Li Ang then called Venita personally.
Venita was not surprised that Li Ang wanted to poach players from Sporting de Gijón. The current Sporting de Gijón team was built by Li Ang. It was Li Ang's blood, sweat, and tears. Li Ang appreciated these players very much. It was not surprising that Li Ang wanted to take a few of his direct subordinates to Inter Milan.
Manuel Arango wanted to cash in on these players and transfuse them into his business. However, Venita was more attached to the team. She did not want to see the championship team that Li Ang had built with his own hands fall into ruin. This was the last thing that the man had left her.
Therefore, in response to Li Ang's request, Venita and Li Ang agreed that Li Ang could take three or four players from Sporting de Gijón at most. However, in terms of price, Inter Milan had to trade according to the market price of the players. Since they were going to sell some players for cash, it would be better to trade with Li Ang's Inter Milan than with other teams. The players would probably be more willing to go to Li Ang, and everyone would be happy.
Li Ang had no objection to this. This was a normal transfer transaction. Westerners clearly separated public and private matters.
Li Ang originally wanted to bring in four or five players from Sporting de Gijón, but he did not insist. After all, he also had feelings for Sporting de Gijón. If he emptied the team, he would not tolerate a disastrous decline in the next season.
*****
There were only three places. After Li Ang thought about it, he named three players.
In addition to Mata, he wanted to take Carlos.
Not to mention that Carlos was Alice's younger brother, from a competitive point of view, Carlos was also what he needed.
Inter Milan did indeed lack a sweeper in the midfield. Cambiasso was good at both offense and defense. However, Cambiasso had a mixed reputation. When he performed well, he was indeed trustworthy. However, Cambiasso was easily complacent. He knew about Cambiasso's nickname, "The King of Walking," later on. He needed to bring in a player to compete with Cambiasso. Moreover, from a defensive point of view, Carlos was more in line with Li Ang's tactical requirements and was more obedient.
For the last candidate, Li Ang chose Modric. Modric was overflowing with talent and had the most outstanding future development among Sporting de Gijón's players. The Croatian youth was a rare world-class playmaker in the football world. His defense was not weak, his technique was exquisite, he had a big picture view, and he was very selfless. In the previous season, Modric had learned from Albertini at Sporting de Gijón. His progress was very fast, and he had gradually become Sporting de Gijón's playmaker in the midfield. He had a thorough understanding of Li Ang's tactics and was a very smart player.
Venita thought about the three names given by Li Ang and nodded in agreement.
Objectively speaking, in Venita's opinion, the "damage" to Sporting de Gijón was minimized by Li Ang taking these three players.
Modric had left, and Sporting de Gijón still had the veteran, Albertini.
Carlos had left, and there was still Marcos, who had been groomed by Sporting de Gijón's youth training. Although Marcos was not as talented as Carlos, he was cautious and conscientious.
Mata had left, and there was still Javier Blanco. This young man had been promoted by Li Ang from the B Team. His talent and ability were not as good as Mata's, but his progress was not small. He could take over Mata's position.
*****
"Do you have any suggestions for the team? Which players must stay? "Venita asked in the end.
Li Ang had wanted to say that this was something for the new head coach of Sporting de Gijón to consider, but in the end, he gave his own suggestion. If Sporting de Gijón really sank, he would not feel good.
Li Ang named Ribéry, Dinatale, and Milito. If Sporting de Gijón could keep these three players, in addition to Marcos, Javier Blanco, and other young players, as well as the original substitutes, such as Arango, Rami, and Vermaelen, and a veteran like Albertini in the midfield, they would at least be able to maintain a mid-level standard in the league next season.
"It won't be easy to keep these players," Li Ang reminded in the end.
Venita smiled bitterly. Of course, she knew this. Now there was a thick stack of offers on her desk. Among them, Ribéry and Milito were the most favored by the powerhouses.
