The Young Lion

Before Aldridge was ready to leave for Spain, he finalized a transfer in London.

Offered £200,000 for Danny Mills, a young player from Norwich City, who was relegated from the Premier League last season.

After haggling, the final price was set at £300,000.

Danny Mills is 19 years old and can play center back and right back. In order to increase the thickness of the team's bench, Aldridge must ensure that there are two or three players in the same position, like Lucas Neal, Players like Zambrotta, who are only 18 years old, cannot be expected to be fully present throughout the season. It’s not that they can’t do it, but that if they do, it will exhaust them and seriously affect their future development. They will be proud and complacent because they became the main force early, and maintaining a sense of crisis can sound a wake-up call for them.

In the sunny Spain, Aldridge and Andrew split up after arriving in Spain together, and he came to Tuilia, a small town in Greo City, alone.

In a not-so-prosperous neighborhood, Aldridge, wearing a suit and leather shoes and a pair of sunglasses, was very eye-catching. He followed the address on the note in his hand like a map, and the closer he got to the destination, Aldrich found the buildings around him. The landscape is closer to the slums. Of course, this is a portrayal of the contrast between the rich and the poor. Compared with the clean, tidy and beautiful blocks, even if the people living here are not the lowest income groups in society, they may not be rich. .

When he came to a bungalow, Aldrich took off his sunglasses and looked at the small house carefully. He sighed softly and thought to himself: Many football stars who will earn a lot of money in the future have a very poor family life before they become famous. Straightforward.

It was this kind of opportunity that allowed Aldrich to take advantage of it. He sometimes asked himself whether it was despicable to do so, but he couldn't convince himself to give up.

Who cares about the eyes of others when there is a chance to dig out a mountain of gold?

Besides, he is not an unscrupulous businessman, so he can feel at ease.

After tidying up his clothes, Aldridge knocked on the door of this house.

You are?

The person who opened the door was a middle-aged man with a unshaven beard, not to mention sloppy, but obviously down-and-out.

Aldridge took out his business card and handed it to the other party, smiling in Spanish: Hello, sir, my name is Aldrich Hall, I am from London, and I am the owner and head coach of a football club. I respect your son I am very interested and hope he can join my team.

The middle-aged man looked shocked, his hand holding the business card trembled slightly, and said in disbelief, David? David is only 14 years old. How much contract will you give him?

In many parts of the world, such as Africa, South America, and even Europe, playing football is the way for families at the bottom of society to change their destiny. Being able to play professional football and become a star is enough to change the shabby situation of the entire family and even the family. As for those talented but penniless Wen's genius, before being shrouded in the spotlight, did not have the confidence to bargain at all, and he would play football for whoever paid more.

Aldridge walked into the narrow house and sat on the creaking single sofa.

At this time, a mother and son also appeared in the living room. The fourteen-year-old boy stood in front of his mother, and his mother's arms were around his neck, as if he was afraid that his flesh and blood would be snatched away.

Aldrich looked at the young man with a smile, and was sure that he had found the right person. He turned to the middle-aged man and said, His name is David Villa Sanchez, right?

The middle-aged man nodded, turned around and waved to his son. As a miner's father, he seemed very nervous.

He asked Villa to say hello to Aldridge.

Villa opened his mouth, as if he didn't know how to address Aldrich, and finally he could only say hello.

Aldrich reached out his hand to motion for Villa to sit down and talk together. Villa turned his head and looked at his father, seeing his father nodding, he sat down next to his father.

Aldrich took out a stack of documents from his briefcase and handed them to Villa and his son, and said sincerely: My club is called Millwall. Maybe you have never heard of this team before. This is the team. A brief introduction, and by the way, next season, my team will play in England's top league.

Villa and his father looked at the documents in their hands, most of which were introductions to club facilities with illustrations, including the Lion's Den Stadium, the club's training ground, internal equipment, and some data from last season's games.

Villa looked at it very seriously, his eyes full of longing, while his father was a little less interested, and he said in a deep voice: Sir, even if what you said is true, it is impossible for us to hand over the child to you just like this. You, let you take him away from Spain to the unfamiliar London.

