What ball king, call me ball god

"The main defensive midfielder of Inter Milan, the main defensive midfielder of the 2018 World Cup runner-up team Croatia. At the golden age of 27, his running and stealing ability are among the best in Europe."

"Wait, coach? Inter Milan's main midfielder, can he come? In other words, we only have 5000 million euros, can we buy it?"

"Money alone can't buy it, but we have money. Inter Milan is currently playing 352, and there are only two midfielders. They lack a defender. So we can use Bailey to buy him."

"Wait, Bailly, will Inter Milan agree?"

"How do you know if you don't talk about it? If Brozovic can be signed, we will have our main midfielder."

"I think this is a bit risky, but coach, you appreciate him a lot, don't you?"

"Of course, if he can come, I think our backs can be straightened. You also know that the most critical essence of our tactics is one word-run, and Brozovic can run. In fact, our current The main midfielder Matic is also good, but his running ability has dropped significantly, so he is really good, but it doesn't fit my tactics."

"Since this is the case, why don't you just add Matic to Brozovic directly? In this case, Inter Milan can also gain a main midfielder, isn't it good?"

"You kid, football is not the NBA, you have to consider the player's own thoughts! Matic has no intention of leaving Manchester United. He has expressed his position to me. Even if he is a substitute, he is willing to stay."

"The substitute is also willing to stay? Why?"

"Of course it's the family. His child is not old, and he is studying well. What he needs now is stability."

"Wow, family! Hey!"

"Okay, you're still young—let's not talk about this topic, let's move on to the next one, and the last one. It's also an instant player."

Mitchell switched to the next slide.

"Thomas Partey. Atletico Madrid's main midfielder. Thomas is a technically excellent and comprehensive midfielder. He has shown excellent ball control, passing skills and defensive strength on the pitch."

"Wait, coach! The main midfielder of Inter Milan just now is strange enough, now the main midfielder of Atletico Madrid? Didn't Atletico Madrid just leave Rodri this summer? You go to buy their main midfielder, can they Agree?"

"Actually, it's fine if it's in another league, but he comes from La Liga. Every player in La Liga has a liquidated damages. His liquidated damages are 5000 million euros!"

"Isn't that just right? But coach, I don't watch much La Liga. If it's Thomas and Brozovic, who do you want more?"

"The technical characteristics of the two are not quite the same, but Thomas is a very interesting player. Although he is black and a midfielder, he is not black and hard. His skills are very good, very delicate, and he has a body. Skilled midfielder, this is indeed better than Brozovic, top technology plus top physical fitness, these two attributes are indeed difficult to appear in the same person, because his contract has not been renewed, so the breach of contract of 5000 million euros Jin still exists now. If he continues to play in Atletico Madrid, after the contract renewal, the liquidated damages must be hundreds of millions. However, he is a bit prone to injuries, and his physical fitness is not very good. 60 minutes of physical fitness, if you exclude these two If you think about it, he is basically the top midfielder. What do you think if you can buy it for 5000 million? Just go for it. But with these two shortcomings, it is a bit troublesome."

"Coach, I understand what you mean. After all, the core of our tactics lies in active running. If he has physical problems, this point can still be practiced, but if he is prone to injuries, it is indeed a bit troublesome. Then, coach, What are you going to choose now?"

"How to choose? I will let the club contact these four players, including Rice, and talk about it. It is right to prepare with multiple hands. But, Lin, if you choose, which one would you choose?"

"Looks like Brozovic is the best."

"I understand what you mean. His immediate combat power and fitness are the best. In the end, I still need your support."

"Well, coach, we both have the same goal, that is, to hope that the team will be good!"
-
7 month 29 day.

Matt, who was in charge of transfer negotiations at Manchester United, came to Ten Hag's office.

"Eric, West Ham United are open, but their asking price is outrageous, 6500 million euros, or money plus players."

Ten Hag frowned.

"Money plus players, how much money, which players."

"McTominay plus €5500m."

"Are you kidding? McTominay can sell for at least 3000 million euros now. Why, the more money and players, the higher the asking price? What's more, McTominay is part of my plan. It's almost meaningless to be the main force. But being a substitute is enough, if you are willing to run, I will not sell him."

"In fact, Rice himself is not willing to leave West Ham United. The attitude of West Ham United is to know that we will not pay the money."

"Forget it, let's cross out Rice's option. Where's Brozovic?"

"Inter say Brozovic is not for sale."

"After I got in touch with Brozovic's agent, he said that Brozovic was interested in leaving Inter Milan and joining Manchester United, but he was also very happy in Inter Milan. He is a main player in Inter Milan. If he goes to Manchester United If he is the main player, he will not leave. And even if we reach an agreement with the players, he will not help us lower the price of Inter Milan."

"Continue to contact Inter Milan, just say we are very sincere, and see their bid."

"Okay, what about Thomas, Atletico Madrid also stated that they will not sell directly, it is not for sale. And we contacted Thomas' agent, Thomas' agent is very interested in going to the Premier League, but it also means that he will not cooperate with the lower price , and Thomas’ agent pointed out that the current atmosphere in Atletico Madrid is that they will not let go of any player. I judge that if you want to sign Thomas’s flowers, liquidated damages are the only way out.”

