Twain's front foot had just arrived in Nottingham when Real Madrid's second offer came.
Sixty-five million euros!
For Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid was only willing to offer 75 million euros at most. At the beginning, the Nottingham media mocked Real Madrid for treating Ribéry as Ronaldo's substitute. They were so disrespectful to the Forest players that they did not expect Ribéry to be treated well when he went. Now, Real Madrid had used practical actions to show that they were not looking for Cristiano Ronaldo's substitute, but another star player of the same level as Ronaldo.
If Twain nodded, it would be the largest transfer since he took office. But could he nod his head?
He could not.
Sixty-five million euros was very attractive. But Twain was more stubborn than Real Madrid had imagined. He thought Real Madrid was flaunting their wealth and telling Twain that there was no one in the world that Real Madrid could not buy!
So, Twain would think he was insulted and threatened and resolutely refuse!
There was no one you could not buy? Well, well, this time I'll let you see the first person!
Allan flew to China to sign some letters of intent for cooperation with the relevant agencies. Now that Twain had the final say on the transfer of players in the club, he could confidently reject Real Madrid's offer.
"Take out 150 million euros, and I'll let Ribéry go. Also, we don't accept payment in installments or cash in on the players. "
Twain's words were loud and clear, so Ribéry had a new nickname — "Mr. 150 million euros."
Real Madrid certainly would not pay so much money, unless the IQ of their top brass collectively regressed to when they were just born.
But Real Madrid also had their own way. They went to contact Ribéry's agent, Heiderscheid, hoping that he would put pressure on Nottingham Forest internally.
※ ※ ※
The team had already resumed training. All the players who were not involved in the Olympic Games and the UEFA European Championship had returned to the team. Regardless of whether they would remain in the team for the next month or so, they were still part of Tony Twain's team.
Because of the lack of players, the training plan Dunn arranged for the team focused on physical recovery and did not carry out tactical training. During this time, the club's focus was still on the transfer market.
Ribéry became the most high-profile transfer for Nottingham Forest in the summer, and everyone was paying attention to the latest developments. Some people did not want Ribéry to leave. Some people also felt that if he could bring a lot of money to the club by leaving, then he could still be allowed to leave. There were also people who angrily accused Ribéry of being too greedy. The news of a 150,000 weekly salary had long been exposed by the media. There were also people who felt that Nottingham Forest should not have a traitor like Ribéry even if he begged to stay.
Rumors were flying everywhere outside, but Ribéry, who was at the center of the whirlpool of rumors, remained silent. He did not accept any interviews, did not say a word, and continued his vacation in Mallorca, waiting for the arrival of the time to return to the team.
After half a day of training, Tang En received a call from Bruno Heiderscheid in his office. He smiled when he saw the name.
"Hello, Mr. Heydershade. May I ask why you're calling me at this hour? "He deliberately made his voice sound cheerful.
"Mr. Tony Twain. I think we should sit down and have a good talk … "Heiderscheid's voice was not so calm, even losing the calmness of their last meeting.
"Talk about what? A hundred and fifty thousand pounds a week? Oh, I'm sorry, we're a small club. We really can't come up with conditions that will satisfy you. However, although we're small, we're always developing. Well, let's talk again when Ribéry's contract expires in six months. Maybe the club can meet your requirement of a 150,000 weekly salary at that time. " Tang En's tone was eccentric. He wanted to deliberately provoke Heiderscheid and return double the humiliation he had suffered before.
Tang En had planned to go home. But now it was all right. He sat down in his chair and put his feet up on the desk. He adjusted his state of mind to have fun and was ready to waste Heiderscheid's precious time.
"Mr. Twain, this is not the mentality you should have in a negotiation …"
"Ha!" Tang En could not help but laugh. "This sounds familiar. You plagiarized my quotations. Should I sue you for infringement? "
Heiderscheid did not know whether to laugh or cry when he heard this. He had thoroughly experienced the level of this man's sharp tongue. But he was here to facilitate Ribéry's transfer, not to quarrel with Tang En, so he suppressed his anger and tried to make his voice sound calm.
"Of course I want Ribéry to stay in the Forest team, but shouldn't the Forest team show something? So far, I haven't seen Nottingham Forest take any practical action to show my players and the outside world that you want to keep Franck Ribéry. "
"How do you know about our affairs? You can rest assured that a new contract will soon be faxed to you and Ribéry … Of course, it's certainly not a 150,000 weekly salary. We really can't come up with the money, Mr. Heiderscheid … Nottingham Forest is so poor that I, the manager, almost have to pay for players out of my own pocket. " Tang En made himself sound pitiful, but Heiderscheid was unmoved. Only a fool would believe his words.
