After leaving Old Rice's office, Gu Ran felt a little heavy-hearted.

It can be said that old Rice played a very important role in Gu Ran's ability to play for Southampton Club. Without old Rice trying every possible way to obtain a work permit, Gu Ran would not be able to play in the professional league in the UK.

Gu Ran was very grateful to Old Rice and also agreed with him.

Now, old Rice is leaving the club, and not only old Rice is leaving, but two other veteran senior executives are also leaving.

From now on, there will be no “insiders” among the club’s top management.

But it’s better this way. In the future, I don’t have to care about the club’s feelings. If I’m not happy playing, I can just transfer and leave.

Maybe, one day in the future, if I buy Southampton, I can bring old Rice back to run the club...

However, it is not easy to buy a club, you have to hurry up and get the money.

Having money alone is not enough, you also need a trustworthy acquisition team with strong business qualities.

Well, let's take it one step at a time.

Gu Ran practiced for another hour on the training ground. Only after he finished the target plan he had set for the day did he take a shower, change clothes and leave.

Just after returning to the Dune Villa and finishing the ice and fire therapy, my cell phone rang.

During this period, Evelin would chat with Gu Ran on the phone every day, and would also invite Gu Ran to go horseback riding at the manor every day.

Gu Ran also kept refusing.

After all, the recent schedule is quite tight, and Gu Ran wants to wait until the next time he has a rest to go riding.

Every time he heard the phone ring, Gu Ran felt a bit of a headache.

Gu Ran picked up the phone and saw that this time it was an unfamiliar international number.

Could it be... Black Widow?

Oh, this, this, I am not mentally prepared yet! I still have to seriously prepare for the remaining two games in August and the six games in September!

But if Black Widow really comes, I will still treat her well.

Gu Ran thought seriously while quickly answering the phone. He said in a charming voice, "Hello? I'm Gu Ran. Who are you?"

A familiar and feminine voice came from the other end of the phone: "Hello, Mr. Gu Ran, I am David Beckham."

Bang! Gu Ran hung up the phone subconsciously!

What the hell! It's not Black Widow! Isn't that feminine voice David Beckham? The football star, handsome guy, his wife is Victoria Beckham, the handsome guy known as the master of the crescent moon knife!

——Gu Ran’s mind was full of the scene four months ago when he disguised himself as an advertising photographer at the sand dune beach and got free sex from Beckham.

Why would David Beckham call me?! Could it be that the fact that I had taken advantage of him for free was exposed?

It shouldn’t be… My realistic acting is pretty good. It should be that I’m overly sensitive and have evil intentions… Bah!

What am I afraid of? I am a little star now! Gu Ran took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, and finally...didn't call back.

After all... Beckham’s wife is Victoria.

Gu Ran may not consider other things, but he cannot ignore his sister-in-law!

If Beckham is not here to call for punishment, then he must be here to develop friendship. Once you develop friendship with Beckham, then naturally you will develop friendship with your sister-in-law in sync.

If you can't control your charming smile, it will cause trouble.

Of course Gu Ran can control himself, but he is afraid that his sister-in-law can't control herself!

Although this is a bit too far-sighted, it is something we cannot ignore! For the sake of long-term safety, we decided not to call Beckham back this time.

It's best to pretend nothing happened.

Of course, if Beckham called again, Gu Ran would feel embarrassed to refuse the call.

On the other side, Beckham was holding his beeping phone, confused: "What's going on? Why did he hang up on me? Is it because I've been in Milan for too long that my English is not up to par?"

"Or maybe this kid was so excited after hearing my name that he couldn't hold the phone and dropped it on the carpet?"

"Or is he... busy?"

"Okay, wait two minutes and call again!"

Beckham looked at the time, waited patiently for two minutes, and then dialed Gu Ran's cell phone number again.

Gu Ran on the other end looked at the incoming call, secretly saying what a fate, then he took a deep breath and answered it again.

Beckham spoke softly as he spoke: "Hey, Gu, I know everything about you!"

Bang! Gu Ran quickly hung up the phone again!

...This is so scary! Beckham knows everything about me? As expected, he knew that the person disguised as a photographer on the beach that day was me!

He really came here to call for punishment! Being called for punishment by Beckham, this, this, this, he must die quickly!

Beckham on the other side was dumbfounded again!

"What's going on? Why did you hang up on me again?"

"Isn't... 2 minutes enough?"

Beckham sighed, "Okay, it's still quite long, then wait another 2 minutes, I don't believe it!"

