Chapter 302: Battle for Eastern Su
Benítez is gone!
After the official announcement, Benítez called Su Dong and told him the news.
Everyone else, it was said, just sent a text message.
Benítez is a man of few words. He did not say much to Su Dong, only saying that he had new pursuits. On the contrary, assistant coach Jesterdan, who was a member of Benítez's team, naturally left the team as well.
In the phone call to Su Dong, Yestdan explained the reason.
Since coaching Valencia for a few years, Benítez has had the idea of leaving many times. Even last summer, if Valencia did not sign Su Dong in the end, Benítez might have left the team in anger.
"You can say that it was you who made him stay in the team for one more year!"
After winning the second La Liga title and a Champions League title, Benítez no longer has anything to pursue in Valencia, especially in this year's La Liga. Either Sudon will leave or key players such as Aimar and Ayala will leave. It will be difficult for Valencia to reproduce the peak of the past season.
It was at this time that Liverpool fired French head coach Houllier and contacted Benítez. The two sides hit it off. Liverpool promised to give Benítez more power, and Benítez wanted to go to Liverpool to try it out.
"Both Roig and Subirats tried to persuade him to stay, but Rafa was determined to leave. You know, he is incredibly stubborn!"
Yestdan's joke made Su Dong couldn't help but smile.
Su Dong has very mixed feelings towards Benítez.
He has always felt that there is a sense of alienation between himself and Benítez, and it is always difficult for the two to get along.
On the contrary, it was assistant coach Jesterdan who was able to get along well with the players.
Just like now, when I am about to leave the team, Benítez called me and just gave me a notification, then hung up without saying a few words.
But Yestdan was different. He called and could talk to Su Dong for a while.
That's the difference! Sometimes, Su Dong really feels that Benítez can't leave Yestedam, otherwise, his coaching will definitely be a problem! "Rafa said that his only regret for leaving Valencia was that Liverpool was too poor!" Yestedam said with a wry smile.
"Why?" Su Dong was a little puzzled.
"If possible, he really wants to buy you to Liverpool, but now you are too expensive and Liverpool can't afford you!"
Su Dong smiled bitterly. Was he praising him? Valencia's price for him was indeed quite high, from 30 million euros at first, to 40 million and 50 million later. After the Champions League final, there was news that Valencia's price for Su Dong was no less than 70 million euros.
What does this mean? When the world's top star Zidane transferred from Juventus to Real Madrid, the transfer fee was 75 million euros, setting a new record. Now, Valencia's price for Su Dong is as high as 70 million euros, which is even more than that. Even Su Dong himself can't believe it.
"To be honest, Paco, I don't have high demands for personal treatment. I am more concerned about competitive factors," said Su Dong.
"That's right, Su." Jestedan replied, "You are still young, and money is not important to you. The most important thing is to seize the opportunity, rush forward in one go, elevate your career to a whole new level, and establish your position in European football, and even world football."
"At your age, if you want to make money, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. You probably don't lack money now, but if you don't handle the next step of the transfer well, you may fall at any time. There are too many such cases. We must pay enough attention to it. It's best to join a big club where you can play football steadily and help you run the business."
"If you can get into the top three for the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year at the end of the year, or even win these two individual honors, your career will be completely different."
Su Dong understood, "But this is difficult, Paco."
This year is the year of the European Cup. Although Su Dong has performed quite well in the Champions League and La Liga, generally speaking, competition years pay more attention to the performance in the European Cup. If any superstar shines in the European Cup, there will be basically no chance for Su Dong.
"So, this kind of thing is to do your best and leave the rest to fate. The most important thing for you now is to find a team that can help you operate, maintain the performance in the first half of the year, maintain this momentum, and keep moving forward. As for the rest, it is beyond your control."
Jestedan's words were blunt, but that's how professional football is sometimes.
This year is a major opportunity for Su Dong.
If he had caught it, his career would have been completely different, but if he missed it, he didn't know when it would come again.
According to Jesterdam, Chelsea basically does not have the ability to operate in this way.
"Paco, why do I feel like you are afraid that I will transfer to the Premier League and become your enemy?" Su Dong laughed.
Jestindan was stunned for a moment, then he realized that he was about to go to Liverpool, and he laughed out loud.
"If you have the talent, you'd better join Manchester United. We are still sworn enemies."
But soon, Jestedan changed the subject, "Ferguson, this old fox, is best at watching from the sidelines. I guess he thinks you are too popular, too hyped, and too valuable, so he wants to give you a cold shoulder."
