"Nigel, is it really okay for us to do this?" Sporting de Gijón's captain, Miguel Cobas, asked the bald man next to him. This was his agent, Nigel Rodwell Welch.
Rodwell Welch encouraged him to ask the club for the highest salary in the team. To be exact, he asked him to be on the same level as the former Real Madrid captain, Fernando Hierro, who had just joined the team.
Miguel Cobas could not resist his agent's instigation and did as he was told. However, his heart was beating like a drum. In fact, Miguel Cobas's original salary was 600,000 euros a year. This time, the club intended to raise his salary to 800,000 euros, which was now second only to Hierro in the team. Miguel Cobas was more satisfied with this, but his agent, Rodwell Welch, was not. He encouraged Miguel Cobas to ask the club for the same salary as Hierro.
"What are you afraid of, Miguel?" Rodwell Welch said with a smile. "If an old man like Hierro can get a million, why can't you? You are the captain of the team and the biggest contributor to the team's promotion! "
"But —" Miguel Cobas wanted to say something but stopped.
"There are no buts." Rodwell Welch said bewitchingly. "You are also showing the other players your importance. At the very least, you can't be lower than Hierro."
Hearing Rodwell Welch's words, Cobas did not speak. There had been rumors in the team for the past few days that the manager, Li Ang, intended to let Hierro be the team's captain for the new season. This rumor made Miguel Cobas feel uncomfortable. He admitted that Hierro was a famous Spanish player, the former Real Madrid captain, and had great fame and influence. However, this was Sporting de Gijón. He was the team's captain. He was the contributor to the team's promotion. A contributor should not be treated like this.
In fact, he guessed right. Li Ang did intend to let Hierro be the team's captain. In Li Ang's view, he was the manager of the team and he had the right to do so. Moreover, Li Ang was not satisfied with Miguel Kobas. The player did not have the temperament of a leader. This could be seen from the chaos at Sporting de Gijón before Li Ang took over the team. Miguel Kobas was not able to stabilize the chaos in the locker room.
Although he no longer spoke and accepted his agent, Rodney Welch's words, Miguel Kobas could not calm down. He did not know if his actions would cause the manager, Li Ang, to be dissatisfied. Although Li Ang had only coached the team for half a season, the stern side of the China manager made Miguel Kobas fearful. That was what he was worried about.
*****
Li Ang was very unhappy when he learned that Miguel Kobas had asked for the highest salary in the team, the same as Hierro's.
In fact, with Miguel Kobas's ability, the club was willing to give him an annual salary of 800,000 euros despite the financial situation. This was already a high standard of treatment for the team captain from last season. It could be said that it was very generous. This salary was not low in the current Spanish football world and among the newly promoted teams.
"Li, are you planning to let Hierro be the team captain?" Scotty asked Li Ang.
"That's right." Li Ang nodded. He did not need to hide this at all, and Li Ang was very sure that the team would not have any resistance to this arrangement. The former Real Madrid captain would not encounter any obstacles at all to becoming the captain of Sporting de Gijón. Many Sporting de Gijón players could be said to have watched Hierro play football growing up. They admired the veteran very much. With Hierro as the captain, he could completely control the situation. Moreover, Li Ang believed that with Hierro's leadership and professionalism, Sporting de Gijón's locker room would be healthier, more cohesive, and more combative. The power of a role model was endless.
Li Ang was relieved that Hierro would be the captain.
Scotty nodded. He also supported Li Ang's decision. Hierro as the captain was indeed a good move.
"It's just that I think Miguel might not be too happy," Scotty said.
"What's there for him to be unhappy about?" Li Ang frowned. Miguel really did not have any leadership ability. This was not Li Ang's prejudice. It was the truth.
"Talk to him again." Li Ang thought for a moment and said to Scotty on the other end of the phone, "The salary of 800,000 euros is very sincere."
Li Ang suggested that the club give Hierro an annual salary of one million euros. This was because of Hierro's ability, the influence that Hierro could bring to the team, and the veteran's experience and prestige to help the team. Moreover, to be honest, this was also a favor. Hierro had agreed to give up his retirement in Qatar and come to Sporting de Gijón. It could be said that he had sacrificed his personal interests.
Therefore, giving Hierro the highest salary in the team was Li Ang's repayment to Hierro. This was the symbol of the team's most important player.
*****
The next day, early in the morning.
Li Ang woke up early and arrived at the Maleo training base early.
The day's weather was very good. The morning sea breeze blew, making him feel very comfortable.
Today was an important day. The Sporting de Gijón team gathered today to start training for the new season.
Li Ang was in the office chatting with his two assistants, Scotty and Banderas. Everyone was in a good mood. From today onwards, the team would start preparing for the new La Liga season. Everyone was in high spirits and looking forward to the La Liga games.
At this time, the office phone rang.
"Li. I caught a thief. He said he was our player, but I don't think he's a good person … "Vazquez, the old gatekeeper of the Maleo training base, said.
An angry and fast voice came from the other side of the phone. It was in French. "Hey, old man, why won't you let me in? I said I'm a player on the team, Franck Ribéry, a famous French player …" Then there was a barking sound. It was the gatekeeper Vazquez's Scottish shepherd named Osgood.
Hearing this, Li Ang laughed. He could completely imagine Ribéry being refused entry. Ribéry, who only knew simple English, could not communicate with Vazquez.
However, the scar on Ribéry's face was really scary. It seemed understandable that the gatekeeper mistook Ribéry for a bad person, although it was wrong to judge a book by its cover.
*****
Li Ang said with a smile, "Mr. Vazquez, you've fulfilled your duties very well. However, he's right. He is indeed our player, Franck Ribéry, the team's new addition."
"But he doesn't look like a good person. How can there be such a player?" Vazquez muttered. Osgood continued barking next to him, as if it was in line with its old master.
"Hey, old man, do you want me to give you an autograph?" Ribéry shouted from the side.
Li Ang laughed.
"Give him the phone," Li Ang said.
"Coach, why won't this old man let me in?" Ribéry's voice roared. The guy looked very wronged.
"This is what I told him." Li Ang held back his laughter and said, "I told the gatekeeper to welcome you in person. Maybe you don't understand what he's saying."
"I see." When Ribéry heard this, he immediately became happy. He was really wronged just now and felt that he was discriminated against. This hurt the Frenchman's strong self-esteem. However, now that he heard that it was the manager's arrangement to welcome him in person, he immediately became happy and then said, "Should I apologize to this old man? My attitude was not very good."
"Forget it. You just wait obediently. He won't understand what you're saying anyway." Li Ang said with a smile, "Give the phone to the gatekeeper."
*****
"Li, it's me," Vazquez said.
"Well, you're doing a great job, Mr. Vazquez," Li Ang said, "You don't have to worry about this. I'll be right there."
"Okay," the gatekeeper said, "But Li, is this guy really our player? I think he … "
"He's our player." Li Ang laughed, "Mr. Vazquez, don't underestimate him. He'll be a very important offensive player for us. You just wait and cheer for his goal."
"Really?"
"Really!"
"Okay then!"
Then Li Ang heard Vazquez shouting at Ribéry on the other end of the phone, "Kid, have you had breakfast? Do you want to have some together? "
"Do you want my autograph?" Ribéry shouted back. "No problem."
Li Ang smiled and hung up the phone. July 17, 2004, Sporting de Gijón's new season training began in this way on the morning of the day …
What a delightful day!
PS: First update. Add 544.
Yesterday, I didn't revive to full health. Today, I went to bed after checking the information yesterday. Today, I woke up early to write and worked hard to implement the plan for the update during the day.
Look at the action of the author.
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