How come no one wants such an auspicious number as 8?

Oh, that's right.

Foreigners don’t care about this.

In fact, it’s not that they don’t care. For example, they are still very superstitious about the 13th and Black Friday.

Gu Ran checked again carefully and confirmed that the No. 8 jersey really had no owner! However, the No. 8 position is usually the jersey number of the midfielder, and it is usually the jersey number reserved for the midfield brain.

Those who wear No. 8 jerseys are basically the organizers of a team, the people who control the rhythm of offense and defense, and the people who have extremely high basketball IQ and are extremely good at seizing opportunities.

For example, in the early days of Arsenal's Wenger coaching, Ljungberg, who was endorsing a famous brand of underwear, wore the No. 8 jersey.

There is also the midfield butcher Gattuso who says "I am ugly but I am not gentle at all". He wears the No. 8 jersey for both the national team and AC Milan.

There is also Juninho, the free kick master and king of falling leaves, who also wears the number 8 jersey in the Lyon team that won seven consecutive French Ligue 1 titles.

There is also the strongest classic attacking midfielder Riquelme, Rooney who comes from a boxing family, Kroos, the midfield metronome who contributed to Real Madrid's four Champions League wins, Gerrard, the soul of Liverpool, and Lampard, the soul of Chelsea...all wear the No. 8 jersey.

The most representative players wearing the No. 8 jersey in contemporary times are Xavi and Iniesta of Spain.

The soul of Spanish football has never been the No. 9 position, nor the No. 10 position, but the No. 8 position.

Iniesta is Barcelona's No. 8. He is also a true football master who is underestimated by the world.

The Barcelona team with him is the real tiki-taka.

Xavi is the No. 8 of the Spanish national team. The combination of him and Leandro del Piero is definitely the most powerful national team midfield combination in contemporary football, without a doubt.

It can be said that No. 8 is definitely a very good jersey number. It is the number of the team's organizer and can even grow into a team soul-level player.

Southampton's No. 8 is vacant...

This may be because the previous No. 8 retired or transferred, and Southampton Club did not recruit many midfielders this season, so this number happened to be vacant.

Moreover, this number is of great significance, and even new players would not dare to choose it.

...This is tailor-made for me! Others don't dare to wear it, but I do!

I want to play with Messi and Ronaldo in the future! If I can't even bear the responsibility of wearing the No. 8 jersey, what future do I have? Okay, I will wear No. 8!

Gu Ran took a deep breath, "Coach, I've made my choice! I want to wear the number 8 jersey!"

Coach Adkins was stunned, "Number 8? Are you sure?"

Gu Ran raised his head and said, "Yes."

"……good."

Coach Adkins didn't say anything extra. He took the registration list from Gu Ran and filled in the number 8 in front of Gu Ran's name.

"I will submit this list of materials to the athletic director."

"I believe Mr. Mark Walker would approve it."

"You can go now. See you at the gathering later."

Holy shit…

It’s so simple!

From now on, I will be Southampton’s No. 8 player!

"Thank you, Coach. See you at the assembly later."

Gu Ran stood up and said goodbye.

After Gu Ran left, Coach Adkins smiled slightly, "Dare to wear number 8? This kid... is awesome."

After leaving the head coach's office.

Rick wiped the sweat off his fat face and said, "Gu, you actually chose number 8?"

Gu Ran shrugged, "Number 8 is vacant, can't I choose it?"

Rick said, "Of course you can... But Gu, please don't blame me for being nosy. Although the club's top executives like you and recognize that you are Southampton's hope, and even the Saints' fans have high expectations of you, the players in the first team and the reserve team may not think so. People don't choose No. 8 because everyone thinks that the person wearing No. 8 must be a very powerful person, and if you take the No. 8 jersey as soon as you arrive, I'm afraid you will be targeted by other players!"

hehe……

What you mean is that if I don’t wear number 8, I won’t be targeted?

