Chapter 321: Lineup reinforcement
Real Madrid's head of business affairs, Fernandez, should be the happiest person at the club. Every day, there is a constant stream of sponsors eager to cooperate with Real Madrid and Wang Feng.
Every sponsorship deal with the club and Wang Feng's team undergoes detailed evaluation and is only pursued if there are no hidden risks and it does not damage public image. Even so, the total sponsorship fees keep rising.
Currently, the club has earned over 7 billion euros from Wang Feng alone. 5 billion? That was just a month ago. What's even more terrifying is that Wang Feng's earning growth rate shows no signs of slowing down; on the contrary, it's getting faster.
With the happiest people naturally come the most distressed ones, and that's the club's general manager, Báldano. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has issued a strict order: Wang Feng must be fully taken care of in all aspects so that he can play comfortably, which in turn ensures the team's peace of mind.
But currently, Real Madrid's defense is heavily criticized, and naturally, Wang Feng is also dissatisfied. Which players should be brought in to compensate for this deficiency?
Another consideration is whether or not to bring in attacking players, and if so, what kind. If the incoming player is too high-profile or has a bad temper, causing Wang Feng discomfort, what should be done?
After consulting with head coach Schuster for a long time, Real Madrid began their reinforcement plan when the winter transfer window opened.
First, they acquired 18-year-old defensive genius Marcelo from Brazil's Fluminense for 6 million euros. He had represented Brazil in the U-17 World Cup, leaving a deep impression on European clubs at the time.
Next, they brought back 20-year-old Argentine midfielder Fernando Gago from Boca Juniors. Both of these young players are seen as hardworking. Schuster hopes they will be more active defensively to bolster the team's lineup.
On the other hand, Schuster has also set his sights on Porto's solid defender Pepe. However, the Portuguese powerhouse is unwilling to sell during the winter break as they are still in the crucial stages of competing for the league title.
Báldano waved his hand and offered 55 million euros to Porto, finally convincing their top brass. Actually, if they waited until summer to buy Pepe, they might have only paid around 30 million euros at most. But Real Madrid couldn't afford to wait, and they weren't too concerned about the price; performance was everything.
Another unexpected opportunity was Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze. This season, his starting position was taken by Evra, so he's actively seeking a transfer opportunity, with Liverpool being his preferred destination.
However, Ferguson would never allow his players to join a rival team. Heinze could only negotiate quietly, waiting to see how things played out in the summer.
But at this point, Real Madrid extended an olive branch. Compared to Liverpool, the Galacticos were also a good choice and could avoid potential disputes. In the end, the Argentine defender expressed his willingness to join, and Real Madrid paid a transfer fee of 9.6 million euros for him.
Unfortunately, both Pepe and Heinze have played in the Champions League for their respective teams, so they will not be able to appear in the Champions League after joining Real Madrid. Schuster needs to devise a more reasonable rotation system to utilize the new lineup.
The previous signings strengthened the midfield and defense. With Ronaldo leaving for Milan, Real Madrid needs to find at least one backup for Wang Feng in attack. Schuster set his sights on River Plate's rising star Gonzalo Higuaín.
The 19-year-old player gradually made a name for himself at River Plate, especially when he scored twice against Boca Juniors, catching the eye of many European clubs' scouts.
Real Madrid made inquiries to River Plate early on. After multiple rounds of negotiations, they finally acquired him for 13 million euros.
At the beginning of the new year, the team regrouped to prepare for the second half of the league and the crucial Champions League knockout stage. The team doctors looked at the players' physical test data and shook their heads. Everyone's condition was not good, including Wang Feng, despite his busy commercial work during the past ten days. Although he persisted in training, the duration was not enough, which would undoubtedly lead to a decline in his athletic performance over time.
Luckily, this wasn't a serious issue, and with one or two extra training sessions, they could adjust. However, some players weren't as disciplined, managing to gain weight in such a short vacation.
"No matter what method you use, you must reduce body fat, or I won't let you play!" Schuster roared angrily.
During the first training session, Wang Feng also met the newly joined players. It was his first time experiencing the club's winter signing of so many new players. Except for Heinze and Pepe, the other new recruits were under 20 years old. Looking at these young faces, he inexplicably felt himself getting older.
Facing the renowned seniors in the football world, they were equally nervous. Now, apart from the head coach, the most significant player in the Real Madrid dressing room was Wang Feng. If they offended him, their future careers would be challenging.
However, they quickly realized their worries were unnecessary. The Galacticos' dressing room seemed harmonious; Raúl and others teased Wang Feng for crazily earning money during the holidays, while Wang Feng complained about being too tired and vividly described the life of Middle Eastern tycoons, leaving them stunned.
"Since we have so many new teammates, let's have dinner together tonight. I'll treat you guys at the usual place," the Chinese star said generously. Everyone cheered with joy; a dinner party was an excellent way to bond.
The coaching staff tacitly approved of this dinner, but they repeatedly reminded the players not to overeat or drink. Schuster would not participate this time; he needed to carefully consider the upcoming tactical arrangements, as several injured key players had returned, plus the new recruits, their strength and condition needed thorough evaluation and consideration.
The Alberth home was lively under the night sky, with Real Madrid players enjoying delicious food and sharing holiday anecdotes. Wang Feng sat next to Pepe, striking up a conversation with the tough defender.
Unlike his fierce performance on the field, Pepe seemed a bit shy off the pitch. He spoke in a slightly admiring tone, "When I joined Porto, I often heard teammates talking about you, somewhat fearfully."
"The 2004 Champions League final has become their unforgettable nightmare. Even today, their fear of you hasn't diminished much, which is simply unbelievable."
Wang Feng smiled and also talked about Pepe's glorious experiences. Since joining Porto, his ironclad defense has been praised by many, helping the team win two league titles.
Not only Pepe, but Wang Feng also had pleasant conversations with every new player who joined. He had done his homework well and could easily mention the achievements they were proud of. Coupled with his status, it was effortless to completely win over these players, and unknowingly, his reputation within the team further increased.
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