Aldrich nodded and said frankly: I don't think David should live independently from his parents at his current age, so the club can provide your family with free apartments. In addition, if you don't mind, the club Owned communities provide jobs.

The gift Barnett gave to Aldrich half a year ago has come in handy. Aldrich can provide an apartment for free, and the supermarkets and bars in the community can also provide jobs for families who immigrated to England. Of course , This is all for families with financial difficulties. East London is the area with the most immigrants, so there is no problem of whether they can adapt or be out of place.

Villa's father was a miner, and his job income was not high, and the job was dangerous. After hearing Aldrich's attractive conditions, he was already a little moved.

David has unparalleled football talent. I hope he can join Millwall's youth academy and receive the best guidance and care to ensure his healthy growth and become an important part of Millwall when he grows up.

Apprentice?

I know your family is in some difficulties, it doesn't matter, if David is willing to come to Millwall, I can give him a contract of 2,000 pounds a week, after he enters the senior team, I believe his treatment will be improved even more.

Two thousand pounds?!

The family of three stared wide-eyed. Even after tax deduction, there are more than 4,000 pounds a month, while the relief standard in the UK at this time is less than 500 pounds a month. This money is enough for them to live better in London. life, especially on the basis of having a free apartment.

Villa's father didn't agree, but said, Let's think about it.

The pie that fell from the sky was a bit big, and it made him dizzy.

Aldridge was not in a hurry, he took out another envelope from his briefcase and put it on the table, before leaving, he said: If you decide, you can call me at any time, or you can come to London to have a look first.

After Aldridge left, Villa opened the envelope on the table, which contained a thousand pounds and three round-trip air tickets from Spain to London.

On the way out of the town, Aldridge's phone rang, and after he answered it, he heard Andrew's voice.

Both players are settled. Erguera's uncle is with me. I talked to him about the treatment and it was finalized. The same is true for Capdevila.

Well, okay, that stop, go to Italy.

Neither the 20-year-old Ivan Herguera nor the 17-year-old Joan Capdevila has signed a formal contract with any team, and the transfer fee of these two players does not cost the club a penny.

The former was the absolute main force of the first phase of the Galaxy Battleship, which was famous all over the world, and could play as a central defender and midfielder. The latter was the only non-Barcelona Real Madrid player in Spain's World Cup victory in 2010, and served as a left back.

Two days later, Rome, the capital of Italy.

In the cafe, a man in his thirties was reading Corriere dello Sport, drinking coffee from time to time, looking relaxed.

Aldrich and Andrew walked into this cafe. Aldrich looked around and saw the man in the T-shirt. He walked over calmly and said hello in Italian. The man closed the newspaper and extended his hand to greet him. , Aldrich and Andrew sat opposite him.

Alberto de Rossi. Mr. Aldrich Hall, Mr. Andrew Hall, hello.

The man leaned forward and reached out to shake hands with the two visitors one after another, then waved to the boy who was flipping through a football magazine at the end of the cafe, and whispered: Daniele.

The boy who looked exactly like his father put down the magazine, walked up to his father and sat down.

Aldrich looked at De Rossi, who was only thirteen years old, and then turned his gaze back to Alberto De Rossi. He said solemnly: Mr. De Rossi, I know you are very interested in this city and The Roma team has extraordinary feelings, and I also know that you will spare no effort to train your son to be a member of the Roma team. Before I extend the invitation, I do not deny two points. First, Daniele second, his contribution to the Roma team in the future when he stays in Rome.

Alberto De Rossi has reached the age of retirement, but he is still playing for the Roma team, and he is very sure that De Rossi's future should also be in Rome.

The old De Rossi nodded frankly: Yes, so, I don't think this meeting will have a satisfactory result for both parties. I am skeptical about English football. If I send my son to Millwall, it may ruin him. killed him.

The old De Rossi was really outspoken. He didn't mention Italian football in his words, but he was contemptuous of the football environment outside of Italy.

After a moment of silence, Aldridge said: In my team, there are now four young players from Italy.

The old De Rossi raised the Corriere dello Sport in his hand, jokingly said: The whole of Italy knows, and you also recommended those players to enter the Italian youth team, ha ha.

After speaking, he flipped through the newspaper, and the page titled Which Village is Millwall? came into Aldrich's eyes.