As a grassroots, I actually got 3,000 a week and was valued by the top management. Even if I chose No. 38 or No. 48, I would still be targeted! I was mentally prepared for the bad working environment!

Fight if you don't agree, this is my code of conduct after rebirth! Gu Ran then said calmly: "Then let them target me. I will let everyone see whether I can afford to wear this size 8."

Rick was slightly startled, then gave a thumbs up, "Awesome."

Gu Ran said, "We will gather in more than ten minutes. We definitely can't train now. Rick, please find me a single room. I want to be alone for a while."

"Okay, please follow me."

Rick immediately took Gu Ran into a rest room.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Gu Ran took out MaxxRT's APP sample and business plan to study them.

Their APP is pretty good, but its functions are a bit limited.

But this is understandable. After all, their original intention was just to watch Gu Ran's game through their mobile phones.

However, since £100,000 has been spent on public relations, it cannot be so monotonous.

Their business plan was written in a fairly detailed manner, from the crowdfunding list to the equity allocation, and was done very professionally.

But as for future development, there is still a blank.

After reading it, Gu Ran found the contact information of MaxxRT and others and made a call.

When the call was connected, Gu Ran said directly in Chinese: "Maxx...RT, right? I am Gu Ran."

"Ah! Gu Ran!" MaxxRT on the other side shouted excitedly, "I didn't expect you to call us so soon!"

Gu Ran said, "I have read your APP and plan, and they are well done. I have also told the club's executives about your intention to buy the online copyright, and they have agreed. If you are free tomorrow, you can come to the club to meet with Mr. Les Reid. He will help you deal with the problems with the English Football Association and the English Football Association."

"Really? That's great!"

"Oh yeah! Our APP is finally available!"

"From now on, we can see you playing football in China too, Gu Ran!"

"Gu Ran, you work too fast!"

The person on the other end of the phone was about to explode with excitement.

Holy shit…

I'm not the one who works fast...

Gu Ran smiled and said, "By the way, I have a few more questions I need to ask you."

Gu Ran then gave a brief account of the 100,000 pounds in internet copyright and public relations fees paid by the English Football Association to the English Football League One company.

After listening to this, MaxxRT and others suddenly became worried.

Their domestic crowdfunding totaled only 1 million yuan, but the online copyright PR fee was 100,000 pounds... This was obviously beyond their expectations.

Gu Ran said, "This 100,000 pounds can help you get the copyright for the big network, which means that not only can you watch it on the mobile phone APP, but you can also watch it on the computer and cast the screen on the TV. So it is still very cost-effective. And you don't have to worry about this money, I have already paid for you."

“Ah, this!”

"Gu Ran, how can this be so embarrassing!"

"More than 500 of us raised 1 million yuan, and you alone contributed nearly 1 million yuan!"

"Brother Ran, you are the largest shareholder of our project!"

"Haha, with your participation and investment, we will definitely make a fortune this time!"

“Let us become bigger and stronger and create greater glory!”

"We have to arrange some high-end games for tonight's project!"

"Brother Gu Ran! Come along! Let's listen to the music together!"

Gu Ran: ...

Are these people really my fans?

Why are my fans so dishonest?

Gu Ran cleared his throat, "…Manchester is too far to go back and forth."

"Haha! Well then, we know you just joined the team and still need to train, so there will be opportunities in the future!"

"Let us test the depth for you first..."

"Hahaha!"

Then, Gu Ran made some very advanced suggestions, such as not just doing professional football live broadcasts, but doing open live broadcasts to allow all broadcasters to participate, and focusing on supporting competitive and gaming live broadcasts, etc.

Gu Ran stated all the directions that the live streaming industry would take in the next ten years in one breath.

After hearing this, MaxxRT and others were all so surprised that they gasped!

Gu Ran's awareness was too advanced! Some of his suggestions were beyond their comprehension, but they sounded awesome! When the two sides were chatting enthusiastically, Rick knocked on the door, "Gu, your induction ceremony should begin."

