Although Shania had forced him to dress up, the two days of vacation were still very enjoyable for Tang En. He did hate being forced to do things by others, but he also had to look at the other party. If the little girl forced him, he did not mind.
As long as he could make Shania happy, what was this little sacrifice?
At seventeen, Shania had to bear the responsibility of work at a young age, doing a job that she did not like. The only time that could make her smile was perhaps only when she was with Tang En.
In front of others, she wanted to be a world-famous model. She had to pay attention to her image, pay attention to her words and actions, and even maintain her expression at all times in order to maintain a perfect image under the gazes of unknown angles. This was the perfect image they hoped for, but it was not the real Shania.
Only in front of Tang En, in front of the man she called "Uncle Tony," could she put down those masks and live freely and authentically.
The topic was a little heavy, but it was the truth.
Tang En's two days of vacation passed in the blink of an eye. Shania also had to return to Milan to continue her work.
At London Heathrow Airport, her manager, Mr. Fasal, thanked Tang En very solemnly, thanking him for playing with Shania for the past two days.
"Don't mention it. I also want to relax." Tang En smiled and waved his hands. "When I'm with the little girl, I'll forget all my worries. Mr. Fasal, although I hate managers, you're different. You're a good manager. No matter how famous Shania is, she's still a child. Please protect her. "
Fasal nodded. "Don't worry, Mr. Tang. The new season is about to begin. I wish you the best of luck. "
The two men shook hands.
After sending Shania and Fasal off, Tang En sat on the steps outside the terminal building and called the taxi driver, Landy, asking him to pick him up.
After hanging up, Tang En sat on the steps and looked up at the sky, bored.
Perhaps it was time to buy himself a car?
A loud roar sounded, and a silver-white plane flew across the sky directly above Tang En's head.
※ ※ ※
The idea of buying a car only existed in Tang En's mind for an afternoon. When he went to the training base with Dunn the next morning, he felt it was better to walk. On one hand, he could train his body, and on the other, he could walk while thinking without worrying about getting into a car accident.
The first thing he did after resuming training was to deal with the transfer. Anelka had yet to find a suitable new club, but Mark Viduka's agent had informed the club that his client wished to transfer. The reason was simple, and Tang En understood it. In the current Forest team, there was no longer a place for Viduka. He didn't want to play as a substitute. Therefore, leaving was the best choice.
Viduka knew very well that when the club bought van Nistelrooy, he knew that it was impossible for him to have a main position in this team. He could not accept being a substitute. After all, he was still in his prime.
Tang En also knew that with van Nistelrooy and Bendtner around, Viduka's living space was getting smaller and smaller. Letting him go and earning a transfer fee was not a bad idea.
Middlesbrough want Viduka for a fee of five million pounds. Tang En refused without another word.
No matter what, Viduka had been the Forest team's main striker for the past two seasons. The Forest team's ability to have today's results was inseparable from Viduka's efforts. The second-best striker in the Premier League is only worth five million pounds? Tang En couldn't accept it.
However, he didn't shut the door on the transfer. Instead, he gave Middlesbrough a chance to continue bargaining. He hoped that Middlesbrough could continue to raise their offer. If they were truly sincere about Viduka, then please bring out a sincere offer!
Back then, Nottingham Forest had spent six million pounds to buy Viduka. To sell him, no matter what … it couldn't be lower than that.
Tang En's standard was anything less than six million pounds.
After a round of bargaining, the two parties finally reached an agreement. Middlesbrough would pay a down payment of four million pounds, followed by two and a half million pounds in installments over 12 months. The total was 6.5 million pounds to buy the Australian center forward, Mark Viduka, whom they had long admired.
Next, Tang En loaned Chris Commons to Watford, who had just been promoted to the Premier League. He hoped that Commons could get enough game time there. In order to appease Commons, before deciding to loan him out, Tang En had specially given him a new four-year contract. His treatment was not high in the team. It was mainly to express the team's confidence and commitment to him — for the next four years, he would still be a member of Nottingham Forest.
The players who were sold were not only Matthew Upson and Mark Viduka. There was also the Forest team's second substitute goalkeeper, Barry Roche. He was sold to the English Football League Championship team, Leicester City, for 2.7 million pounds. With Akinfeev returning after a year, Nottingham Forest no longer had a place for the goalkeeper.