"But your conditions won't satisfy my players at all …"
"It won't satisfy you, Mr. Greedy?" Tang En sneered. "To be honest, Franck told me he doesn't want to leave Nottingham Forest, and I think he sincerely thinks so. But you're lying when you tell me you don't want Franck to leave Nottingham Forest. I know very well what an agent does, and I know better than your mother what you do as an agent! "
Then, without waiting for Heiderscheid to refute, Tang En spewed out, "You have to take ten percent of Ribéry's weekly salary. You have to take a cut of the advertising endorsements he signs and the signing fee for each renewal of a new contract. If you can't get a high salary at Nottingham Forest, your income will be reduced. If you can't transfer, you won't have a signing fee. Only by going to a powerhouse club like Real Madrid can Ribéry get more exposure and make a name for himself. A better commercial contract and a higher weekly salary mean more commission for you. You treat Ribéry as a cash cow, but you don't consider his competitive life at all! I'm afraid that one day when you find that Ribéry can no longer bring you a higher income, you'll leave to find the next fool, right? Mr. Bruno Heiderscheid Ten Percent? "
"I …"
"Shut up! I don't want him to leave, and I can't meet a higher salary requirement. But I know better than a fool like you what is the most important and fundamental thing for a professional footballer! Without honor, only an idiot will give you a weekly salary of one hundred and fifty thousand. Ribéry will never get a higher honor than here after leaving Nottingham Forest. In this circle, there are plenty of examples of people who quickly become famous and then move to a powerhouse club and then quickly lose themselves. In the end, their value did not rise but fell, and their form declined without anyone asking for a price. If you're really thinking about Franck like you said, you'll keep him away from Real Madrid! It's not a paradise for him at all. It's a breeding ground for parasites like you! "
"Mr. Twain, I think …"
"What do you think? I'm telling you, my attitude is the attitude of the Nottingham Forest Football Club. Ribéry is not for sale. Even if Real Madrid is a fool and offers one hundred and fifty million euros, I won't sell! His contract still has three years to go. If you want him to go, after two and a half years, just refuse to negotiate a new contract with us! "
"Then you won't get a single euro at that time …"
"I'm willing!" Twain's almost rascally tone made Heiderscheid completely speechless.
"Mr. Twain, I understand you're biased against me personally. But business is business. We're now negotiating for Ribéry's future. That's not the attitude a businessman should have … "
"I'm the f * * king manager of the team. Which idiot told you I'm a businessman?" Twain had never seen a person as shameless and shameless as Heiderscheid. Compared to him, Billy Woox was a model of good behavior.
"Besides, I know why you have the cheek to call me again. It must be the idiot chairman of Real Madrid who asked you to put pressure on us, right? I know more about Real Madrid than you do. Just tell them that I, Tony Twain, am not to be trifled with. If they want to buy my players, there's no way! In addition, I also want to tell you that Ribéry's contract still has three years to go. Don't talk about anything before it expires! "
Hanging up the phone, Twain laughed. He finally vented the anger in his chest. He believed that Heiderscheid must be trembling on the other end of the phone.
※ ※ ※
In fact, the core of Ribéry's transfer was whether Ribéry was willing to come out and make a statement in person and put pressure on the club as a player, so that Real Madrid's follow-up steps could be carried out.
Just like Ronaldo recently came out publicly to say that he wanted to go to Real Madrid and said that he felt like a slave. Although this would cause him a lot of trouble, it would also help with his transfer. When the player and the club had a showdown, it proved that his heart was no longer with the team. Then Real Madrid could launch an offensive against this point. The opposing club would also be under pressure from various parties and choose to agree to the player's transfer.
There were exceptions to everything. Real Madrid's "universal formula" did not mean that it would work against any opponent at any time. This time, they ran into Ferguson, who was as solid as a block of iron. The old man was furious when he heard Ronaldo's words. He claimed that he would rather put Ronaldo on the bench than sell him to the shameless Real Madrid.
This sentence also caused a lot of trouble for Ferguson, but he used this way to convey a clear message to Real Madrid — my attitude is very tough, and Manchester United's attitude is also very tough. Ronaldo is determined not to be sold to you!
In this way, Real Madrid had no moves. Unless they accepted Manchester United's offer and raised their offer to the point where Manchester United was satisfied, it was impossible to negotiate a personal contract with Ronaldo. Otherwise, no matter how Ronaldo made a fuss, they had to first go through the Manchester United Football Club, which was actually Ferguson.
In the case of Ribéry, Real Madrid was even worse. They did not even wait for Ribéry to take the initiative to come forward and make his stance clear.
Real Madrid hoped that Heiderscheid would put pressure on Ribéry, and then Ribéry would put pressure on Twain, such as a direct showdown — "I want to go to Real Madrid, I don't want to be at Nottingham Forest."
