Chapter 292: Arrival at the Bernabéu
Inter Milan's grand farewell ceremony for Wang Feng was also reported by major European media outlets. Everyone believed that this was the glory he deserved, reflecting the unique human touch of the Nerazzurri.
Early the next morning, Wang Feng, along with his sister and Lu Yao, boarded a plane and left Milan for Madrid to start a new life.
They made this trip without alerting anyone, as Wang Feng just wanted to quietly leave, avoiding the emotional turmoil of farewells.
Before this, his agent, Balmond, thoroughly inspected residences in Madrid and sent the relevant information to Wang Feng. He had already made a rough decision about the new home.
Upon landing, they headed straight to their destination, located in the affluent La Finca neighborhood in northern Madrid. This area was one of the favorite residential areas for Spanish celebrities and football stars, boasting beautiful surroundings and extremely tight security systems.
Many Real Madrid stars, such as Raul, Casillas, and Ronaldo, resided nearby. The mansion Wang Feng selected had a staggering price tag of 8 million euros, occupying a total area of 3100 square meters, making it one of the larger homes in the area.
Balmond was waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Wang Feng, he exclaimed excitedly, "This house is absolutely amazing! If it weren't for the high price, I would want to buy it myself!"
Wang Feng and his companions looked curiously at the black building in front of them. It exuded a modern vibe, with the interior of the villa covering a spacious 1200 square meters, featuring two living rooms and five bedrooms.
In addition, there were facilities such as an indoor swimming pool, spa center, gym, movie theater, and wine cellar, dazzling those who saw them.
Several main bedrooms were equipped with panoramic glass windows, offering views of the nearby El Yelmo mountain range and a nearby lake called Isclekaida by the locals, which in Spanish alludes to falling stars.
Looking at the shimmering water, one could easily imagine the starlight reflected on the lake's surface at night, surely a picturesque sight.
Wang Feng's sister gazed eagerly at him and said, "Let's choose this place. It's so beautiful that I could set up an easel on the windowsill and start painting right away!"
Lu Yao was also very satisfied with the interior decoration and outdoor environment. The only drawback might be the distance from here to the Real Madrid training ground, requiring a car to reach.
However, both locations were in suburban areas, with relatively convenient access, requiring only a short drive, so it was entirely acceptable.
Therefore, Wang Feng hesitated no more and decisively signed the purchase contract, making this brand new residence his own.
Wang Feng buying a house in Madrid! This news was soon leaked by Marca, undoubtedly sending a positive signal to the Galacticos fans that Wang Feng planned to stay at Real Madrid for the long term!
Upon learning of Wang Feng's arrival, the club immediately dispatched the first-team manager, Sande, and several staff members to welcome Wang Feng and discuss the signing of the contract and the welcoming ceremony at the headquarters.
Most of the contract details had already been discussed, leaving only the final formal signing. Real Madrid was adept at marketing, and seeing the successful farewell ceremony held by Inter Milan, they naturally didn't want to be outdone.
"The entire city and the fans are looking forward to your arrival. We need a celebration, and I can guarantee that the fans' enthusiasm will be no less than that of Inter Milan!" Sande said confidently.
Wang Feng could only smile in response. He wasn't one to boast, but being on such a globally renowned stage like the Bernabeu, it was impossible to remain low-key.
The club's current situation was somewhat turbulent, but the choice for head coach had already been made. Florentino ultimately chose Schuster to lead the new Galacticos.
Schuster, a former core player for Barcelona who, like Figo, switched to Real Madrid, became legends for both clubs. His coaching career after retirement hadn't been entirely smooth, but in the just-concluded La Liga season, he led Getafe to a historic ninth-place finish and runner-up in the Copa del Rey.
The team decided to begin assembling for training in late July, with all necessary transfer work to be completed by then.
On the day of the official signing, departing from the Real Madrid training base to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, crowds surged, enthusiastic Spanish fans filling the streets on both sides. They held various banners welcoming Wang Feng, with some attentive fans even writing in Italian and Chinese.
Some of these fans underestimated Wang Feng's learning ability. After months of practice, he could now read and write basic Spanish.
They were all wearing the No. 10 jersey chosen by Wang Feng upon joining Real Madrid. This number originally belonged to Figo, and after he left for AC Milan, no one inherited it.
Since the club began selling Wang Feng's new jersey, more than 100,000 orders had been placed within a few days in Spain alone, sparking a buying frenzy across Europe and around the world, forcing Adidas to work overtime to fulfill orders.
"The fans welcoming you are far more than this. Tickets for the welcome ceremony were sold out early, and major TV stations in Madrid will also broadcast your appearance live," Sande said.
"We have organized welcome ceremonies for Ronaldo and Zidane before, but compared to what you see now, it's much smaller."
Arriving at the Bernabeu, Florentino was already waiting in his office, while most of the Real Madrid board members, technical director, and executives were also present, witnessing Wang Feng signing a five-year agreement with the club.
"Welcome to the Bernabeu!" Florentino hugged Wang Feng. "Now, go meet your passionate fans. They've been eagerly waiting!"
When Wang Feng walked out of the player tunnel, the fans in the stands rose to their feet, applauding this world-class superstar with the warmest welcome.
Looking around, the Bernabeu Stadium, which could accommodate 80,000 people, was almost full. Compared to Inter Milan, Real Madrid had a much larger fan base.
Wang Feng stood near the center circle, smiling, and waving to the fans around him, shouting enthusiastically, "Hala Madrid!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Bernabeu erupted like boiling water, with deafening cheers filling the entire space. Wang Feng believed that even kilometers away from the stadium, one could still hear the noise.
At the same time, fireworks began to bloom around the stadium, adding an inexplicably powerful aura to his appearance.
Actually, these fireworks were supposed to be set off at the end of the ceremony, but when the staff responsible for igniting them saw the deafening cheers of the fans stirred up by Wang Feng, they got too excited and pressed the button.
Wang Feng was also surprised. Wasn't he supposed to continue speaking? How could fireworks go off now?
But he was experienced enough to go along with it. He raised his right fist high in the air amidst the fireworks, looking majestic.
The entire Real Madrid fan base danced along with him, and this spectacular scene was captured by countless cameras, stirring up excitement even years later.
When the fireworks stopped, Wang Feng continued his speech in Spanish, promising all Madrid fans that he would do his best to help Real Madrid regain its former glory.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by fr(e)ew𝒆bnov(e)l.com