With the addition of Milito, Li Ang could finally breathe a sigh of relief about the team's forward line. He was looking forward to the partnership between Di Natale and Milito.
Now, Sporting de Gijón had four forwards: Antonio Di Natale, Diego Milito, David Lago, and Michael Pihra.
Among them, Di Natale and Milito would be partners in the forward line, while David Lago and Michael Pihra would be waiting for an opportunity on the substitutes' bench.
It was reasonable to say that the configuration of four forwards should be enough, but Li Ang vaguely felt that something was not right.
This was not right. When he received the team's medical report, he understood a little.
McGour-Pihra was already thirty-six years old. Although McGour-Pihra worked very hard and cherished the opportunity to see the sun at the end of his career, he was indeed old.
Although Li Ang's plan was to have Michael Pihra on the substitutes' bench at all times, it was clear that Michael Pihra's body was a hidden danger. If an injury occurred during the season, then Sporting de Gijón's substitutes' bench would have a shortage of players. To put it bluntly, if either Di Natale or Milito were to be injured, there would be no replacement. Michael Pihra's fitness could not last the whole season, and David Lago's strength was very average. Li Ang kept David Lago because he valued this player's speed. This was a player with characteristics that could be effective in certain situations, but definitely could not be entrusted with heavy responsibilities in most situations.
The team still needed a qualified substitute to be on the substitutes' bench at all times.
For the starting forward position, Li Ang chose Di Natale and Milito, who were both in their prime. Now, for the substitute forward position, Li Ang began to consider young people.
It was good to bring in a young man and slowly nurture him.
*****
"Our forward line still needs to be strengthened," Li Ang said to the assistant manager, Scott Terry.
"Four forwards. That should be enough," Scott Terry said.
Li Ang shook his head. He glanced at the other assistant, Banderas. The latter thought about it and understood Li Ang's meaning. "Michael Pihra's body is a hidden danger."
"That's right!" Li Ang nodded and said, "This season, we will be fighting on three fronts. We have to fully consider the impact of injuries."
"So, do you have any goals?" Scott Terry also realized the hidden danger in the forward line that might not be too noticeable at the beginning. He agreed with Li Ang's point of view and asked Li Ang's point of view.
"Of course." Li Ang smiled and turned to ask Banderas, "Pablo, what do you think of Alvaro?"
"Alvaro? Banderas was stunned at first, and then he understood who Li Ang was talking about. It was Alvaro Negredo. When Li Ang was the coach of Real Madrid's youth team, Negredo was a player under him. Banderas was the assistant manager at that time, so he naturally knew about Negredo.
Negredo was about to turn 20 years old. This young man was a rare center forward in Spanish football. His body was exceptionally strong, and he was now 1.85 meters tall. He had a strong impact in the penalty area.
"Yes, Negredo is a good choice." Banderas expressed his support.
Of course, he was good. Li Ang admired his old player. Although his individual skills were not exquisite and his speed was not fast, Negredo could play the role of a bridgehead. With such a player as the fulcrum in front, he was a great threat. Whether it was a pass from the side or a straight pass from the middle, whether it was a high ball over the top or a low pass on the ground, Negredo was good at either shooting or passing the ball. Even if there were some difficult balls to handle, he would work hard to adjust his pace and body to complete the shot as much as possible.
In addition, the 20-year-old Negredo had just been promoted by Real Madrid to Castilla. However, he did not have many opportunities to play. If there was a chance to play in La Liga, he was naturally willing to play as a substitute.
*****
Li Ang quickly reached a consensus with the coaching staff and asked Real Madrid to buy Negredo.
Real Madrid's reply was very quick, and they rejected Sporting de Gijón's request.
Li Ang began to ponder. Was Real Madrid unwilling to give up Negredo, a player with such potential? If he could see Negredo's potential, Real Madrid would naturally have people who could judge people's talents. Then, Sporting de Gijón once again asked Real Madrid to buy Negredo. However, this time, they proposed a loan.
If Li Ang consciously wanted to loan Negredo, Real Madrid should have agreed. They were a La Liga team. If they were willing to loan Negredo and give Negredo a chance to play, it would be equivalent to helping Real Madrid train their young players. This was a good thing.
However, what caught him off guard was that Real Madrid rejected his request for a loan.
If Real Madrid wanted to keep Negredo in Castilla and were unwilling to let the player leave, then so be it. The most infuriating thing was that two days later, Negredo was loaned by Real Madrid to Vallecano!
Real Madrid would rather loan Negredo to this La Liga team than loan Negredo to Sporting de Gijón. Li Ang, as Negredo's former coach, was definitely familiar with Negredo's characteristics. No matter how one looked at it, loaning Negredo to Sporting de Gijón was the best choice. However, Real Madrid obviously ignored this choice.