But …
※ ※ ※
"Franck!" Heiderscheid's voice sounded a little flustered over the phone. It was no longer accurate to say that he was flustered and exasperated. "I need you to come out and make your stance clear."
"What stance?" Ribéry sat on a white beach chair, sunbathing with sunglasses on. The picturesque seaside really made him relax. Sometimes he did forget the noisy transfer rumors outside and enjoyed his time with peace of mind.
His wife, Wasiba Belhami, returned to her hometown in Algeria with their children. The reason why he did not take the whole family on this vacation was that Ribéry considered it was not a real vacation at all, but to avoid the limelight. He didn't want to involve his beautiful wife and adorable children in this. But this rare opportunity allowed him to unscrupulously admire the hot and open Spanish beauties.
"What stance do you think? Now the whole world is waiting for you to come forward and say a word. Then all that mess will disappear. You and I can have a happy summer! "
"I saw the new contract that the boss faxed me, Bruno." Ribéry changed the subject.
"Huh?"
"I don't think a weekly salary of one hundred and twenty thousand is low." Ribéry continued to admire the naked body swaying in front of him.
"Hey …"
"Bruno, I don't think it's a good time to transfer to Real Madrid …"
"Franck, when do you think it's a good time? After three seasons? I don't even know if Real Madrid wants you at that time! You've got enough honors now. A transfer is when your value is at its highest. The treatment and everything else can be fought for for you. I know what that guy, Twain, said to you, but he's lying to you! You can't be a professional player all your life, Franck. Can honors let you not worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life and let your children live the best life? Those are just words used by the managers to bewitch people and make you work for them! Only money is the most tangible. But there are not many clubs in the world that are willing to pay the players commensurate with their contributions. On the contrary, they will always find excuses to squeeze your income. Businessmen are like this, seeking profit. Even if he is your boss and the manager of the team, don't forget whose side he is on. He represents the club! He talks about loyalty and honor, but it's all lies! When he says that to you, as long as you ask him, 'Can honors let you live a good life?', he will be speechless! "Heiderscheid was really anxious when he heard Ribéry's wavering. He had planned for a summer and must not fail at this time … "Franck, you should have a deeper understanding of this than I do. You've also been poor. You know how important money is, don't you?"
"I … Bruno, I think what you said makes sense. Honor and loyalty really can't make me more money, nor can they let me live a better life. A professional player has to pursue money … But. "
Bruno's heart tightened.
"But now I'm satisfied with the level of a 120,000 weekly salary."
"Only a fool would complain about having too much money!"
"Of course I'm not a fool, but I know the team's current situation. If the asking price is too high, the boss really can't come up with the money …"
"Then transfer."
"Do you want me to be a traitor, Bruno?" Ribéry smiled. "But I'm not ready to betray yet. That's it. I'm going to sign that contract. Tomorrow I'll end this … hidden-away vacation and fly back to Nottingham. "
"Hey, Franck!"
"What's the matter?"
"Real Madrid …"
"Nottingham Forest's attitude is so tough. Do they still fantasize that they can get me to go to the Bernabéu through a transfer deal? So what if I make a public statement? I'm telling you, Bruno, I know my boss. I know what the result will be if I really do this. Do you think the boss will let me go just because I want to go? Don't be naive, Bruno! Real Madrid's approach is completely putting themselves out of the picture and using the players as a gun. I go out to be a target while they make a deal behind my back. What if the deal doesn't work out? How can I stay at Nottingham Forest when I've already fallen out with the boss? Do you remember Anelka? Do you want me to sit on the bench for a season and then my value slowly slide? Tell Real Madrid clearly that I'm not willing to do this kind of thing with myself as a stake. Either they make an offer until the Nottingham Forest Football Club is satisfied, or I'll renew my contract with the Forest team and continue to stay in Nottingham. What they're used to doing won't work on me! "
Hanging up the phone, Ribéry stared at the distant horizon in a daze. He was in no mood to continue to appreciate the beauty.
It was indeed what he wanted to be able to play for a world-famous super powerhouse like Real Madrid. Spain had bright sunshine and a variety of delicious food. It was a million times better than the United Kingdom. He would also get more attention at the Bernabéu, and his salary would certainly be higher than at Nottingham Forest. He would have star teammates, a weekly event, and a glamorous life …
However, he also knew in his heart that as long as the boss was there, it was almost impossible for Real Madrid to buy him. Let him do it himself? That would be the worst outcome. He did not want to be a gun in the hands of others. Cristiano Ronaldo was too stupid. If Real Madrid could not fulfill its promise to bring him to the Bernabéu, who would be the real victim? The players themselves!
I can't do such a risky thing. As long as I don't leave Nottingham Forest, then the boss is our king for a day.
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