Beckham's willingness to negotiate personal terms with Nottingham Forest was strictly kept a secret by Tang En. No one knew about it except the Beckhams, his agent, the Forest trio, and Tang En's close friend, Dunn. Even Real Madrid did not know about this. They were still using insulting conditions to dawdle and negotiate a contract extension with his agent with "great difficulty."
On the one hand, it was not December 31st yet. Beckham's contract with Real Madrid was still in effect. Other clubs could not contact the player in private. Otherwise, if Real Madrid found out, the matter could be reported to FIFA, and it would not be clear.
On the other hand, Tang En did not want to give other competitors a chance to intervene. As far as he knew, there were three clubs in England that had clearly expressed interest in Beckham.
What advantage did Tang En have? If he had not become Beckham's friend by chance, he would not have had the upper hand in this competition, let alone a chance to persuade Beckham to change his mind.
Allan had already quietly left for Madrid to negotiate personal terms with Beckham's agent. Tang En and Dunn discussed how to arrange the team's lineup and tactical play with Beckham's arrival.
Beckham could play as a right midfielder or a defensive midfielder. At the same time, considering his advancing age and frequent injuries, Tang En was not worried about competing with the other two right midfielders for a position. The Forest team would certainly have to compete in multiple tournaments next season and did not have to worry about not having games to play. Besides, this was England, not Spain. No matter how powerful the club's top brass was, they could not dictate Tang En's lineup because of commercial interests. If he really put Beckham on the substitutes' bench or even in the stands because of his poor form, Allan would not dare to say a word other than to mutter a few words in private.
After Albertini's retirement, Beckham could still occasionally play as a defensive midfielder. Although his defensive ability was not great, his precise long passes could be regarded as the best in the world. When he encountered a strong opponent and played defensive counterattack, such a kick was simply amazing.
In addition, van Nistelrooy was good friends with Beckham when he was at Manchester United. There was no need to worry about the tacit understanding between the two of them. In addition, with a strong center forward like Bendtner, Beckham's precise flank passes and set pieces had more room to play.
At the same time, if Beckham played at the same time, there would be more changes in the free kicks.
Coupled with Beckham's consistent professionalism, Twain was not worried that the arrival of the "entertainment celebrity" would lead the group of boys astray. Beckham on the training ground would only set a better example for the players. There weren't many people in the world who were as famous as him and still insisted on training every day …
Perhaps Beckham's arrival would make Aaron Lennon a little worried, but Twain would personally appease Lennon when the time came. After all, no matter how good Beckham was, he would not be able to play for many more years. The future of the team still belonged to him and Ashley Young.
During Christmas, Tang En finally received a Christmas present from Allan Adams from Spain — a copy of the contract signed by both parties.
According to the contract, Beckham would transfer to Nottingham Forest for free after his contract with Real Madrid expired this season and sign a two-year contract. Nottingham Forest did not pay Beckham a high weekly salary, only 110,000 pounds, a far cry from the 500,000 pounds promised by the Los Angeles Galaxy. In exchange, the Forest team gave up all rights to use Beckham's portrait. At the same time, Beckham's agent also said that it was because Beckham and Tony Twain were good friends that he decided to voluntarily take a pay cut.
But Allan did not know that "friends said" was only one of the reasons. There was an even more important reason that Beckham did not tell anyone — just like how Twain admired Beckham, Beckham also admired Twain. He believed that Tony Twain, a manager who had repeatedly created miracles, would definitely be able to change the world's impression of him. He, a 31-year-old "old guy," could regain his youth under Twain. This was a gamble. He was betting that the last few years of his career could be considered suitable in exchange for renewed glory.
So, he gave up a high income for this.
Allan actually did not care about the income from the rights to Beckham's portrait. After all, compared to that, the Forest team itself should be the one making the most out of Beckham's willingness to come to the Forest team. When that time came, their international image would be raised, and their influence in the global market would increase exponentially. At the same time, in exchange for a "low weekly salary," they could finally balance the team's salary structure and not let Beckham stand out too much and cause dissatisfaction among some people. The team's internal unity would also be guaranteed. The American could not think of a better result than what he had now.
The details of the contract had yet to be revealed. Allan was trying hard to suppress the ecstasy in his heart, delaying such an important announcement until January 1st next year.
When that time came, for the media, it would be like one heavy bomb after another falling to the ground and exploding among them.