"The liquidated damages are 5000 million euros, what about the tax issues?"

"In this regard, the liquidated damages are directly handed over to La Liga. La Liga is a notary party who plays the role of "depositing liquidated damages" in order to prevent unnecessary disputes between players and the original club in the process of "paying liquidated damages , and then we paid the money, and La Liga will give it to Atletico Madrid. As for the fee rate, we have calculated it and it is within the controllable range of the club's operating costs. But there is still one problem."

"what is the problem?"

"Atletico Madrid said that if we insist on signing Thomas with liquidated damages this summer, Atletico Madrid will issue a public statement condemning us and saying that they will not do any business with us in the future."

"Does this affect us a lot?"

"This depends on Ed's thoughts. After all, if Atletico Madrid really makes this statement, it will be a one-off for the club-the stock price will also fall at that time, so-"

"Okay, I understand what you mean. Did Atletico Madrid put forward their ideas?"

"5000 million euros plus a player exchange."

"who is it?"

"Martial."

"Martial? Atletico Madrid has no shortage of strikers, right? Didn't they just buy a Portuguese kid with 1.2 million euros this summer?"

"This is their condition, or 6500 million euros, or they can agree to a release clause of 5000 million euros in the next summer window."

"What the hell? Either wait a year, or increase the price by 1500 million euros, and Martial is worth more than 3500 million euros now. This price is too outrageous!"

"Eric, do you need to follow up with Thomas next?"

"Follow up and continue talking."

"Oh, and Guimaraes, they don't have any other ideas, just a price of 2500 million euros, as long as we make an offer, we can take him away."

"Okay, I see. Rice backs off, Brozovic and Thomas move on."
-
On August 8, Manchester United flew to Switzerland for a friendly match against Basel, the overlord of the Swiss Super League.

Although Basel is the dominant team in the Swiss Super League, it is also considered a strong team in the Champions League.

But when it comes to Manchester United, it is still vulnerable.

Lin Kedi started this game.

In the first half, the score was 4 to 1.

Lin Kedi scored 1 shot and 3 passes, and staged a hat-trick of assists.

An assist for Rashford, an assist for Greenwood on the right, and an assist for De Ligt.

In short, Lin Kedi is another performance like a god descending from the earth.

Finally, during the intermission, Lin Kedi was replaced to rest.

Three days later, Manchester United will have their last friendly match, and at that time there is only one week before the start of the new season.

And on the day of Manchester United's last friendly match on August 8.

Ten Hag gets a call from Matt.

"Eric, I can only tell you, Thomas, don't even think about it. Atletico Madrid is very insistent. They have already contacted Ed and expressed their attitude. It is about stock price fluctuations, so—"

"I understand that he wasn't the first choice. What about Brozovic?"

"Inter Milan gave a price, 6500 million for a buyout price, 4000 million plus Matic for money plus players. Matic is now worth 2000 million, and 2500 million is no problem if he sells it. This price is basically equivalent to about 6500 million. "

"The question is can Matic go? Another question is that Matic is good as a substitute. Of course it would be good to let him go and come to the main force, but we have to add substitute players."

"Isn't there McTominay on the bench?"

"He can't play a single midfielder, I'm going to make him a substitute for a central midfielder."

"I've already said this. Which one do you think you want? We will fight for whichever one you want!"

"Can it be like this? Let's sell people to raise money to raise 2500 million."

"You mean? Want to sign Guimaraes again? This summer window?"

"Yes, my idea is-wait a minute, listen to you, it seems that we can have money in winter?"

"It's not that we have money, but we have a budget. We have always had money, but limited by ffp, we can spend 5000 million euros in the summer window, but we still have a budget of 7000 million euros in the winter window. So if you don't If you are in a hurry, you can sign Guimaraes in the winter window."

"Since this is the case, can't part of the 6500 million euros be put into the winter window in installments?"

"No, Manchester United is a listed company, and the budget is relatively transparent. Most of our transfer expenses are paid in installments. Most teams are like this, but those supports will still be counted. In the expenditure of this summer window, we are not out of money, but out of budget."

"Can it be done like this? Let's rent Brozovic first, and then force a buyout at the end of the season. The buyout fee is 6500 million euros. Is this possible?"

"For this kind of operation, part of the budget will be included in both the summer window and the winter window, because the Premier League stipulates that there is a conversion ratio for this method, let me take a look-"

Matt on the other end of the phone started to pause, and Ten Hag was also waiting nervously.

After about 2 or 3 minutes.

"Well - it's okay after I looked at it. The Premier League stipulates that this form of loan-to-mandatory buyout must be signed before the end of the season. So such a transfer budget should also be counted as two in a season. The apportionment is carried out in the transfer window. If calculated in this way, 5000 million will be deducted from the 3500 million expenditure in the summer window, and 7000 million will be deducted from the 3000 million expenditure in the winter window. In fact, this is—”

"The advantage of this is that you don't have to let Matic go."

"If you keep Matic, what about Guimaraes?"

"Let's talk about the winter window. Didn't Athletic Parana say that they can drop it to 2000 million if they stay in the winter window?"

"Yes, there is such a thing."

"Then keep communicating, this is also a good player, and it is good to buy." (End of this chapter)