So, after another 2 minutes, Gu Ran's cell phone rang again.

It seems that there is no way to avoid it... Gu Ran took a deep breath and picked up the phone again.

Beckham said softly, "Hey, Gu, don't hang up yet. I'm serious. We need to talk. Yesterday Jim Lawlor sent me your collection of Crescent Moon Sabre. My God, you don't know...what happened afterwards!"

Gu Ran was slightly stunned.

It turns out that Beckham’s call was not about pretending to be a photographer and getting something for free?

You know that I can kick out the Crescent Moon Scimitar?

Damn it! Brother Bei, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I was so scared that I didn’t even dare to answer your call!

Gu Ran breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Oh, Mr. Beckham, I'm sorry, my phone was broken just now, but it's fine now. Have you seen my collection of Crescent Moon Scimitars? Then what happened?"

"And then..." Beckham on the other end of the phone rubbed his waist with an intoxicated look on his face, "Hehehe, let's not talk about it! Anyway, I saw those two scimitar kicks you made in your last match. To be honest, it was as if I saw myself when I was young! So I specially asked Jim Lawler for your cell phone number today to call you personally."

Gu Ran quickly said: "Thank you, Mr. Beckham, your evaluation is really too high."

Beckham on the other end of the phone said, "Your and my crescent moon blades are very similar. I think we should all stop being so polite. You can just call me David and I'll call you Gu."

Gu Ran thought to himself: I am so ashamed, David. How can I have the nerve to call you David directly? Not to mention the age gap between you and me, or the huge difference in fame between us, just the "Crescent Moon Scimitar" is all my free gift from you. Oh, and the long pass with the golden right foot, and the charming smile... How can I have the nerve to call you "David" directly?

——After thinking this in his mind, Gu Ran’s guilty mood was relieved.

Gu Ran cleared his throat, "Okay, David."

Beckham asked in a feminine voice, "Gu, I would like to ask, who did you learn how to use the Crescent Moon Scimitar from?"

Gu Ran's mouth corners tightened slightly.

This question is very sensitive, and if you answer it poorly, it is likely to become even more sensitive.

Gu Ran thought quickly and decided to use the Enhanced Realistic Acting +1 on Beckham over the phone.

Gu Ran sighed and said realistically, "That's right, David. I have liked you since I was a child. Really, your scimitar skills are unparalleled in the world, and I have been imitating you since I was a child. I carefully studied every detail of yours and then trained myself."

Beckham was surprised and asked, "Are you learning from me?"

"Yes," Gu Ran continued realistically, "My family was poor when I was a child. I was staying at a friend's house at the time. I couldn't watch the Premier League broadcast, so I saved money and went to the video hall..."

Beckham was shocked. "Wat? Video room? Your video room shows my games?"

Gu Ran said as a matter of course: "Of course, I have a lot of skills, all learned from the video room. After watching in the video room, I secretly found a place where no one was around and hung a rubber tire as a goal to practice."

"Oh my God!" Beckham's feminine voice sounded particularly excited. "Isn't this me? Gu! You are exactly like me when I was a child! Really! I'm not lying to you! I'm not saying this just to get closer to you! I was really like this when I was a child!"

Gu Ran laughed secretly in his heart, but said in surprise: "What? David, you, you, you also went to the video hall when you were a child?"

Beckham laughed, "Of course! There were many video halls in London in the 1990s, but few of them showed matches. After all, it was convenient for us to watch football. The things played in our video halls were... ahem, quite technical stuff. Anyway, what I mean is that my family was not well off when I was a child. I didn't have a place to live until I entered Ferguson's Class of 92, and I had to stay at Gary Neville's house. When I practiced by myself every day, I also used rubber tires as goals. Gu, I'm not saying this on purpose to get close to you, I really do! I can only say that we are too similar! No wonder you can also kick the same style of Crescent Blade as me! You are the younger version of me!"

Gu Ran suppressed his smile and said, "David, I'm glad to have your approval."

Beckham said excitedly: "Gu, we really hit it off right away - this may not be the right way to put it, after all, we have never met before, but whether you believe it or not, I always have a very strange feeling, that is, we are already very familiar with each other, just like old friends who have met before. I don't know how to describe this feeling, maybe this is the legendary spiritual connection?"

Beckham exclaimed: "Gu, I really like you so much. Would you like to be my friend? Not an ordinary acquaintance, but a good friend who can be called a brother?"

Gu Ran immediately said: "Good brother!"

