The big-screen TV was showing highlights of Nottingham Forest's games from the past few seasons, but there was only one protagonist.
"George Wood! He's really Nottingham Forest's anchor! A beautiful diagonal tackle from the back, no foul at all, clean and neat! "
"It's George again! Where did he come from? He just appeared next to Riquelme without anyone noticing and kicked! It's broken! "
"He's chasing back … Very fast! It's amazing explosive power! A flying tackle! He fouled! But he stopped Manchester United's quick counterattack. It's worth it even if he gets a card! "
"Sidwell had a head-on collision with him. I'd say Sidwell must have thought he hit a wall! George Wood didn't move and the ball was intercepted by him. His defensive position is very good! "
"He completely froze Kaka, and the Brazilian seemed to disappear under his close marking …"
"Fàbregas! Oh … He couldn't pass the football because he was brought down by Wood. So unfriendly … Fàbregas protested to the referee on the ground, and George Wood just turned and ran away. "
"Cristiano Ronaldo! This is a counterattack by Manchester United. He dribbles the ball on the flank and runs wildly! No one can stop him … No! George Wood, he sticks to him. Ronaldo tries to get rid of him, but the feint is ineffective against him! Beautiful defense! "
"Shoot!! The ball's in! George Wood — world-class shot! He saved England, he saved Capello! Saint George bless England!! "
The commentator's passionate voice still echoed in the dimly lit room, but everyone in the room withdrew their eyes from the TV screen.
"Our new target." A bald man in the middle said to the people in the room. "He's simply unparalleled. After following him for two years, César told me so. I believe in his vision. "
An old man called "César" stood up. He was AC Milan's chief scout in charge of the introduction of defensive players, the former AC Milan captain and father of the legendary Paolo Maldini, César Maldini.
"I'm showing you the video of his games that I've carefully edited. From the video, you can see how good his defense is. He mainly benefited from his physical fitness. In England, he had many nicknames, almost all of which were aimed at his abnormal body. He almost never got injured … No, he really never got injured. His condition was stable, his basic skills were solid, and his mentality was good. There had never been any rumors of him having conflicts with his teammates or coaches. I think he is a man who meets AC Milan's requirements in terms of technique, tactics, and even temperament as a player. "
But the team's manager, Carlo Ancelotti, did not think so.
"I don't think Tony Twain will let their captain go, and George Wood is a very loyal player. This transfer is too difficult. "
The bald Galliani laughed. "That's not something you need to worry about, Carol. Right now, we only need to confirm one thing, and that is that Gattuso's condition can no longer meet our requirements. We need a new Gattuso. "
Ancelotti hesitated for a moment before nodding. "We do need a defensive midfielder, but I think it's too difficult to bring in George Wood …"
Galliani was a little unhappy. "So, do you have any good candidates to recommend, Carol?"
"Blasi or Mariga, Sammarco is also a good choice …" Ancelotti had just reported these three names when he was interrupted by the old man next to him, Braida.
"Napoli's asking price is too high. We've been talking about Blasi for a whole year without any progress. If we meet Napoli's requirements, I think we can buy George Wood with the money. Mariga? I think he just has a lot of potential. What we need is a player who can play as the main force in the middle and long term. Mariga is not qualified. As for Sammarco, he doesn't want to come back. What can we do? "
Braida was an official in charge of AC Milan's transfer matters. His words were more authoritative than Galliani's in this regard.
Ancelotti was not willing to be convinced just like that. He retorted, "The problem with George Wood is not the transfer fee. It's the same whether it's 30 million or 50 million. The key is his own attitude and Tony Twain … Do you think Tony Twain is an easy person to talk to? "
Galliani did not expect it to turn into a quarrel in the end. He waved his hand impatiently and motioned for Braida to shut his mouth that had just opened.
"I've said it, Carol. That's not a problem you should worry about. You just focus on leading the team to train and compete. Leave the buying of players to me and Braida. "
Braida was AC Milan's "King of Transfers." At the age of 63, he had brought a number of classic transfers to AC Milan, such as bringing Frank Rijkaard to AC Milan and Andriy Shevchenko, who was still playing in Eastern Europe, to San Siro. He was a senior scout and negotiator.
But a year ago, he had retired from his position as AC Milan's general manager. This time, Galliani asked him to come back because of George Wood.