Ivanovic had already transferred to Chelsea, and the second player from Sporting de Gijón to leave was Pepe. Real Madrid was very decisive. They were also worried that Pepe would follow Li Ang to Inter Milan, so they cut the Gordian knot and directly threw out a sky-high price of 35 million euros to buy Pepe. In the face of this offer, the old Arango did not hesitate and directly nodded.
Therefore, just the day before, Real Madrid had reached an agreement with Sporting de Gijón for Pepe's transfer. This also made Li Ang scold Real Madrid. He was a player that he had cultivated himself. He did not want to benefit Real Madrid.
Li Ang only talked about work and subconsciously avoided other topics. Venita finally asked, "Is there anything else to say?" Li Ang was silent for a moment and did not say anything. After hanging up the phone, Li Ang sighed. Since they were not destined to be together, it was better to leave it at that.
*****
Then, Li Ang immediately called Modric. He was worried that if he was a step slower, the Croatian boy would be poached by another team. Although he was confident in his influence on these players, it was better to be safe than sorry. The relationship between the player and the manager seemed to be close, but the player was a living person with his own thoughts. If he was a step slower, Modric might be poached by another team first.
After receiving Li Ang's call, Modric looked very happy. Modric was very happy that the boss still remembered him and was willing to take him to Inter Milan.
Li Ang did not need to say too much nonsense. Modric nodded and agreed to follow his mentor to Inter Milan. He did receive invitations from some teams, the most enthusiastic of which was Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League. The other team had been in contact with his agent many times, and Modric was also tempted. However, after receiving Li Ang's call, Modric naturally did not pay attention to Tottenham Hotspur anymore.
Li Ang had helped him, and he respected and trusted Li Ang very much. Moreover, Inter Milan was a powerhouse team. Being able to play for a powerhouse team and under a manager who trusted and valued him was naturally the best choice.
As for Carlos, he would not refuse Li Ang's invitation. Alice would be settling down with Li Ang in Milan, and Carlos was naturally willing to go to Italy with his sister.
Li Ang had some regrets. In fact, he also wanted to bring Ribéry over, but he knew that it was unlikely. Sporting de Gijón would not agree to let so many players leave.
Even the greedy Manuel Arango was not stupid. Between Ribery and Mata, the two wings of Sporting Gihon, he could only let one of them leave. This was something that the old Arango still knew.
He had a conflict with the old Arango, but in the end, they parted in a relatively gentle way. They met and smiled, and there was no falling out. Furthermore, he was able to take three players from Sporting de Gijón. Compared to those who had fallen out with their old teams, it was even more difficult to poach players from their old teams. He was content.
In addition, Diego Milito and Benzema were both players that Li Ang wanted to bring along. However, no one could achieve everything, not even Li Ang.
*****
The next day, Inter Milan's offer was sent to Sporting de Gijón's General Manager Venita's desk.
Inter Milan offered 55 million euros for Juan Carlos, Juan Mata, and Luca Modric.
On this day, the French team Lyon announced that they had brought back the French young player Benzema from Sporting de Gijón for 18 million euros.
A year ago, Li Ang brought Benzema from Lyon to Sporting de Gijón for one million euros. This was regarded as a great humiliation by Lyon's chairman, Olla, and he had been brooding over it. Therefore, this time, the Lyon team acted decisively and brought back the talent that had been 'stolen' by Li Ang.
Excluding Mata, Carlos, and Modric, who Inter Milan wanted to buy, Sporting de Gijón had already lost three players, Ivanovic, Pepe, and Benzema, just after the season ended. Of course, Sporting de Gijón also received 70 million euros from these three players!
It must be known that when Li Ang brought these three players to Sporting de Gijón, the total cost was less than three million euros!
Therefore, even if the media exposed that Li Ang's Inter Milan wanted to take away Carlos, Mata, and Modric from Sporting de Gijón, Sporting de Gijón's fans could only feel depressed and emotional. They could not resent Li Ang. He really did not owe Sporting de Gijón anything. On the contrary, Sporting de Gijón should thank Li Ang.
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