Beckham said happily: "Good brother!"

…It’s over. I feel closer to my sister-in-law.

Gu Ran sighed inwardly and continued to shout realistically, "Good brother!"

Beckham said excitedly: "Good brother!"

“Good brother!”

"Good brother! Woohoo!"

Beckham almost got lost in the calls of "good brother".

"Brother, if you have any problems, tell me anytime. If you need anything, tell me anytime. I can't say anything else, but in the football world, my words are still effective."

"Thank you, Brother Bei! I don't have any difficulties. If you have any difficulties, you can tell me."

After all, he got Beckham for free, and the Crescent Moon Scimitar is now Gu Ran's killer skill. Gu Ran always feels that he should compensate Beckham well.

Beckham took the opportunity to ask: "By the way, I heard that you are still playing for a League One club?"

Gu Ran laughed secretly in his heart: Do I need to hear this? You have seen my collection of Crescent Moon Scimitars, how can you not recognize Southampton's jersey?

It seems that we are about to get to the point.

Okay, then I'll cooperate.

Gu Ran then replied calmly: "Yes, Brother Bei, I am now playing as a left back for Southampton."

Beckham immediately said, "Hey, brother, you are so talented, why do you want to play for an English League One team, and play as a left back? No, no, as the big brother, I have to do you this favor! You listen to me, while the summer transfer window is still here, you should transfer to Manchester United, the biggest club in the Premier League, to play! Manchester United is my own people, if you go to Manchester United, everyone will take care of you!"

It’s true.

After so much foreplay, the main topic is the transfer to Manchester United.

Gu Ran smiled and refused directly: "Thank you, Brother Bei, but I think Southampton is not bad at the moment. I am very happy here."

There's no need to drag things out on this kind of thing, just refuse directly. Being nagging will only make things worse.

Although he did want to compensate Beckham, there was no need to sacrifice his own future to do so.

At worst, I can buy the Los Angeles Galaxy and let my good big brother help manage it.

After Gu Ran rejected him, he also gave him a little PUA, "Brother Bei, you won't stop treating me as a brother just because I'm not going to Manchester United, right?"

Beckham said quickly, "Of course not! Let's put things in perspective. How could we lose our relationship because of one sentence? But... I still can't help but say that Manchester United is a wealthy club. If you go to Manchester United, you will quickly become a big star in Europe. You should really think about it."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "No hurry, I want to lay a foundation in the lower leagues first. After all, I am still young."

Beckham was speechless.

Just now he kept calling me "good brother", which was very real. How come he was killed with just one sentence when we just talked about business? Am I not a good brother? Or am I not giving enough? This morning I patted my chest and promised old man Ferguson that I could make Gu Ran join Manchester United on his own initiative. How can I explain this situation to the old man? Beckham was unwilling to give up and continued to persuade him: "Brother, I think your skills are almost the same as mine. What foundation do you need to lay? To tell you the truth that I shouldn't say, isn't the reason we lay the foundation just to get into a big club? Besides, how much money can Southampton Club give you? What kind of team status can it give you? We are the Red Devils of Manchester United!"

It is true that Manchester United is the Red Devils, but as a reborn person, Gu Ran understands better than anyone that Sir Alex Ferguson is the soul of the Red Devils. Once Ferguson retires, Manchester United will only have its afterglow.

As long as Manchester United is controlled by the vampire Glazer family, nothing good will happen to Manchester United.

In the whole world, only Sir Alex Ferguson can fight against the Glazer family. If he really transfers to Manchester United at this time, then as soon as Sir Alex Ferguson retires next year, he will be falling into a fire pit.

How could one be so determined to plunge into a pit of pure fire after being reborn?

Gu Ran smiled and said, "I don't really care about weekly salary and contract position, but since you asked, Brother Bei, I will answer truthfully: my current weekly salary is 8,000 pounds, and my contract position is the only core of the team. Southampton's tactics are all centered around me."

Beckham on the other end of the phone was instantly speechless.

This, this, this, how can we continue this discussion?

This guy's weekly salary is higher than my current weekly salary in Milan! I should call him big brother! Southampton... is really willing to give it to him!

Even though Manchester United is a wealthy club, it is absolutely impossible for them to offer Gu Ran a weekly salary of 8,000 pounds, let alone give him a core position in a team full of big names. Moreover, the Glazer family behind Manchester United will eat the bones of the enemy even if they eat him...

