"America!" Tang En exclaimed, startling Beckham on the other end of the line. Even though planes were taking off and landing at the airport, he had no choice but to move the phone away from his ear.
"What's the matter, Tony?"
Tang En, who realized that he had lost his composure, hurriedly coughed. "I'm just surprised. Weren't you in Spain? Why did you suddenly go to America?"
"I was injured recently and couldn't play in the competition. I came to the US to discuss a contract," Beckham explained.
Tang En's heart was in his throat again.
"Transfer contract?" He asked jokingly.
Beckham's laughter came from the other side. "How is that possible … It's just an ordinary business contract."
Tang En breathed a sigh of relief.
"By the way, why are you looking for me, Tony?" Beckham asked.
"Uh … I was going to say Merry Christmas …"
"It's only the tenth day." Beckham smiled happily.
"I … I'm asking in advance. I know you're busy. Then I won't bother you anymore … Have a good time in America. "
"Thank you, Tony. I wish you a Merry Christmas in advance."
After hanging up the phone, Beckham's brows furrowed. Victoria looked back at him. "What's wrong, David?"
"Tony, Tony Twain's on the phone."
"Shania's friend?" Victoria remembered.
Beckham nodded.
"Why did he look for you?"
Beckham smiled. "What else could it be? He wants me to play in England. "
"Play for Nottingham Forest?"
"Yes."
As the two spoke, they had already walked out of the airport passageway. The fans and reporters waiting outside saw the Beckhams finally appear and were in an uproar.
Beckham stopped talking to his wife and raised his hand to wave at the people waiting there. His face was as bright as the California sun. Another wave of female screams rang out.
"So what do you think, David?"
Beckham didn't seem to hear his wife's question. He just continued to put on a show in front of the camera and the public.
※ ※ ※
The next day, Tang En paid attention to the news regarding Beckham's trip to the United States. The newspapers, television, and the internet all mentioned that Beckham had taken advantage of his recovery time to make a trip to the United States. However, he had only attended a press conference in New York to promote his own brand.
There was no mention of him contacting the Los Angeles Galaxy or Major League Soccer.
Only then did Tang En relax. It seemed like it was really just an ordinary business meeting.
The side effect of the news was that Beckham further fell out of favor with Capello. The Italian manager believed that his act of going out to participate in commercial activities without permission lacked the professional ethics that a professional player should have. It was a blatant challenge to his authority. Beckham sat on the cold bench even more firmly …
On the same day, Allan Adams came looking for Tang En excitedly.
"Tony, I heard that you and Beckham are friends?" Allan shouted loudly as soon as he stepped into the manager's office.
Twain was watching the news online when he heard Allan's voice. He closed the webpage and looked up at him. "That's right. They even had dinner together."
"That's easy … You know that Beckham has been unhappy at Real Madrid recently, right?"
Twain guessed Allan's intentions and shook his head. "It's no use, Allan. I asked him at the beginning of the season if he wanted to return to England to play football, but he rejected me without hesitation. "
Allan did not give up at all. "That was at the beginning of the season. At that time, Beckham must have been full of longing and fantasizing about his new manager. It's different now … Didn't you see the news just now? Capello is very unhappy with Beckham's private trip to the United States this time. "
"Beckham said he got permission from the club's top brass."
Allan waved his hands. "Who can say for sure about this? But this is not something we need to care about. Now the whole world knows that he is unhappy at Real Madrid. Many clubs are fighting to get him to join them … You know, after this Christmas, he will be a free agent. It won't cost a penny to transfer him. "Allan seemed to have seen the golden future.
"Beckham … Do you know what he means in the business market, Tony?" His tone was a little high, and his emotions were a little agitated.
Twain nodded. "Of course I know."
"That's good, that's good … What advantages does our Forest team have compared to other teams?" Allan pointed to Twain. "You're his friend, so this matter is easy to handle. You can persuade him to choose to join Nottingham Forest, not as the Nottingham Forest manager, but as his friend. It's like a heart-to-heart talk. When he is at a loss about the future, when he is in pain about the current situation, you can call him and have a heart-to-heart talk with him in the cold winter night … "
Allan spoke enthusiastically, completely ignoring Twain at the side. He gesticulated as he described the illusion in his mind.
Twain leaned back in his chair and tilted his head to watch Allan's performance.
This man was a little unsettled by the huge commercial value of Beckham …
When Allan finally finished, Twain rested his chin on his hand and asked, "Allan, I admit that your idea is great, but you're a little too wishful thinking. Do you know how deep David's feelings for Manchester United are? "
Hearing Twain's question, Allan froze for a moment. He had indeed not considered things at the football level. The starting point of what he had just said was how many jerseys Beckham could help the Forest team sell if he came to the Forest team, how much international influence he could help the Forest team expand, and how many new big-name sponsors he could pull in for the Forest team …
Seeing Allan's uncertain expression, Twain hurriedly smiled and waved his hand. "I don't mean to blame you, Allan. Your idea is good, even though it's only considered from the business side. But isn't that your job? Matters related to football are within the scope of my consideration. But I think we need to put everyone's opinions together. You just said your idea. Do you want to hear mine? "
Allan made a gesture of invitation.
So, Twain told Allan about the conversation he had with Beckham the last time they had a meal together.
Hearing this, Allan froze for a moment. "He really said that?"
Twain nodded.
Allan did not speak anymore. He sat on the sofa and scratched his head. Twain could fully understand Allan's feelings at the moment.
For a person who had thought of every possible way to hollow out the huge mountain of gold, to suddenly tell him that the mountain of gold was just an illusion that could be seen but not dug out … What kind of feeling was that? It would not be too much to say that there were ten thousand ants crawling in his heart, right?
