The AC Milan of today is not the retirement home it will be a few years from now!

Having missed out on the league title this season, Ancelotti and Galliani are pinning all their hopes on the Champions League. Facing such a mentally strong powerhouse team, this series is destined to be tough.

However, the quarterfinals series is at the beginning of next month, so the main focus should be on the league for now.

Finally, with Li Shiguang's heartfelt prayers, the Leeds United players who had been called up returned to the club one after another. Fortunately, no more injured players were sent back this time. As for the physical reserves that had been depleted, there was still a whole week until the next round of matches, and it was a home game, which would be enough for these players to recover.

Thursday afternoon.

After finishing his day's work, Li Shiguang was about to go back to his office to pack his things and leave when his phone rang. He took it out and saw that it was a call from Chen Guanhai's father.

This is quite a rare guest. Li Shiguang and Lao Chen haven't been in contact since their last meeting in Germany.

Old Chen is also very trustworthy. He only invests money and doesn't interfere in discussions. He just waits to receive his dividends at the end of the year. If there's anything going on, he tells Chen Guanhai, who then relays it to Li Shiguang.

The same goes for Chen Guanhai, ever since he became a minority shareholder of the club.

To avoid making Li Shiguang overthink things, he spent much less time visiting him at Leeds United than before. Li Shiguang guessed that this was also Old Chen's requirement for him.

However, for Old Chen to call me personally today, it must be something significant!

Thinking to himself, Li Shiguang quickly answered the phone and greeted him, "Uncle Chen, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

It's a little past four in the afternoon. Li Shiguang roughly calculated that it must be around midnight for Lao Chen.

"Sigh~ I'm getting old, I don't sleep as much as I used to, plus there are so many trivial things to deal with every day, it's so annoying." Old Chen complained self-deprecatingly, then continued, "I figured you'd be pretty much done with your work, right? I had something to do, so I called you."

"Yeah, I just finished training and was about to go back to my office to pack up and leave work. What's up, Uncle Chen? Guan Hai's gotten into trouble again?"

"It has nothing to do with that little brat. In fact, I have to thank you. Ever since that kid got a proper job, he's been much more well-behaved than before, hahaha."

"Uncle Chen, you're joking. Guanhai is all grown up now and will eventually mature! What could be so important that you would call me personally in the middle of the night?"

Upon hearing Li Shiguang's question, Old Chen cleared his throat and his tone became serious: "It's good news, Xiao Li. You need to hurry up and plan Leeds United's summer schedule. The matter we discussed last time is basically settled."

Li Shiguang was overjoyed and quickly asked, "About the China Travel Service?"

"Yes." Old Chen on the other end of the phone nodded subconsciously. "I've smoothed things over on my end. The team is doing well this season, and with your special background, and Ji Hai playing for you, I had someone check on several major football forums in China recently. Leeds United already has a decent fan base in China!"

"Okay!" Hearing Old Chen say that, Li Shiguang seemed to already see the money flowing into Leeds United's account, and quickly asked, "What's the specific time? Around when is it scheduled?"

"Hmm... I suggest it's best to hold it in June." Old Chen thought for a moment, "July is the time of the Asian Cup, we can ride the wave of popularity before then, what do you think?"

"Wait a moment, Uncle Chen, let me check the time first." Li Shiguang didn't reply immediately, but instead pulled out the schedule and looked at it before nodding and saying, "Hmm, the timing should be fine. My league will be finished by May 13th, and even if we make it to the Champions League final, we can finish all the matches for the season by the end of May. Coming over in June shouldn't be a problem!"

“Okay, then my company will be the organizer of Leeds United’s trip to China. I’ll have someone draft a contract and send it to you tomorrow.”

“No problem, Uncle Chen. I think we should leave this to Guan Hai and Allen to handle, so that the kid won’t keep saying he has nothing to do all day long, hahaha.”

"Xiao Li, there's something I need to let you in on first." After finishing the serious matter, Old Chen lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "You know the state of football in China. Although those bastards at the Football Association don't know how I got involved with Leeds United, when I sent someone to handle the paperwork this time, they saw that I was preparing for Leeds United's China tour, so they want me to act as an intermediary to contact you. Apparently, they want to talk to you about some kind of cooperation."

Upon hearing this, Li Shiguang frowned, feeling a slight unease: "What cooperation could I possibly have with them? Leeds United isn't under the jurisdiction of the Chinese Football Association."

"Sigh! There's nothing we can do about it." Old Chen sighed. "Once we come, we can't avoid them, so I'm telling you in advance so you can be prepared."

Li Shiguang knew the true nature of the people at the Chinese Football Association. They said they wanted to discuss cooperation, but it was nothing more than an attempt to make money through some shady means.

The trip to China that I and Lao Chen arranged was essentially just a purely commercial activity that would benefit both of us with Chinese football fans.

Leeds United can make some money in the huge Chinese market, expand their influence in world football, and at the same time allow Chinese fans to see their favorite players play live. It's a win-win situation.

If he could, Li Shiguang would never want to get involved with the Chinese Football Association, but he also knew that such a possibility was almost nonexistent. There was nothing he could do; every place had its own customs!

"Alright! We'll see what happens, we'll deal with it as it comes!"

Hearing what Lao Chen said, Li Shiguang knew that this matter was inevitable and he could only take it one step at a time.

····

The next day, after handing the matter over to Allen, Li Shiguang threw himself back into intense training.

On Sunday, Leeds United will host Fulham at home. With the league now in its 30th round, their battle with Manchester United for the league title has become extremely intense.

But 90 minutes later, Li Shiguang, standing on the sidelines, looked ashen-faced and was burning with anger, because they had actually been held to a draw at home by Fulham, who were ranked at the bottom!

What annoyed him even more was...

At Old Trafford, Manchester United thrashed Bolton 4-1.

Leeds United held the top spot in the standings for only a few rounds before Manchester United snatched it away!