His meaning was obvious — I certainly know it's difficult to buy George Wood. That's why I brought Braida here.
Ancelotti looked at the three men opposite him who were apparently standing together. He pursed his lips and did not make a sound.
At the final meeting, everyone unanimously decided to focus on George Wood alone for the rest of the time. They had to win over the world's hottest defensive midfielder at all costs.
Since Gattuso suffered a serious injury in the winter of 2008, his form had declined rapidly. Now, AC Milan's midfield iron gate could only play as a substitute. His willpower was the same as before, but his body and skills were not as good as before. Most of the time, he had the will but not the strength. The beard on his face used to be a symbol of toughness and bravery. Now, it only gave people a sense of vicissitudes.
In AC Milan's youth team, there was a young Nigerian player, Chinoye, who was once known as the "new Makelele," who was also tempted by Manchester United. At the time, Ancelotti urged Chinoye to stay in the team and use him as Makelele's successor. But the reality was a failure. Chinoye did not become the second Makelele. He was lost in the expectations of the people. It disappointed AC Milan's top brass, and it was also the matter that led to Galliani's growing distrust of Ancelotti. So, this time he decided to forcibly intervene and bring in George Wood.
He certainly knew that it was not easy to bring in George Wood, let alone to "pull a tooth from the tiger's mouth" from Tony Twain.
This time, he decided to let Braida come forward and make a breakthrough from George Wood's agent.
Billy Woox used to be a celebrity in the fashion world. It was surprising that he suddenly changed careers to become a sports agent. But his popularity in the city of Milan was still there. Galliani and Woox had met several times in the past, and they were considered "friends." He believed that he and Braida were right to start with Billy Woox. George Wood's agent was the key to whether or not he could successfully join AC Milan.
※ ※ ※
"Hey, George! Guess where I am? "Wood's mobile phone rang with the playful voice of his agent, Billy Woox.
Wood was not a man who could play such a boring game with others. He asked, "What's the matter, Woox?"
"I had a coffee with a friend in Milan. We talked about you. Guess who that person is? "
"Who?"
"Galliani, AC Milan's number two."
"Oh," George Wood replied and didn't ask any more questions.
Woox had long been used to Wood's way of thinking. He added, "He's very interested in you and wants to hear if you're willing to go to Milan to play."
"AC Milan?" George Wood's impression and feelings towards most of the world's powerhouse clubs might make these clubs angry, because he would not be surprised when he heard their names. In his mind, all the teams were the same. "Why should I go there to play?"
"They promised to give you a higher salary than at Nottingham Forest and give up all the rights to your image."
At Nottingham Forest, after many contract extensions, George Wood's weekly salary was now 100,000 pounds. After Beckham and Ribery left the team one after another, and after the aging van Nistelrooy accepted a new contract, he had become the highest paid player in the team. At the same time, half of his image rights belonged to Nottingham Forest. If it were not for Billy Woox, he would not even get half of it.
George Wood was not a fool. He could still tell which side was giving more money. But …
"I think I'm making enough money now, Woox."
As if he had expected Wood to say that, Woox laughed on the other end of the phone, "There's another condition. Do you want to hear it?"
"Hmm?"
"They promised to use the power of AC Milan to treat your mother. It's a more detailed and professional treatment than what Nottingham Forest did. "
Wood was silent.
After hanging up, Wood went to the kitchen to help his mother. Sophia asked about the phone call just now, "Mr. Woox called?"
"Yes. He told me that a few more clubs are interested in me. "
"Did you agree to him?" Sophia asked with a cough.
"No." Wood's lips squirmed a little as he replied.
Sophia did not say anything. She just reached out and brushed Wood's messy hair.
※ ※ ※
Twain was as surprised as if he had discovered a new continent. He found that George Wood had been a little absent-minded in recent days of training. His condition had also shown a rare decline!
He was not worried at first. Instead, he was happy with the discovery. Because George Wood was finally getting closer and closer to being human. At the very least, his condition would fluctuate, and not be so stable that it was boring and hopeless.
So, he joked with Wood during training and excitedly announced it to the people around him.
"Hey, George! Are you in a relationship? Which girl have you taken a fancy to? Introduce her to me. "
Wood responded with a cold face.
