The day after Tony Twain returned to Nottingham, a photo of him shaking hands with Beckham yesterday appeared in some Spanish and English media. The media speculated that Twain's trip to Spain was definitely not as simple as supporting Shania.
Everyone was clear about his relationship with Shania when The Sun blew up the story of him abducting a young girl to Spain — they were friends. There was nothing wrong with supporting a friend who had a fashion show.
The media also knew about Victoria and Shania's relationship, so it was normal for Victoria and her husband to support Shania's show.
But was it really a coincidence that Beckham and Tony Twain met? Who could guarantee that they did not talk about anything during this half a day?
Without either Twain or Beckham saying anything, the media came to their own conclusion — Twain must have gone to Madrid to lobby for Beckham to join the team. Everyone on Earth knew that Beckham was not happy at Real Madrid, but given his slightly older age of 31 and his wife, Victoria, who yearned for Hollywood, there were not many clubs that really decided to bring him in. At present, the Los Angeles Galaxy in the US sounded the most ridiculous, but it was also the closest to the truth.
If Beckham really went to the US, it would certainly break the hearts of many of his fans. Especially those fans who really liked to watch him play football and not his face.
Although Twain was not a fan of Beckham, he also felt it was a pity that he went to the US. If he did not get the "heartthrob" as he wished with such a great opportunity, it would be even more impossible in the future.
※ ※ ※
Beckham was already prepared to inform his agent to stop the contract renewal negotiations with Real Madrid. The club did not show enough sincerity in the negotiations and seemed happy to see Beckham voluntarily not renew the contract and leave here. Since that was the case, Beckham would grant them their wish.
On the surface, Real Madrid still said they were still discussing the contract renewal with Beckham's agent. In fact, both parties already knew what kind of situation they were in.
Victoria showed her the album of Los Angeles scenery to her husband. She planned to find a good place to buy a house. Tom Cruise enthusiastically introduced her to the mansion next to their home.
Victoria was very satisfied with the environment there.
However, all of this still required Beckham's approval.
Beckham was a little distracted by the scenery around his future new home. Ever since Twain talked to him, he had been like this, always preoccupied.
How could Victoria not know what Beckham was thinking?
Twain had given her husband a new choice, and her husband was currently vexed over it.
Victoria put down the album and sat opposite Beckham.
She looked at her husband. "David."
"Very good, I think it's very good." Beckham's answer was completely out of place.
"I didn't ask you any questions." Victoria sighed.
"Ah …" Beckham smiled apologetically.
"Well, now I ask you. David, would you like to accompany me to America? "Victoria asked.
"Of course, Victoria," Beckham replied without hesitation.
"You are lying." Unexpectedly, Victoria didn't appreciate it, but she exposed Beckham's lie with a blank expression. "If you really wanted to, why would you be absent-minded here?"
When Victoria said what was on Beckham's mind, he was speechless.
"You want to go back to England, right?"
After a moment of silence, Beckham shook his head. "I don't know." His eyes glanced at another album. This was the Los Angeles Galaxy team magazine. In order to understand the team better, the agent brought him. But he didn't look at it much at the time. Anyway, if he really went to America, how much time would he have to play football? Choosing the Los Angeles Galaxy for negotiations was not because of how brilliant the team was or how strong the lineup was. It was purely because it was a team in Los Angeles, and Hollywood was also there.
When Victoria first received the team magazine, she said to Beckham, "… This team's jersey really looks like Real Madrid's jersey."
Now, he saw the white jersey again. They were all sponsored by the same sporting goods manufacturer, so there was nothing strange about the style being the same.
If the white color was like Real Madrid, then the red color …
Like Manchester United.
Red Manchester United. Red Nottingham Forest.
Beckham looked up. "I'm sorry, Victoria. I know I owe you a lot … You sacrificed your career for my career. I'm willing to go to America because I think it can make up for your sacrifices. Actually, I'm not interested in going to America to play football. "He emphasized the word" play football. "
Victoria didn't look surprised at all. She just shrugged. "I knew it."
"This might be a little stubborn and unfair to you. But I … "Beckham fell silent at this point.
Victoria also didn't speak. She picked up the album of Los Angeles again and looked at it.
At this time, the room fell into a brief but awkward silence. Fortunately, Victoria's cell phone rang at this time.
"Hello, Simon?"
Victoria stood up and walked to the balcony. Beckham knew it was Victoria's agent calling. He was not in the mood to think about why the agent was calling Victoria at this time. He was still in a constant battle in his heart.
Should he accompany his wife to America, or should he change his mind?
Tang En's words were still in his ears: Your hundred national team games, your dream of the UEFA European Championship … Have you all forgotten?
How could he forget? He was substituted in the last game of the World Cup, and he cried so sadly on the sidelines. It had only been half a year. How could he forget? What was he crying for at that time?