Beckham cleared his throat awkwardly. "Well... I think we shouldn't pay too much attention to weekly salary and contract status. Manchester United has cultural heritage and the greatest coach Ferguson."

Gu Ran smiled and said, "Brother Bei, no matter what, I am very grateful that you called me and I am very happy to chat with you. But I think let's forget about the transfer to Manchester United. We are brothers, so we only talk about feelings, not transfers, okay? It's getting late now, and I have to get up early tomorrow to train for the next game. So let's stop here today and talk later, okay?"

"Gu, how about you reconsider it?"

"Okay, I'll think about it. Bye."

"Oh, bye."

After they hung up the phone, Beckham held the phone with a depressed look on his face.

I originally thought that from the perspective of strength and status, Gu Ran would be excited to join the Red Devils family and could also earn a big favor. But unexpectedly, Gu Ran was not interested in Manchester United!

This, this, this! Who can refuse Manchester United? Who can refuse Ferguson? As a child of the Red Devils, Beckham was puzzled.

The eldest brother and his brothers did acknowledge it, but it seemed as if they didn't really accept it.

Beckham took a deep breath and called Ferguson.

"Coach, it's me. Sorry to bother you so late." Beckham's voice was a little nervous. Even though he had left Manchester United for a long time, he would uncontrollably become nervous whenever he talked to coach Ferguson.

This sense of tension has already seeped into his blood.

In front of Ferguson, there have never been any big-name stars, they are all his children.

Ferguson's dominance over the locker room extends not only to the locker room, but also to the lives of every Manchester United player.

"My son, how is things going?" Coach Ferguson's voice came from the other end of the phone.

Ferguson's voice is very distinctive. As a Scotsman, he speaks the most bizarre Glaswegian dialect in Scotland. Not only is it difficult for players outside the UK to understand, even British players sometimes find it difficult to understand.

But Beckham has long been accustomed to Ferguson's accent, which is intimidating but not angry.

Beckham apologized: "I'm sorry, coach, I couldn't convince Gu Ran to join Manchester United."

"Oh?" There was no disappointment in Coach Ferguson's voice, but just a hint of surprise.

Beckham explained: "I first tried to get close to him by saying that we both knew how to use the scimitar. In fact, I was quite successful in this step. I learned that he was exactly like me when I was a child, and we both used tires to practice free kicks. We also had a good conversation at the beginning, but when I mentioned that I wanted to help him transfer to Manchester United and make him a big star, he directly refused."

"Oh." Coach Ferguson on the other end of the phone obviously understood.

Beckham continued: "I didn't have the chance to mention the weekly salary and treatment that Manchester United could offer him, because he directly said that Southampton would offer him 8,000 pounds a week, and the contract positioning was the only tactical core of the team. As soon as I heard it, I knew there was no need to mention Manchester United's 1,500 weekly salary as a substitute."

"Yeah, it's really a big difference..." Coach Ferguson on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, I already know about this. You tried your best, son, I believe you must have tried your best. As for the result, it doesn't matter. Fortunately, I know it not too late. The summer transfer period has not completely ended. I will find a way to deal with the rest of the matter. Now, you should go to bed."

Beckham suddenly felt guilty, "I'm so sorry, coach. I've let you down again."

Coach Ferguson said, "No, son, I am not disappointed. I am very satisfied with you for being able to recruit talents for the Red Devils after leaving. Moreover, Gu Ran is indeed not so easy to poach. If Gu Ran was easy to poach, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City would have succeeded long ago."

Beckham was stunned. "My little brother is actually being considered by so many big clubs! We can't give up on him!"

Coach Ferguson said, "Okay, my son, go to bed."

"Yes, coach."

After hanging up the phone, Beckham couldn't calm down for a long time: My little brother is so awesome!

I really should meet him offline and have a good chat.

It's a pity that my friends and I are in Milan and the Serie A schedule is very tight, so I can't go back to the UK for the time being. Otherwise, we could really make an appointment.

etc……

Beckham suddenly had an idea: I can't go back, but doesn't my wife Victoria go back often? Can't I just let my wife persuade Gu Ran? Although my wife is not a football player, she is a big sister in the entire entertainment and fashion industry! Beckham slapped his thigh, "I am such a genius!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Victoria pushed the door open in a thin nightgown, "What are you so happy about?"

Beckham said excitedly: "Wife, I want you to help me convince my little brother - please!"

Victoria chuckled and then closed the door behind her. "Damn it! Why are you upgrading your skills?"

Beckham:??? ……

(End of this chapter)