"Well, I'll respect your privacy. When you think the time is right, you can introduce her to me."
With his shout, even the people in the team thought that George Wood was really in a relationship. Otherwise, it was really difficult to explain his recent absent-mindedness. In the past, he had always been the most serious and the most demanding of himself during training.
This situation lasted for a few days. Until one morning, when Tony Twain was still in bed with Shania, he received a call.
Twain, who had been interrupted, was certainly not in a good mood. "I don't care who you are. If you can't give me a reasonable explanation … It's only half-past six!"
He heard Pierce Brosnan's voice, "I just heard the news, Tony. I think I need to tell you. Have you heard? "
"What?" Twain was completely confused by the man's words.
"The matter of AC Milan's interest in George Wood …"
Twain sighed. "I thought it was something big. Isn't there such a rumor every summer? To be honest, Mr. Reporter, if George Wood doesn't get the love and pursuit of those flies, he's not George Wood. "
Brosnan hurriedly explained, "No, I'm saying they're serious."
"They need to find a successor to Gattuso. I understand …" Twain still did not take it seriously. He lay back on the bed, his fingers mischievously drawing circles back and forth on Shania's smooth and flat abdomen.
"They've been in contact with George's agent, Billy Woox, in private."
"That old rascal. I knew he wasn't being honest. But it doesn't matter what he says. George Wood has to agree. "
Shania watched helplessly as Twain's hand moved down bit by bit, to the edge of the white underwear. She seemed to treat Twain's hand as a little bug crawling on her body, studying it very seriously.
"Ah, that's what I wanted to tell you …" After a long time, Brosnan finally remembered what the main topic was. "I heard from my friends in the media in Italy that AC Milan has put in a lot of effort to get the player's consent. They're preparing to carry out surgery and treatment for George Wood's mother. The club will bear all the expenses! "
Twain's hand was just about to pry open the underwear and slip into the peach blossom garden when he suddenly retracted it.
"What did you say?" He sat up on the bed.
No one knew better than him what Sophia meant to George Wood. When Wood signed his first professional contract with the Forest team, the club paid for Sophia's surgery and treatment. From then on, Wood was unswervingly loyal to Nottingham Forest. In the years that followed, he gradually grew to become the flagship figure of Nottingham Forest.
But he really never thought that another club would do the same thing to Wood.
He knew that Sophia's illness was actually incurable. The accumulation of various illnesses in this weak but strong woman's body had long hollowed her out. The only thing that kept her going was that she could not bear to part with her son. So, the club did not continue to carry out treatment for Sophia. Anyway, George Wood had earned enough money to buy medicine and continue treatment.
But he could not rule out the possibility that George still had fantasies deep in his heart. If there was more money, better professional equipment, better doctors and medicine, and a better hospital, his mother's life could be saved.
Then, it would be the same no matter where he played football.
He suddenly understood why George Wood didn't look right these few days.
"I'm so stupid …" Twain muttered.
"Uncle Tony?" Shania raised her head and looked at Twain strangely.
"Tony?" Brosnan asked on the other end of the phone.
There was only one person in this world who could make Wood feel uneasy. It was definitely not a beautiful girlfriend or a high salary contract. He only cared about his mother. There were only two people in his world, him and his mother. This was something he had long understood. If only he had realized it earlier …
"Alright, thank you for telling me all this, Brosnan! I'll allow you to enter the training ground for a one-on-one interview! " After promising Brosnan the relevant reward, he hung up and planned to call George Wood.
But halfway through the call, he put down his phone.
"It's not even seven o 'clock …" He turned to look at the clock. "Now that things have come to this, there's no difference whether it's earlier or later …" With that, he lay down again. But his hand no longer misbehaved and took a risk on Shania's body.
"If you're in a hurry to find George, why don't you drive to his house to pick him up before training? Then you'll have a lot of time to chat privately on the way, "Shania suddenly said.
Twain turned to look at his wife. "That's a really good idea! In order to thank you, Shania … "
Shania glanced at him. "You're being naughty again … I really doubt that you're only twenty, Uncle Tony …"
Twain chuckled and hugged Shania in his arms. "Your Uncle Tony has a heart that never gets tired!"
Shania's young, healthy, and energetic body nestled in the crook of his arm, making him feel like he was on a honeymoon every day.
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