He cried that his youth was long gone, but his dream was still a dream. He had won all the club honors he could, but the national team honors were still a blank slate.
He cried that he could no longer participate in the next World Cup and could only put all his efforts into the 2008 UEFA European Championship.
Who would have thought so many things would happen in this half a season? He was given the cold shoulder at Real Madrid. Not only did he lose his main position at the club, but he also lost his place on the national team squad list.
Not to mention the UEFA European Championship, even a small wish to play in a hundred international A-level games for the national team had become a luxury.
If he really went to the United States, would McClaren, who did not like him, still recruit him to the national team? It was simply unimaginable.
From then on, the football world would lose David Beckham. McClaren could also prove to the world how wise it was for him to give up recruiting Beckham to the national team — to let the national team adapt to playing without David Beckham in advance.
Would you be willing? David? Although you said in front of the media that you respected McClaren's choice and were ready to play for the national team at any time. But would you be willing to put up with such indifferent treatment from a national team manager?
He could not see your efforts in the national team. The failure of the World Cup needed one person to be responsible. Eriksson was gone, but it was not enough. In order to show that his New England was completely different from the previous failed England, it was necessary to exile the players favored by the former manager.
So, as the former captain of the team, David Beckham was exiled. If all went well, this exile was quite far away — across the Atlantic Ocean and the American continent to Los Angeles.
Victoria came back after the phone call. She looked in good spirits, and a faint smile floated on the surface.
"Looks like there's good news?" Beckham asked.
Victoria nodded. "Simon called and asked if I was interested in reorganizing the Spice Girls group."
Beckham raised his eyebrows. He did not expect this news.
"I think it's very interesting. The sisters from back then have now all had children. To perform on stage again in this identity … must be very exciting." Victoria said with a beaming face.
"You agreed?"
Victoria nodded. "Yes."
"That's a good thing." Beckham's eyebrows also relaxed. "I also hope you can continue your career." Then he seemed to make a big decision and looked up at his wife standing in front of him again.
"Victoria, I … I don't want to give up football so early." He finally said what was on his mind. Victoria did not respond. Instead, she looked at Beckham and waited for him to finish. "This …" He pointed to the spacious and bright room, with high-end furniture and appliances. It was as magnificent as a palace. "All of this was given to me by football. I don't want others to think I'm a 'player' who makes money with my face. I want to prove myself again, and prove to those who look down on me … David Beckham does not sell jerseys. "
Victoria put down her cell phone and waved her arm as if she wanted to say something, but finally gave up the idea. She turned her back to her husband, folded her arms, and looked out the window at the sunny sky.
※ ※ ※
Under the same clear sky, Wilford, Nottingham in the middle of England.
"Tony, tell us about your time in Madrid." In the office of the club chairman, Evan Doughty, the club's big three gathered together.
Although the three of them already knew the outcome, Evan was still interested in what Beckham had to say specifically.
Allan sat aside in a somewhat low mood.
Twain looked at the two men and then shook his head. "There's nothing to say. I tried my best to make him change his mind. But he was prepared and used his family as a shield. What else could I have said? Tell him to 'leave his wife alone'? That would have made him fall out on the first day. I could only beat around the bush, but he was clearly determined … No matter what I said, it was of no use to him. "
"You didn't convince Victoria?" Allan, who was next to him, interrupted.
Twain glanced at him, knowing that he must be feeling indignant. "I couldn't convince that woman, and neither could Shania. That woman is a person who knows why she is doing it and how she should do it no matter what she does. She has independent ideas. If an outsider could easily convince her … she wouldn't be Victoria Beckham. What's more, you think the only person who can make Beckham change his mind is Victoria. I think the opposite of you, Allan. I think the only person who can convince Victoria is Beckham. "
Evan coughed. "It's useless to say all this now. Anyway, Beckham is just outside the plan … If he doesn't belong to us, then he doesn't belong to us … Halfway through this season, our results are not very good compared to last season. But I believe in you, Tony. At the end of this season, what present do you plan to give us? "
Twain raised a finger and was about to speak when the phone in his pocket rang.
He shrugged apologetically at the two and turned to answer the call.
A few minutes later, he walked back again with a smile on his face.
"Just now, Evan, you asked me what present I would give you. I can give it to you now. "He waved the phone in his hand. "Guess who called me just now?" Then, without waiting for the two to answer, he eagerly announced the answer himself, "David Beckham."
Allan's posture on the sofa did not change, but Evan raised his eyebrows.
"He is very interested in returning to England to play football, but Manchester United has no interest in his return. Given that Nottingham Forest is the most sincere club in England, his agent will be very happy to discuss the specific conditions with us. If he's satisfied, he'll be ours after half a season! "
At the end of his speech, Twain could not keep calm. The development of this matter was really full of twists and turns. At the end of the tunnel, there was a glimmer of hope.
