot rise to life and death, there are invisible swords and swords. , the invisible and pervasive gunpowder still prevents this game from being pure

In the league weekend, Millwall went away to challenge the black cats Sunderland.

In the game, Aldridge still used the combination of the backup defense line and the main offensive group.

A game that should have been a sure thing, but Henry failed to win it because of his abnormal performance. He wasted at least three excellent opportunities.

With 7 rounds left in the Premier League, the points gap between Millwall and Manchester United has been shortened to 12 points.

In the locker room after the game, Henry sat on the seat after taking a shower early. He lowered his head with a very remorseful expression.

What are you thinking!

The midweek conversation with his agent was on the back of his mind, and it was a serious distraction.

Hey, don't get too entangled in the game. Sometimes it's just weird. No matter how you play, the ball just doesn't go in the goal.

Larson patted him on the shoulder as he passed by, and explained a few words with a smile.

Southgate did not play the game and spent 90 minutes on the bench. He walked up to Henry in full clothes and asked: Seeing that you have something on your mind, is it okay?.

Henry raised his head and cheered up and said, No problem.

Southgate nodded and stopped asking, guessing that it might be the influence of Henry's private life.

On the return bus, Aldrich let Henry sit next to him, and Jansen found another seat to sit down.

Aldridge turned his head and stared at Henry, who was in a low mood, without thinking too much. The opponent was named Millwall's worst player in the game after the game. It felt that the state contrast was too strong. He only scored in the Champions League in the middle of the week. , The few golden opportunities of the weekend league were squandered. This kind of contrast did not show any signs, and it was also one of the phenomena that Aldrich was most worried about.

Even if the status of most players declines, it will decline bit by bit. The signs can be seen through the specific data of the game, but such a short time interval as Henry's performance is very different, which is relatively rare.

Didn't you rest well before the game?

Henry shook his head.

Hiding up the injury?

Henry still shook his head.

Thierry, I don't understand. This season, I will keep you at least 4 days a game density, and it may not be 90 minutes per game. Your state should be fine recently, but you are on the court today. Acting like you can’t play football, I never think that getting angry with a player can immediately improve the player’s performance significantly. My principle is that if there is a problem, then solve the problem. Maybe you can’t solve it yourself, but Let’s work together and we shouldn’t be stumped.”

Henry looked at Aldrich and said in a deep voice, Boss, I'm fine, I just don't feel well today, I promise you will be satisfied in the next game.

Aldridge stared at him for a long time, finally nodded and said: I don't need your guarantee, but I trust you, Thierry, at this moment, the team needs you, what can we gain at the end of the season, the team still counts on you Well, all right, go back to your seat.

After Aldrich finished speaking, he looked away, Henry stood up and walked towards his seat, Aldrich's words kept circling in his mind.

The team is counting on him! (to be continued...) ()