I don't want to be enemies with Manchester United, so I won't go back to England.
The words Beckham had said to him back then rang in Twain's ears. He turned his gaze to the blue sky outside the window.
Do you still think that way, David?
As Twain looked at the blue sky outside the window in a daze, Allan Adams stood up behind him.
"Even though he said that … I still think we should work hard."
Twain turned back to look at Allan with some surprise.
"It's just that I think it's better to convince his wife than to convince David Beckham himself," Allan continued. "Victoria is the only one who can influence him."
"But I can't convince Victoria either …" Twain spread his hands, expressing his helplessness.
"No, you can," Allan said resolutely. "Have you forgotten how you and Beckham met?"
A thought suddenly flashed through Twain's mind.
Shania and Victoria were friends, so he became friends with Beckham …
"Alright, I'll try. But I won't promise anything. "Twain also wanted to talk to Beckham again. Allan did not need to say much about the commercial value. He also knew how rich it was. Even from a competitive point of view, Beckham was a player he very much hoped to get.
His outstanding passing ability would not be a problem whether he played as a side midfielder or a defensive midfielder. His energetic running and professional attitude could also set a good example for the younger players in the team. He was a little old, but it was good that he was old. After playing for a few years, he could be brought in to take over and smoothly transition to a new era … How good would that be?
※ ※ ※
"… David Beckham is in big trouble. But is there any less trouble for him in Spain? Ever since he transferred to Real Madrid, he's been entangled with all kinds of troubles, on the pitch, off the pitch, and at home … Now, his days in this century-old powerhouse club are finally coming to an end. "
The huge LCD television was broadcasting the latest sports news. Capello expressed his strong dissatisfaction with Beckham's private trip to America when answering questions from the reporters at the team's regular press conference.
"… He's a professional player. He should know what it means to abandon the team and go to a place like that …"
Beckham appeared in the encirclement of reporters. "… I've received permission from the club's top management …" With that, he got into the car and drove away.
"Beep —" The screen went black. The television was switched off.
"Don't look at this." Beckham stood behind Victoria in his pajamas, holding the television remote control in his hand.
Victoria turned her head and smiled at him. "It's time to think about the future, David. America is a good place. To be exact, it's Los Angeles. "
Beckham frowned and did not speak. Recently, the smile on his face had decreased a lot. Unless he was in front of the public or the media, he had this expression most of the time.
"I'm tired of Real Madrid's attitude," Victoria continued. "It's obvious that they don't want to renew your contract. Everyone here sees you as trouble. Leaving is the best way. "
Beckham came around and sat down. "Of course … leaving is the best way. But where to go after leaving? "
"Have you forgotten the development plan I made for you, David?"
Beckham shook his head gently.
"Los Angeles is very good. People there want you to go. You'll get better treatment than here, and then we can …"
Victoria did not finish her sentence. Beckham interrupted her, "But, it's a football desert."
"David —" Victoria dragged out the word. "You should think about your life after retirement. You're not young anymore."
"Thirty-one years old?" Beckham smiled as he looked at his wife.
He had to admit that his wife's development plan for him was very good. Go to Los Angeles to play football, symbolically play for a few years, and then naturally develop into the entertainment industry. Even if he retired from football, he could still continue his career in other areas. It was not that there were no players who went to act in movies after retirement. There was one in England — Vinnie Jones, who played at Wimbledon and later retired at Queen's Park Rangers. Then he went to Hollywood to develop and was now regarded as a stable second-tier movie star.
But to be honest, Beckham did not feel that he had the talent for acting. When the film crew of the movie "One Goal to Fame" came to Real Madrid to shoot, they needed to be actors. He felt very awkward. It was a completely different world compared to the feeling on the field …
His wife was very keen on these things.
Sometimes, he felt that he owed Victoria too much … In order to take care of him, who played in Madrid, Spain, she sacrificed her career in England and followed him to Madrid, which was outside the fashion and entertainment circle.
"Look at your feet." Victoria pointed to Beckham's legs. "They are full of injuries. I don't want to push your wheelchair out for walks with you in the future, David."
From these words, he felt his wife's concern for him. Beckham reached out and hugged his wife's shoulder. "It's not that scary. There are a lot of retired players, but there are not many who use wheelchairs. "
The atmosphere was developing in the direction of a husband and wife's beautiful night life. At this time, the phone on the table rang.
Beckham was also helpless about the phone ringing that ruined the atmosphere. He smiled at his wife and let go of Victoria's hand. Then, he stood up and walked over to answer the phone.
"Hello … Tony?"
It was Tony's call.
"Hello, David."
"Are you wishing me an early Merry Christmas again?" Beckham asked with a smile.
"Ah, not this time. Shania will go to Madrid for a fashion show in a few days. She can't spend this Christmas in England, so I want to go over and accompany her for a day. And then … I'll treat you and Victoria to a meal. You treated me in London last time, so I should return the favor this time. "
Of course, Beckham knew that returning the favor was just an excuse. It looked like this Forest manager had a soft spot for him. Since the other party had issued such a warm invitation, there was nothing for him to refuse.
"Alright, I'll agree. Set a time, and I'll see you then. "
After hanging up, Victoria was leaning against the back of the sofa and looking at him. "Is it as simple as having a meal together?"
Beckham smiled. "Obviously not."
"Hey, David. Do you want to go back to England? "Victoria suddenly asked.
Just like that time at the airport, Beckham froze for a moment. But this time, he could no longer use waving to his fans and smiling to avoid answering.
Victoria looked at him, waiting for his answer.
Beckham was silent for a moment. He could only shake his head. "I don't know."
Back then, he had firmly shook his head and denied that he would not return to England. But now, it had become "I don't know."
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