Chapter 571: The Curtain Falls on History
In addition to discussing the issue of his future, Balmond also brought Wang Feng a new opportunity, saying, "Domestic television stations hope to invite you to do live commentary for the European Championship. It won't be many games, just one or two, and the price is reasonable. Are you interested?"
The Chinese superstar originally wanted to refuse, but he thought that it would also be an opportunity to take his family out for a stroll and have some fun. So, he eventually agreed.
In order to prepare for the European Championship in June, the five major leagues basically completed all their matches by mid-May. In the Bundesliga, Dortmund set a new record with 81 points, edging out Bayern Munich to win the league title, thanks to the outstanding performances of Lewandowski and Brashchikovsky.
Klopp turned this team into a youthful storm that swept across Germany. Their entertaining style of play and solid defense were key to their success.
In the subsequent German Cup final, the Bumblebees once again defeated Bayern 5-2 to win their first-ever double. Bayern, in just a few days, lost two titles and ended up empty-handed.
To the regret of Chinese fans, Dong Fangzhuo failed to save the team. Instead, 23-year-old Japanese youngster Shinji Kagawa, who plays for Dortmund, shone brightly, opening the door to victory for the Bumblebees just three minutes into the game.
This incident sparked heated discussions online, with many questioning whether Dong Fangzhuo was already past his prime. After all, he was also 27 years old, and his career had been plagued by numerous injuries. It was inevitable that his performance would decline as he aged.
Wang Feng stood up for his compatriot, saying, "Bayern's defeat was determined by various factors and had little to do with Dong Fangzhuo himself. There was nothing wrong with his performance, and both the coach and his teammates trust him."
Even if Dong Fangzhuo's level declines in the future, he will still be the ceiling for Chinese players playing abroad, having won two Bundesliga titles and two German Cups as a key player!
After experiencing two seasons of dismal failure, Bayern's management will undoubtedly take action. They will use their expertise in poaching players to deal with their opponents.
In the Premier League, Manchester City won the first league title after the restructuring, surpassing Manchester United. The high investment from UAE tycoons in recent years finally paid off, with countless fans claiming to have been Manchester City supporters for twenty years, seeing the team's boundless future.
Mourinho led Chelsea to a 2-1 victory over Liverpool to lift the FA Cup, which can be considered as an explanation to the club's chairman.
In Serie A, Juventus completely emerged from the shadow of Calciopoli and lifted the league title again after many years. However, they unexpectedly lost to Napoli in the Italian Cup final, missing out on the double.
The Lightning Army's last Italian Cup victory dates back to the distant Maradona era, so this victory has been the talk of the town for fans for a long time.
In Ligue 1, Paris Saint-Germain, backed by Qatari tycoon owners, still couldn't beat Montpellier and finished as runners-up. They were also eliminated early in the cup, achieving nothing throughout the season.
However, with Manchester City's success as an example, oil capital is very patient. They are itching to continue their heavy investment in the transfer market this summer, believing that they will achieve results.
This summer, farewells became a theme as many of Wang Feng's former opponents and teammates announced their retirement and departure from the football world. Dutch legendary striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was the first to announce his decision.
He had informed Malaga Club de Futbol of his decision to end his professional career after the end of the season even before La Liga ended. As a star player in the plans of oil capital giants, Van Nistelrooy was considered a symbolic figure for strengthening the team.
It was because of his joining that the process of turning Malaga into a powerhouse had just begun, attracting stars like Toulalan and Cazorla to join and establishing the club's image of striving for success.
However, the Dutchman's rapid decline surprised even himself. With only four goals in 27 matches last season, Van Nistelrooy could no longer make crucial contributions to the team. In his twilight years, he chose to hang up his boots.
At the end of his last game, at the Malaga Rosaleda Stadium, all the players gathered together to throw Van Nistelrooy into the air, expressing their respect for him.
The Dutch forward was undoubtedly lucky because he could retire on the field. His former teammate at Real Madrid, Guti, was more desolate. He had been a free agent since terminating his contract with Besiktas in November last year.
After watching Real Madrid defend their Champions League title, the 35-year-old Spaniard officially announced his retirement on social media.
The Chinese superstar naturally paid attention to his old friend. He invited Guti to join the championship celebration. The "Golden Wolf" let loose, chatting about past adventures with younger players like Ramos and boasting with new Real Madrid signings like Modric until he got himself drunk.
"Are you resentful towards the club?" Wang Feng suddenly asked. Guti, who seemed drunk, had bright eyes, "Never," his loyalty to Bernabeu was touching.
Guti had spent 15 seasons with the club, rejecting numerous lucrative offers from top clubs. He quietly left when the team no longer needed him, leaving behind a deep bond that would be remembered by all Real Madrid fans.
After them, Shevchenko announced that he would retire after playing in the European Championship. "I'm ready to finish my career with my hometown team in the last European Championship. If luck is on our side, I believe we can challenge the favorites and create new historical achievements."
The former Ballon d'Or winner, who once competed with Wang Feng for the Golden Ball award, returned to his hometown team, Dynamo Kiev, in the last few years of his career and retired there.
"We have many passionate fans who have always supported me to continue, and we also have top teams. Shakhtar Donetsk and Dynamo Kiev are both powerhouses on the European stage."
Crespo also announced his retirement this summer. He was the Golden Boot winner before Wang Feng landed in Serie A, and the two had faced each other multiple times.
After his contract with Parma expired last season, he once wanted to find a new team to continue his career, but at 37 years old, major clubs were reluctant to sign him.
In February, the Argentine went to India to participate in the inaugural Indian Super League Draft, where he was picked up by the Kerala Blasters Football Club, with an annual salary of $840,000.
However, since the Indian Super League is not organized by the All India Football Federation, clubs cannot register with FIFA or use football stadiums. As a result, the first edition of the league was cancelled, and Crespo once again found himself in a situation where he had no team to play for.
After much thought, he decided to end it all, "Putting an end to a 20-year career is not an easy thing, but I can no longer find the motivation to continue."
"At a certain age, you realize that football has changed, the rules in the locker room have changed, and the way training and matches are conducted has also changed, and I can no longer adapt to these changes."
Apart from these, stars like Zagi, Barak, Bellon, and Yonbert, who accompanied a generation, also announced their retirement one after another, making Wang Feng deeply feel the traces of time.
The curtain has fallen on the history that once was, and a new era will always come.
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