※ ※ ※
Twain took the fax and closed the door to his office, laughing loudly. Sorry, he could not pretend to be mature at this moment. He was really excited and ecstatic. Ever since he transmigrated to this world, whether intentionally or unintentionally, everything he did seemed to be changing the world more or less. But Beckham's transfer was the first time he had such a strong personal obsession and motivation to change something with a known ending.
Watching that familiar "future" being torn to pieces by himself, he had never felt as good as he did today. What Barcelona was invincible? What AC Milan was going to rebuild its dynasty? It was all nonsense! Now, what slowly unfolded in front of him was not a beautiful picture, but a blank piece of paper!
It was a flawless, snow-white piece of paper without even a drop of ink. He could write and paint to his heart's content, draw an image that he wanted to see, and write a future that belonged to him.
That feeling … was like holding the whole world in his hands. That's right, it was just like the Nottingham Forest team song: This world is in my hands!
Beckham was just a key to a new world. After Twain held the key and opened a door, he found that what appeared before him this time was truly a brand new world. It was different from the world he had transmigrated to. It was completely different!
Nothing could stop him from creating a new world. Tony Twain, who was originally a nobody, would become a nightmare that no one could forget even in their dreams in the future!
※ ※ ※
After Christmas, Allan Adams, who had returned from Spain, looked at the calendar almost every day. Day by day, he finally looked forward to January 1, 2007.
After the arrival of a new day and a new year, Beckham had only six months left on his contract with Real Madrid. According to the rules, any club could bypass Real Madrid at this time and directly negotiate a contract with Beckham. Then, they could take away Beckham, who had cost them 35 million euros, without paying Real Madrid a single cent of the transfer fee.
This kind of thing should have been avoided by Real Madrid at all costs, renewing the player's contract before the arrival of the new year. But because Beckham had lost his main position for half a season, coupled with the new chairman's desire to clean up the footprints of the Florentino era, Real Madrid was not in a hurry to renew Beckham's contract, so Twain took advantage of the loophole.
"Happy New Year, boss …" Pierce Brosnan, a reporter from the Nottingham Evening Post who did not need to go to work on the first day of the new year, was still confused when he received a call from his boss. He was directly awakened from his sleep by the phone call. At this time, his sleepy eyes glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table. It was 8: 45 in the morning.
"Don't give me that, Pierce!" The boss's hurried voice sounded over the phone. "Where are you now? At home? On the car on vacation? Or in the bathroom? "
"Uh, in bed …"
"You're actually still in bed!" The boss shouted loudly. "Hurry up and get up!"
"But boss, I don't have to go to work today …"
"Don't talk nonsense. You jump out of bed right now, then put on your clothes and go to the City Ground stadium! You only have 15 minutes! "
"What, what happened?" After hearing the boss's loud voice, Brosnan was no longer sleepy. He sat up in bed and then put on his pants while talking on the phone.
"You'll know when you get there!" The phone beeped and hung up. Before the line was disconnected, Brosnan vaguely heard the boss's voice. "I don't f * * king know what happened …"
Pierce Brosnan did not dare to dawdle. It must not be a small piece of news for the old man to be so excited.
With his tie in hand and a briefcase under his armpit, Brosnan rushed out of the house like a whirlwind without even time to comb his hair.
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When Pierce Brosnan rushed to Nottingham Forest's home stadium, the City Ground stadium, he found the parking lot was already full of cars from the media from all over the country. There were even media from other countries. He had followed and covered the Forest team for nearly four years, and it was still rare to see such a scene of the media gathering like today. Even when Nottingham Forest reached the Champions League final, there were not as many media outlets as there were today.
He did a quick count. In addition to a few well-known British media outlets, there were also Spanish, French, Italian, American … and even Japanese and Chinese media outlets here.
It looked like something big had really happened. With doubts, he walked to the press hall that was responsible for holding all kinds of press conferences.
When he was still a distance away, he could already see the busy crowd going in and out of the door. All kinds of camera equipment were being moved in, and the BBC and Sky TV's broadcast vans were parked at the door. Walking in, he was frightened by the crowded scene inside. In addition to the machines, there were reporters everywhere. The originally spacious room was packed so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through.