Li Ang was not stupid. He quickly understood that Real Madrid had imposed a "sanction" on him. That's right, it was a sanction. There were signs when he asked to buy Morientes. Now, his request to buy Negredo was once again rejected. This fully illustrated this point.
He did not know if it was the decision made by the president of Real Madrid, Mr. Florentino, who was angry with Li Ang, or the general manager of Real Madrid, Valdano's idea. Anyway, the reality was that Real Madrid had closed their doors to Sporting de Gijón. The Real Madrid youth training camp that "selflessly contributed" to the entire Spanish football world unilaterally closed its doors to Sporting de Gijón. Sporting de Gijón could not take advantage of Real Madrid.
*****
If a tiger does not show its might, do you think I am a sick cat?
Li Ang was completely enraged this time.
Originally, in his original plan, Real Madrid's 85 to 89 generation of players were basically his personal territory. He had coached this youth team before. Among them, players such as Callejón, Negredo, and de la Red were players that he coveted. He wanted to poach them from time to time. He used to be the manager of these players and had a good relationship with them. This was what it meant to be close to the water and enjoy the moonlight first.
However, now, Real Madrid seemed to have put him and Sporting de Gijón on the "blacklist of never contacting". This ruined Li Ang's wishful thinking. How could he not be angry?
"I can't take this lying down." Li Ang said to his two assistants, "I want them to know that if they provoke me, they will have to pay a big price."
Both Scotteri and Banderas smiled bitterly. They did not expect Real Madrid to deliberately target Sporting de Gijón. They could only say that Li Ang's unscrupulous criticism of Florentino had really angered the big boss.
"What? You don't believe me? "Li Ang snorted coldly and asked.
"Well, I will go and see if there is anything to add to the afternoon training plan." Banderas said. His main task now was to follow Li Ang's tactical requirements and make the training concrete.
"I also have something to do on my side," Scotteri said with a smile.
"Hey, hey, hey, you …" Li Ang looked at his two assistants laughing and walking away. He was so angry that he grimaced. These two fellows obviously thought that he was bragging.
Obviously, in the eyes of Scotteri and Banderas, Li Ang and Sporting de Gijón could only suffer in silence. In the face of a giant like Real Madrid, what could Li Ang do to fight back?! They could only suffer in silence and suffer in silence.
Li Ang snorted twice. You don't believe in my methods? Let's wait and see.
His methods were: Poach Real Madrid's future players!
This person was indeed enraged.
*****
That afternoon, French Ligue 1 club Lyon received a fax.
Sporting de Gijón from La Liga wanted to buy their young player, Karim Benzema.
The Lyon club was also quite surprised by this fax. They even wanted to find out who this Karim Benzema was from the very beginning. Obviously, there was no such player in the first team.
"Do we have this player?" Lyon's manager, Logan, asked his assistant, former Lyon player Rémy Garde.
Rémy Garde thought for a moment and shook his head. "Maybe it's a reserve team player. I'll ask."
Soon, Garde came back. "Yes, Karim Benzema, a player born in December 1987. He's not even seventeen years old yet. He used to play in the youth team. He was just promoted to the reserve team by the manager of the reserve team, Mr. Sarles. He plays as a striker."
When he heard that it was just a kid who was not even seventeen years old, Logan suddenly lost interest. He waved his hand and handed the fax from Sporting de Gijón to Rémy Garde. "Rémy, you and Mr. Squillani, who is in charge of the transfer of youth players, can deal with this matter."
"Reject it?" Rémy Garde asked.
"Whatever." Logan's attitude was indifferent. "Let's see what they offer."
"Okay, I understand." Rémy Garde nodded.
*****
Many years later, Logan still regretted his indifferent attitude toward Sporting de Gijón's request for Benzema. He regretted that if he had paid a little more attention, or watched Benzema's game videos and observed Benzema's training, he would have discovered that the kid's talent was extraordinary, and he would have taken him seriously. Unfortunately, at this time, he was thinking about Essien's contract renewal. Chelsea was interested in Essien, and Logan was now trying to persuade the Ghanaian star player to stay. He knew that Essien would go to a powerhouse club sooner or later. Lyon could not keep such a player, but it was better to keep him for one more year.
Logan was worried about Essien's contract renewal.
After a simple communication between his assistant, Rémy Garde, and Mr. Squillani, who was in charge of the transfer of youth players, they replied to the Sporting de Gijón club. Their reply was not a refusal, but a direct offer of one million euros. It was a fixed price!
There was another story. Mr. Squillani, who was in charge of the transfer of youth players, had a date with a beautiful woman that night. His mind was not on the business at all. He did not even hear the name that Rémy Garde mentioned. Was it Karim Benzema? Hmm, or someone else?
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