After clearing out the necessary superfluous personnel, Tang En achieved his goal of streamlining the team's members and increasing their combat effectiveness at the same time. The players who were left behind were definitely strong players. Compared to the English Premier League clubs, which had more than 30 registered players, Nottingham Forest's 23-man First Team roster could be considered a "small team." However, Tang En firmly believed that these 23 players were all good players. There were no freeloaders here. Those who remained were bound to be useful to the team.
He had just finished streamlining the team when George Wood's agent came knocking again.
"I'm not here to inform the club that George wants to transfer, even though I know the team has recently sold some players." Sitting on the sofa in Tang En's office, the agent, Woox, crossed his legs and said leisurely, "Now that Forest's momentum is so good, only a fool would consider a transfer."
This was the truth.
"However, as everyone knows, there are many powerhouse clubs in Europe that are optimistic about Wood. However, Wood has rejected all of them … Then … " Woox put down his legs and straightened his back. He said very seriously, "In order to repay George's loyalty, shouldn't the club show some appreciation?"
After hearing these words, Tang En replied without batting an eyelid, "Alright, how about we give him a box of milk as a bonus tomorrow?"
"Mr. Tony Twain!" Woox raised his voice.
"If you want a raise, just say it. There's no need to beat around the bush." Tang En scoffed at Woox's attitude.
Woox crossed his legs again and said, "It's good that you know. If you want to keep an important player in the team, then you need to improve his treatment and make him feel that his efforts and rewards are proportional. "
"I think George is very satisfied with his current income."
"That's what you think." Woox did not show any weakness. "I still think his current treatment is too low. Don't tell me you don't know what the standard of salary for a player selected for the national team is, Mr. Twain? "
Generally speaking, once a player was successfully selected for the national team, even if he did not play a single game, his value would rise under the manipulation of his agent. The remuneration for advertising and endorsements, the salary and bonuses of the team must all be increased. That was what Woox was doing now.
"The captain of the team that came second in the English Premier League last season and the runner-up in the UEFA Champions League, was selected for the England national team, participated in the World Cup in Germany, and is the most indispensable figure in the team. The only core that cannot be rotated … Is he only worth fifteen thousand pounds a week? That number would make people laugh their heads off, Mr. Twain. "Woox's words were sharp and did not lose out to Tang En's in the slightest. "When you spend a lot of money in the transfer market to buy one famous star player after another, haven't you thought about giving a new commitment to the most hardworking and important person in the team?"
Tang En stared at Woox and did not answer immediately.
He had to admit it in his heart — his words were impeccable. He could hardly find a reason to refute.
"But we've just renewed the contract …"
"That's not important. The value of a player is always constantly fluctuating. A year ago, who could have predicted that George would achieve what he has today? We clearly underestimated his ability, and therefore underestimated his value. Now, it's time to correct this mistake. "
Tang En sighed. Although this agent was detestable, at least he did not urge George to consider a transfer and leave. No matter what, Wood was currently the most important person in the Forest team. He was the future of the team and himself. Evan had also once said that if Wood was tempted by the outside world, then no matter the cost, they must keep him.
A weekly salary of fifteen thousand pounds was indeed a little too low for Wood …
"Very well, make your request, Vampire Earl Woox."
Hearing such mockery, Billy Woox was not annoyed. Instead, he smiled and stated his request, "A weekly salary of seventy-five thousand pounds."
Even though he was mentally prepared, Tang En still gasped when he heard the number.
"Are you surprised, Mr. Twain?" Woox tilted his head and looked at Tang En. "I think this number is very reasonable. Van Nistelrooy currently has the highest salary in the team at eighty-five thousand pounds. Shouldn't the captain of the team enjoy almost the same treatment? "
"Should I be thanking you for not asking for a weekly salary of one hundred and forty thousand pounds in one go?" Tang En sneered.
"I don't want to break the balance of your club's salaries," Woox replied with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern for the club's financial situation," Tang En said with a straight face. "But now, the negotiations of the players' contracts are no longer under my control." He lied. He suddenly thought of someone more suitable than himself to deal with the insatiable man in front of him. "Especially the contracts of important players."
"Hmm?"
"Regarding George Wood's request for a raise, you can go and talk to Mr. Allan Adams. He's currently in his office. I'm sure he'd be happy for you to go and talk to him. "
Looking at Tang En's half-smile, Woox knew that this was Tang En's strategy. But what could he do even if he knew? Tang En clearly did not want to talk to him about this issue, but he did not reject him either. He only changed to another person.