"Okay, brother Ran!"

"Come on, brother Gu Ran! We are all waiting to see you play in the game!"

"Okay, goodbye." Gu Ran hung up the phone, followed Rick out of the single room, and headed to the first team training ground.

——Finally, we are meeting the first team! At this time, the players of Southampton's first team and reserve team gathered in groups of three or five.

Their topic naturally revolved around the upcoming newcomer Gu Ran.

"Hey, have you heard? The club just offered that Chinese player a new contract, and his weekly salary is up to 3,000 pounds!"

"Fuck! He's taller than most of us?"

"Why? A grassroots player who has never been to a professional youth training camp and has only played a few amateur school team games actually got more than us old guys who have played professional games for more than ten years?"

"I also heard that he just chose the No. 8 jersey from coach Adkins."

"What? A guy who has never played a professional game dares to wear a jersey number less than 10, and it's the No. 8 jersey, which is the brain level of the team?"

"Fuck, too arrogant! I only dared to choose number 27 and not number 8! This kid is too arrogant! He simply doesn't take us seniors in the team seriously!"

"The club even held a special induction ceremony for him? Isn't that giving him too much face?"

"That's right! The club is doing this to make us old players who have worked so hard for the club feel disheartened!"

Some players also whispered: "But... I heard that Liverpool and Manchester City have both made offers for him, and Manchester United and Chelsea are also paying attention to him. Maybe he is really strong."

"Humph, what can a Chinese rookie do?"

Harding sneered, "I've seen that Chinese rookie during the physical examination. He's nothing! If he really gets on the professional field, he'll be injured and fall to the ground if the opponent collides with him! Anyway, I won't indulge him. If he makes me unhappy, I'll let him know who's the boss here!"

"Listen to me, when that kid comes, let's boo him and let him know that it's not that easy to become a professional player!"

"That's right, we have to let him know that we old players are not easy to mess with!"

“That’s right!”

Players from the first team and the reserve team responded one after another.

At this time, head coach Adkins, wearing training suits, and his assistant coach Andy Williams walked into the training ground.

The players of the first team and the reserve team gathered together lazily, with their thighs crossed and their arms folded, standing crookedly in four rows.

Adkins glanced calmly and said, "Hello everyone, I am your new coach, Nigel Adkins."

"The person next to me is my assistant, Andy Williams."

"From today on, the two of us will work together with you gentlemen to strive to achieve the goal of impacting the Championship."

The players clapped sparsely, and many of them chuckled quietly.

Southampton only ranked in the middle of the English League One last season.

The new coach Adkins said right from the start that he wanted to impact the Championship, so it's no wonder that some players sneered.

In their view, this is simply impossible.

Coach Adkins glanced at the laughing players and secretly memorized their appearances in his mind.

Then, Coach Adkins said in a calm voice: "Now, please welcome a new member:"

"A Chinese player from Southampton High School's school team, he plays as a left back on the field, our new No. 8 - Gu Ran."

Before he finished speaking, the players on the field burst into shrill, sarcastic laughter! "Southampton High School team?"

"Hahahaha, I'm going to laugh my teeth off!"

"I can't laugh anymore, send me to the team doctor!"

"Saints, oh saints, have you fallen to the point where you have to rely on amateur players from China?"

"I think we should just prepare to fight for the English League Two title next season."

"Humph, next season? I'll run away during the winter transfer window!"

Amidst the jeers, Gu Ran, wearing a shirt with the Southampton team logo printed on it, walked calmly into the training ground.

The players' laughter became louder, especially the main left-back Harding, who laughed the loudest.

However, these harsh sounds did not affect Gu Ran's mentality at all. Instead, they only made Gu Ran's steps more determined and steady.

Gu Ran knew very well that among these sneers, there was jealousy and discrimination, and a lot of them were just following the crowd to make trouble.

