Obviously, La Repubblica had a lot of praise for Li Ang. The Chinese manager of Sporting de Gijón had a good eye for talent. Just look at the players he brought in during the summer transfer market. Di Natale only cost 300,000 Euros. Now, the Italian's performance was obvious to all. Di Natale was selected for the Best XI of the La Liga Season. In addition, Diego Milito joined almost at a cheap price. Now, he was tied with Barcelona's Eto 'o in the La Liga Season. According to the media's estimates, Milito's current value was more than 10 million Euros. It had risen by more than ten times.
As for the left back, Grosso's performance was also commendable. His value had risen a lot.
As for Modric, Ivanovic, Benzema, and the other young players, they were also eye-catching. Benzema, in particular, had attracted the attention of many big clubs. It was said that the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, admired this young Frenchman.
As for Ribéry and Pepe, they were now Sporting de Gijón's main players. Their outstanding performances had also won the praise of the media. Ribéry, in particular, had joined Sporting de Gijón from a low-level league in France. After a slump at the beginning of the season, he began to show off his football talent. Under Hierro's teachings, Pepe had also improved rapidly. Although he was still a little impatient, the shadow of a great center back could already be seen in this young Brazilian and Portuguese star player.
Li Ang's eye for talent was also praised. In addition to Sporting de Gijón's current league results and ranking, this was also the reason why La Repubblica compared Li Ang to the managers of the four big clubs. They were looking forward to Li Ang's moves in the winter transfer market.
*****
Of course, not all of them were praises.
Marca questioned Sporting de Gijón's pending sale of Isma to Mallorca in exchange for the transfer fee and Juan Arango. Mallorca thought that Li Ang was out of his mind. They were certain that Li Ang would regret it. Sporting de Gijón would have a center back crisis because of the loss of Isma. At the same time, they were sarcastic about the Venezuelan player Li Ang had brought in, Juan Arango.
"This Venezuelan is almost a free transfer bonus. Sorry, we really don't see what ability he has to gain a foothold in the Europa League. In half a season at Mallorca, did the Venezuelan's performance leave a deep impression on us? Maybe Li Ang used to be very good at judging people, but this time, I have to say that he misjudged Juan Arango … This Venezuelan will probably return to the Americas after half a season … "
La Repubblica was a big newspaper in Spain. Their newspapers could be bought everywhere.
Juan Arango, who had already completed his medical examination and began to look for a place to live in Gijón, was ready to officially join Sporting de Gijón when the transfer market opened on New Year's Day.
It should be said that the Venezuelan was a little depressed. This player, who was all-powerful in the Mexican league and had been named a star of hope by some official media a few years ago, was clearly lacking in confidence after experiencing a lackluster performance in Mallorca for half a season.
Now, the only thing Arango could comfort himself was that he learned from Sporting de Gijón's assistant manager, Martin Skrtel, that it was the manager, Li Ang, who wanted to add him to Isma's transfer. This made Arango a little excited. He only hoped that his arrival at Sporting de Gijón would be a turning point for his career.
In the face of the media's doubts, the Venezuelan could only bear it silently. He was eager to show his football talent, eager to prove himself …
*****
On December 31, 2004, Li Ang's father celebrated his 60th birthday. Li Ang booked the most luxurious hotel in his hometown to celebrate his father's birthday and hold a big banquet for friends and relatives.
Regarding his son's "prodigal" and "extravagant" behavior, the old man had a lot of complaints and criticized his son with a few words.
Li Ang smiled but did not say anything. Although it was very vulgar, like a nouveau riche, it had to be said that the feeling of spending money was really good.
The friends and relatives who came to celebrate the birthday of Li Ang's father, Li Guodong, kept praising Li Ang. They said that this child was promising and had created a career abroad. Their own child could not compare to Li Ang. They expressed their envy and so on.
"This child, Li Ang, has been promising since he was young."
"Yes, yes, now it's all on the news."
"Now the sports channel often broadcasts Sporting de Gijón's games live. There's nothing to say. Awesome!"
At this time, Li Guodong's face was full of pride and a proud smile. For parents, the achievements of their children were their greatest source of pride.
Of course, there were also those who were jealous and indignant. They muttered, "Isn't he just a football coach? What's there to be proud of? "
Then these people were dumbfounded. At the climax of the birthday banquet, the parents of the hometown government also sent a representative to send a congratulatory gift. The congratulatory gift was only a few hundred yuan in red packets, but the meaning behind it was extraordinary. The people of the country were based on the official system and had a natural awe and sensitivity to officials. When they saw that the mayor and the secretary had specially sent people to celebrate the birthday, it was obvious that this was because of Li Ang's face. They really realized that Li Ang, the child of the Li family, whom they had previously thought to be a good-for-nothing and obsessed with football, was really promising now. Those who were jealous and said strange things also tactfully shut their mouths and did not dare to say anything.
That night, Li Guodong drank a lot of wine and was drunk. This old Chinese medicine doctor, who had been cautious and conscientious his whole life and took the responsibility of curing illnesses and saving people as his own responsibility, was proud of his son.
The clock struck midnight and fireworks bloomed in the sky above the city. 2004 passed, and 2005 came.
*****
Seven or eight hours later, in the distant Iberian Peninsula, the clock of 2005 also rang.
This winter transfer market had officially opened.
Sporting de Gijón's official website first officially announced the team's recruitment news.
"We are very happy to announce that Sporting de Gijón has officially recruited experienced striker Enrico Chiesa from Serie A club Siena … The Italian striker has signed a three-year contract with the team …"
"The team and the Mallorca club have reached an agreement. The Venezuelan player Juan Arango has come to Sporting de Gijón … Arango will be with us for the next five years …"
At the same time, the Mallorca club also announced that they had acquired the experienced Spanish native center back Alexander Isma from Sporting de Gijón for 1.5 million euros and Juan Arango.
Sporting de Gijón was the first to announce the transfer news in the Spanish football world in the winter transfer market of 2005, which kicked off the curtain.
*****
Li Ang, who had finished his father's birthday banquet in China, said goodbye to his parents again at noon on the first of January. The eighteenth round of the La Liga would be on the ninth of January, and Li Ang, as the manager, would now start to be busy in the transfer market. The team was on holiday, but for the manager, it was the busiest time. It was not easy for him to take a few days out to return to China.
On the train from his hometown to the capital, Li Ang's phone had been busy. He kept in touch with the coaching staff and the club's general manager, Venita Arango, who were far away in Spain. The winter transfer window had opened, and now it was a race against time to get players.
Previously, he had asked the club to send enquiries to Metzelder, Kompany, Vermaelen, Borussia Dortmund, Anderlecht, Ajax, and Valencia, where Albiol was, and now there should be a reply.
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