The doubts in Brosnan's heart grew. He struggled to squeeze in. His ears were filled with the chatter of his peers. He had intended to take this opportunity to find out some information in advance, but the people around him did not know and were only speculating. Instead, a few reporters who knew him came up to ask if he knew that Tony Twain had decided to hold a press conference at the last minute and what tricks he was up to. These people thought that Brosnan was the reporter who was closest to Twain in the media circle and might have some "inside information."
But Brosnan's answer disappointed them. "I was directly called out of bed by the boss. I don't know what happened …"
A group of disappointed people turned to walk away. A man with a BBC logo on his chest muttered, "Could it be that Beckham is here?"
Hearing this, Brosnan's heart skipped a beat. It's very possible …
He turned his gaze to the table that was already filled with microphones and recording pens. The main character had not arrived yet, so everything could only be speculation.
※ ※ ※
Just as the reporters fully exerted their imaginations, guessing what earth-shattering news Twain was going to announce, Twain was calling Beckham in the room upstairs.
As someone who had been through this before, he knew what situation Beckham would face at Real Madrid after this press conference. Some things could be changed because of him, such as Beckham's change of allegiance. But some things would never change even if the earth was destroyed, such as Fabio Capello's character.
"I can almost see the expression on Capello's face when he hears the news." Twain stood in front of the huge lattice window and looked at the busy reporters below. He said to the phone, "I think I should remind you before I officially announce this news, David. Your move will definitely anger that arrogant Italian. He will see this as a betrayal. "
"The contract has already been signed. Are you afraid of making it public and provoking anger?" On the other end of the phone, Beckham laughed. "I don't think there's any problem with what I've done. Even if Real Madrid is very angry, I can't do anything about it."
Tang En was silent for a moment. Then, he said, "Alright then. If Capello is really angered by this and wants to banish you … Although I know I'm in no position to say this, I still hope that you can continue to train. Train hard with the goal of returning to the main lineup. That guy has a stubborn temper, but he's not completely unreasonable. This might be an opportunity for you, David. If you still insist on training under such circumstances, he might change his view of you and give you a chance in the last half of the season. "
"What you said is what I intend to do, Tony. I won't give up fighting for my position at Real Madrid just because I'm going to the Forest team next season. I don't want … "Beckham was also silent for a moment." … I don't want to leave Bernabéu as a failure. But Tony … Why are you suddenly so concerned about the Real Madrid I'm playing for at this time? Does it matter if they're not your team? "
Twain smiled bitterly. He thought to himself, I'm not concerned about Real Madrid. It's just that you're doing it. Although he said so in his heart, he still found a dignified excuse. "Because I don't want my future players to be called 'failures who escaped Bernabéu.' You know, my players are all very competitive. "
Beckham laughed. After laughing, he said, "Thank you, Tony."
"Don't thank me, David. As a greeting gift, I'll give you a present when the time comes. "
"Oh? What is it? "
"It's a secret. It won't be a surprise if I say it."
"Haha, alright. I'll wait for your surprise, Tony."
After ending the call, Twain saw Allan Adams and Evan Doughty standing behind him.
"When did you guys arrive?"
"When you said 'my players are all very competitive.'" Evan smiled radiantly.
"Let's go. Those people down there must be anxious." Allan could not wait to announce the news.
"I think you're anxious." Twain's words made the three men laugh at the same time.
The last time the three of them attended the press conference at the same time was when Tony Twain was announced as the new Forest manager. This time, it was to announce David Beckham's arrival.
These two events could be regarded as milestones. The first time represented the soaring of Nottingham Forest's competitive side. Would this time be the beginning of the Nottingham Forest Club's overall economic growth?
※ ※ ※
When the three giants appeared at the press conference, the reporters all quietened down. Other than the sound of the machines working, there were no other sounds.
It was rare for the three of them to appear at a press conference at the same time. Some people's guesses had already been gradually confirmed.
"I don't know how many people here have guessed the correct answer, but it doesn't matter. I'm going to announce the answer now." Twain smiled as he looked at the dense crowd of reporters below the stage. This was definitely sensational news. Who would have thought of it before? Not a single person!
"I don't want to talk nonsense, because everyone is still waiting to go back and write their articles. So, I'll only say one thing. "Twain raised his right index finger.
Everyone held their breath when they saw this finger. They pricked up their ears and widened their eyes.
"We're very happy to have reached an agreement with the Real Madrid player, David Beckham. At the end of this season, he will join Nottingham Forest on a free transfer."
With a "boom," the venue, which was so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard, burst into a huge uproar.
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