This time, Allan could not continue to pretend to be deep. He abruptly stood up from his seat.
Twain smiled at him. "In terms of competition, I think the conditions I set out can satisfy him. What's next is your problem, Allan. How high a weekly salary are you going to offer to your 'money-making machine'? "
This time, it was Allan's turn to take the test.
Van Nistelrooy was currently the highest-paid player in the team at 85,000. At the same time, due to Twain's adjustments to the team's internal structure, the players who were valued by Twain had re-signed a new contract with the club, and their salaries had been increased to varying degrees. This was a reflection of the good financial situation of the Forest team last season. But clearly, for Beckham, 85,000 was not enough.
These topics were not something for Twain to worry about. He kicked the ball to Allan and found an excuse to leave the chairman's office.
What he should be thinking about now was what adjustments he would make to his lineup and tactics if Beckham really came to the Forest team.
※ ※ ※
Beckham succeeded in convincing his wife, but it was not over yet. He still needed to convince the sponsors. The American side was almost about to start publicizing the agreement with Beckham when they suddenly received a notice from Beckham's agent — things had changed, and Beckham preferred to stay in Europe to develop his football career.
Beckham's transfer to the Los Angeles Galaxy was not simply a matter between the club and the player. It also involved Major League Soccer and Adidas's strategy in the United States.
The offer that the Americans made to Beckham was almost impossible to refuse — a weekly salary of 500,000 pounds! The contract was for five years, during which he could reap an income of 128 million pounds. The figure was frightening. But in fact, no matter how rich the Los Angeles Galaxy was, it was somewhat difficult for them to fork out the money alone. Therefore, Adidas needed to be responsible for paying part of the annual salary to balance the club's income.
Therefore, Beckham's move to the United States was a very complicated matter. Now, if Beckham wanted to stay in Europe, he also needed to settle the interference from all sides. He needed to convince Adidas to let him play for a Nike-sponsored team. Although it was said that it was the player's individual freedom to go to any club, in fact, every decision behind it often hid the wishes of the sponsors.
If Beckham had to go to Nottingham Forest, then he might — no, he had to — sacrifice part of his financial interests in exchange for this freedom of choice.
As for Major League Soccer, that was easy to handle. Because the two sides had not signed any contract or agreement, Beckham had the right to change his mind. Perhaps it would leave a bad impression on the Americans, but it was reasonable. The Americans could not use a "breach of contract" to pressure Beckham. The two sides had no agreement at all.
The Americans and Adidas could continue to raise the offer to tempt Beckham. But this time, David Beckham seemed to be angered by the outside world's view of him. He was determined to prove to the world that he had not fallen to the point of going to the football desert to make a fortune.
He could not play as the main force in Real Madrid and was expelled from the national team list. The Spanish media ridiculed him all day as Real Madrid's worst player deal, and the tabloids made plans for his retirement all day long. Those who hated him gloated and announced that David Beckham was not a qualified player to begin with, and that he might have a little success if he went to Hollywood to act in a movie. Those who liked him began to sigh, no longer able to see him on the field with the full moon scimitar. Almost no one had the slightest confidence in him.
Except for that person.
To America! To America! To America!
Whether they hated him or liked him, everyone felt that he was definitely going to the United States. A salary of 500,000 pounds a week was waving at him, and Hollywood celebrities were lining up to invite him to dinner … Aren't you a man who likes to make money and chase fame and fortune? Now that these are all in front of you, what reason do you have to refuse, David Beckham?
Except for that person.
"… Before you announce your retirement, you are first and foremost a football player, and then … anything else."
He was not the first person to say this to him. Whether it was Ferguson or Capello, they had all said the same thing to him. But when these two men said this, their tone inevitably carried a domineering aura, which he did not like. Only Tony Twain was sincere when he said this. He was not reprimanding Beckham as a coach, but as a friend. He advised him as an equal and considered from his point of view.
How many of those people who said, "We are interested in David's football level, not his ability to make money" were sincere? Would Florentino (the former Real Madrid club president) be sincere? What a joke.
Except for that person.
If it were not for him, Beckham would have left Spain as a failure. After coming to Real Madrid, the club had not won a major championship trophy. The media said he was the club's cancer, and it seemed justified. If it had not been for him, it would have become an ironclad fact after he left. Everyone who mentioned David Beckham's transfer to Real Madrid would shake their heads and say that it was a failure, whether it was for Real Madrid or Beckham himself.
The appearance of that person made him determined to prove himself again. Even if he had to leave the city, he did not want to be eagerly kicked out with the image of a failure. Not only did he have to train hard to fight to get back to his main position, but he also had to perform better and become the team's leader. He wanted Capello and Calderón to regret not renewing their contract until 2009. He wanted to help the team fight for the league championship trophy that seemed very remote. He also wanted to make everyone, whether they hated him or liked him, to say,
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