...Don't worry, you will soon know who the father is.

The more you mock me now, the more intimately you will call me daddy in the future.

Gu Ran calmly walked to the front of the line and introduced himself calmly: "Hello everyone, I am the left back from the Southampton High School team, Gu Ran."

Haldin led the booing.

The other players also booed and laughed.

The situation became somewhat out of control.

Coach Adkins wanted to step out to stop it, but he ultimately chose not to interfere and just stood aside and watched silently.

He felt that... this kind of situation that others couldn't bear seemed to be no problem at all for the 17-year-old Gu Ran.

Gu Ran looked at the team members calmly.

Gu Ran waited until the booing and mocking players died down before he sneered, "I don't think it's shameful to be from a grassroots background. I'm proud to be a player on the Southampton High School team. I helped my school team win the only national championship in the school's history. And you are laughing at the honors that others have won through hard work. You are the ones who should be ashamed."

As soon as these words were spoken, the training ground suddenly became quiet.

Almost all the players widened their eyes in disbelief.

They were certainly not ashamed of their booing behavior - although it was indeed shameful - they just couldn't believe that this grassroots newcomer in front of them would confront them right from the start!

They were laughing at Gu Ran's background, but Gu Ran laughed at them for being shameless! Gu Ran 1v the entire Southampton first team and reserve team!

And not at all inferior!

The entire Southampton first team and reserve team were left speechless by Gu Ran's few words!

Even head coach Adkins, who always maintains a poker face, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Gu Ran continued, "Yes, my number is 8, my weekly salary is 3,000 pounds, my contract is for a promising star, the club's top management is busy applying for a work permit for me, Liverpool and Manchester City have made transfer offers to me, Manchester United and Chelsea also want to poach me... Ask yourself, how many of these can you achieve? Do you still have the nerve to laugh at me? Laugh at someone who is better than you?"

The players present were completely shocked! "Chinese boy! You are too arrogant!"

"Fuck it! I think you don't want to be in the first team anymore!"

"I'm telling you, you've offended all of us now!"

"From now on, in this club, it's either me or you! It's either you or me!"

"You're done! I'm telling you! You're really done!"

Lights, lights, lights! There are bubbles under the feet of these players who are out of control! There are both blue and white bubbles!

Gu Ran couldn't help but smile and focused his mind: -Left-back Dan Harding dropped a blue skill bubble with close defense +1.

This is not a good skill, but it is a necessary basic skill for defenders.

Received it.

Gu Ran's mind moved slightly, and he completed the telekinesis in an instant.

Close defense +3.

——Right back Fraser Richardson drops a blue skill bubble with backcourt pass +1.

This skill is also a basic skill that backcourt players must have.

It’s collected, it’s collected, you can come back and have sex a few more times, and stack it up to +4 as soon as possible.

——Central midfielder Ricky Lambert dropped a blue skill bubble with a +1 turn! Damn!

Finally got this skill!

Gu Ran immediately focused his mind and turned +1 to pick up the weapon from a distance!

In this way, combined with his own step-down turning skill, Gu Ran can finally start the upgrade mode of this skill! ——Striker Guli Doprado dropped a blue skill bubble with a header shot +1! This skill is also a very necessary striker skill, so I took it!

——Striker Adam Lallana dropped a blue skill bubble of "Excellent Pass Assist: Inspiration +1"! Damn! This is a star-level skill! Must get it!

She is indeed the team flower Lallana! It smells so good! Gu Ran happily focused his thoughts and collected it through the air.

——Defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin dropped a blue skill bubble with +1 back-tracking and counter-stealing! This basic skill is also very necessary, so I collected it.

——Left winger Alex Chamberlain dropped a bubble with a Hothead +1...

Gu Ran: ...

Chamberlain, why don't you check for yourself what you dropped? People drop positive skills, why did you drop a negative skill?

(End of this chapter)