As a player's agent, as well as a successful person with some achievements in the business world, Woox had long heard of Nottingham Forest Football Club's marketing manager. He knew that he was not an easy person to deal with. It looked like Forest did not want to give up that sum of money so easily.
While Woox was in a daze, Tang En picked up the phone and called Allan Adams to tell him about the matter. Allan agreed to let him handle it.
"Mr. Billy Woox." Tang En put down the phone and said to Wood's agent, "I've already informed Mr. Allan Adams. He hopes that you can go to his office to talk to him about this."
What else could he do at this stage? Could he just turn around and leave and not talk about the raise? That would not do. Woox decided to meet Allan.
Of course, before he left, he did not forget to give Tang En a thumbs up. "Beautiful pass, Mr. Tang."
Tang En smiled and waved. "Thank you for the praise. Goodbye, Mr. Woox. "
※ ※ ※
After passing the ball to Allan Adams on Wood's request for a raise, Tang En did not care about it anymore. His mind was on leading the team's training and the last two matches of the warm-up matches.
The new season was about to begin.
The negotiations between Billy Woox and Allan Adams were initially progressing slowly. Allan did not seem to be in a hurry to reach an agreement with Woox. After all, Wood still had a few years left on his contract. The club's attitude was that a raise was definitely necessary, but not to this high. To put it bluntly, Forest was still not a powerhouse team that could spend money like water. They had to strictly control the players' salary structure.
However, Woox felt that the team was not sincere. If they were so harsh to their future captain, could they still be expected to be generous to the other players?
The two sides were in a deadlock until the media suddenly exposed the matter of George Wood's contract renewal negotiations with the club.
Tang En originally had no interest in such a dog-eat-dog topic. He was only concerned about whether George Wood's condition during training would be affected. But he soon discovered that he was wrong.
The media exposure was an act that Woox had instructed. He wanted to blow up the matter so that it would not only be Wood's problem, but something that the entire team would be concerned about. How did Nottingham Forest Club treat the players who played for them?
If Woox had his way, then an unstable situation would appear at the critical juncture of the new season. The team's morale and morale would be negatively affected. This was not what Tang En wanted to see.
This move was beyond Tang En and Allan's expectations. It was also rather beautiful.
The media was always good at stirring things up. Once they got involved in something, it would not be simple. This way, the club would have to agree to Woox's request.
Tang En also hoped to settle this matter before the start of the new season. He did not want these messy things to affect the team's preparations for the match.
Finally, the two sides came to an agreement. George Wood signed a new contract with the team. His weekly salary increased from 15,000 pounds to 70,000 pounds. It was 5,000 pounds less than the initial request. Woox did not mind. He was very satisfied with the result. Allan, on the other hand, remembered the fellow.
Other than the fact that they had finally reached an agreement on the new contract, what made Tang En very happy was that it was as if this matter had nothing to do with Wood. The kid was completely unaffected. If a reporter were to ask Wood about his opinion on the raise, he would very experienced and throw all the questions to his agent — "Please ask my agent." If he were asked about his feelings during training, he would say, "I feel good. Everything is normal." This obviously would not satisfy the media, but it would satisfy Tang En.
After following Woox for a year, he had indeed learned something. He knew how to deal with reporters. When he faced the reporters, it was obvious that he was not as embarrassed as before.
※ ※ ※
August 13th, at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The league champion, Chelsea, lost to the cup champion, Liverpool, 1: 2 in the FA Community Shield. The last warm-up match before the new Premier League season had ended.
In the post-match interview, Mourinho talked smugly about the loss in the match. "I think this is a good sign. The league title for the new season is still ours, Chelsea. Three consecutive league titles, and we also want to make a new breakthrough in the Champions League. "
This was the new season's declaration from the defending champion. Thanks to the developed live television broadcast, the managers of the other 19 teams in the Premier League all heard his heroic words.
No one would agree with those words. Mourinho had pushed his team to the cusp of the storm. He wanted to be the one who set the trend, but it depended on whether his opponents would give him the chance.
The next day, in Tang En's column, he announced his team's goal for the new season.
Mourinho said that his team wanted to make a new breakthrough in the Champions League. I'm sorry he's such a coward. Our goal for the new season is the UEFA Champions League title. I know what you want to say, but you're not wrong. Our goal for the new season is that damn Champions League title. What's mine is mine. We took it from me last season. It's time to spit it out. (To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log on to WWW. QIDIAN. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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