"Everyone knows that Manchester United lacks defenders in midfield, but look, Stam has been away for a few years. Apart from Ferdinand, how many defenders has Manchester United spent money to buy? Because defenders are expensive now, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona and other giants are all short of defenders. Ferguson would rather not buy than spend a lot of money."
"Ferguson is too familiar with the Premier League." Su Dong deeply agrees. "With his coaching ability and Manchester United's strength, he has the confidence to manage the team without buying defenders, so he dares to do this. If it were someone else, it would have failed long ago."
"Yes, this is the difference in rank!"
…………
…………
After hanging up the phone with Yestedan, Su Dong thought a lot.
When it comes to the ability to operate the World Footballer of the Year and the Ballon d'Or, Real Madrid is undoubtedly the world's number one.
Not to mention anything else, just look at the recent World Footballer of the Year and Ballon d'Or awards, most of which have been monopolized by Real Madrid, which makes Real Madrid a well-deserved top club in the world, attracting countless players.
But the problem is that Real Madrid cannot devote all its resources to helping Su Dong, because Real Madrid itself has a number of superstars.
Barcelona is one of the most influential top clubs after Real Madrid, and also has a super star operation ability. Looking at the current Barcelona lineup, only Ronaldinho has the ability to compete for the highest award.
But judging from the performance in the past season, Ronaldinho is outstanding, but Su Dong has better results and better performance, and both are from La Liga. Unless there is a reversal in the second half of the season, or the club Su Dong is in is too weak, otherwise, there is a high possibility that Su Dong will suppress Ronaldinho.
If nothing unexpected happens, Su Dong will have three biggest competitors for the 2004 Golden Globe Award.
Ronaldinho of Barcelona, Henry who helped Arsenal win the championship undefeated, and Shevchenko who plays for AC Milan.
Among them, according to Italian media reports, Shevchenko is interested in transferring to Chelsea, but AC Milan tried to retain him by helping Ukraine's nuclear warhead operate the Golden Globe Award. It is said that Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi personally lobbied for him.
The current situation in Serie A is somewhat complicated, with the top teams generally tightening their purse strings, especially after Roma and Lazio were caught in a debt crisis. Serie A's situation is even worse. It is basically impossible for Serie A to come up with such a high transfer fee to operate Su Dong.
Then, there are actually even fewer options left for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
This is normal. The top the star, the fewer transfer options he has.
…
Su Dong has always maintained close contact with Mendes and followed the developments in European football.
The biggest news in the La Liga transfer market is that Real Madrid has learned from the lessons of last season and started to introduce midfielders and defenders in the transfer market. First, it introduced Gravesen from Everton, Samuel from Roma, and Woodgate from Newcastle, introducing three powerful defensive players in one go.
Real Madrid's consecutive big moves shocked the entire Spanish football world.
You know, Real Madrid used to be strong in offense but weak in defense, and defense was a long-standing problem. But now, with the addition of two outstanding central defenders, Samuel and Woodgate, and Gravesen in the defensive midfielder position, everyone believes that Real Madrid will become even stronger in the new season.
After introducing a series of midfield and backcourt players, Real Madrid also began to operate superstars in the frontcourt.
According to Real Madrid's mouthpiece AS, the negotiations between Real Madrid and Valencia were not smooth. There were problems in the deal to introduce Sudong. Valencia was not willing to sell Sudong to Real Madrid. Even if Florentino promised to increase the transfer fee to 80 million euros, Valencia was still not interested.
Real Madrid has also begun to prepare substitute plans in full swing. If Su Dong fails to sign, they will introduce English striker Michael Owen from Liverpool.
Valencia general manager Subiraz publicly stated that the team has not reached an agreement with any club on Sudong's transfer, which also means that Valencia is still waiting for a price.
Of course, according to the terms of the contract, no matter which offer Valencia ultimately decides to accept, Sudong has the final say, and he can get 20% of the transfer fee.
This undoubtedly gives him more autonomy in this transfer.
…
While Real Madrid is making big signings, Barcelona is also not idle.
After signing Belletti and Sylvinho early on, Valencia signed Deco from Porto and Edmilson from Lyon. The addition of these Brazilian players has rapidly expanded Barcelona's Samba Army.
Barcelona is also actively working on Sudon. Mundo Deportivo reported that President Laporta is ready to do his best to bring in Sudon to balance the team's dependence on Brazilian players, especially Ronaldinho, and to share the influence of Vice President Rosell in the locker room.
Anyone can see that the battle between the two Spanish Super League giants for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe is becoming increasingly fierce.
(End of this chapter)
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