Chapter 705 The Third Pole
"Congratulations, Belt, you've been promoted and made a fortune!"
He is the former president of Nike Europe, Bert Hoyet.
However, more than a month ago, he was promoted to global vice president by Nike headquarters, with full responsibility for football affairs.
"Master Huan, please stop joking with me. If you want promotion, I can reluctantly admit it, but when it comes to getting rich, who can say that they are rich in front of you, Master Huan?" Bert Hoyet also laughed.
“Don’t be so modest!” Yang Huan waved his hand. “Nike has always attached great importance to football affairs. The current president, Mark Parker, was promoted because of his good work in the football affairs department. I think you will be the next one!”
Bert Hoyet shook his head and laughed, but did not refute. Obviously he understood it in his heart, and he was not completely without this idea. After all, a soldier who does not want to be a general is not a good soldier!
It’s no news that Nike takes football seriously.
Basketball and other fields have always been Nike's strengths, but football has always been Adidas's world.
Therefore, Nike's strategy has always been to stabilize the basketball and US domestic markets, and then gradually erode Adidas.
But in the past few years, the situation has changed a lot.
First, Adidas swallowed up Reebok and began to enter the US market in a big way. Relying on Reebok, it began to vigorously swallow up the areas that Nike originally excelled in, such as basketball.
But at the same time, Nike itself encountered many problems in acquisitions. Both Converse and Umbro obviously failed to achieve the expected results, especially Umbro. Although it strengthened Nike's business and capabilities in football, it failed to help Nike turn the situation around.
Not only that, New Balance has been reborn, growing at an astonishing double-digit rate every year in recent years. In addition, local brands such as Skechers and Saucony have also been developing at an astonishing speed.
In terms of size, brands such as New Balance, Skechers, and Saucony cannot pose a threat to Nike for the time being, but if they continue like this, who can guarantee that this will not happen in a few years?
Two years ago, Warrior Sports, the brand that defeated Nike and signed Liverpool, was not from New Balance?
In the future, will Skechers, Saucony and even some other brands do the same?
Not to mention, in addition to these American brands, China's sports brands are also developing very rapidly.
It can be said that Nike’s current situation is facing internal and external troubles, and it cannot be careless or relax at all.
That’s why Mark Parker had Bert Hoyet here.
"Master Huan, let me be frank. We hope to sign the main sponsorship contract for the International Champions Cup. We attach great importance to this cooperation. You should believe that our business capabilities in the United States are definitely better than any other brand!"
Yang Huan understood that although Nike had become too popular in North America and had long lost its former halo as a famous brand, when it came to the ability to operate and promote the brand, they were definitely second to none.
Even Adidas is not as good as this!
In the past, the International Champions Cup has collaborated with Adidas, and the results were not without merit, but they were somewhat less than expected.
After all, sports sponsorship these days is not just about you as the sponsor wanting to make a profit. Cup competitions like the International Champions Cup also hope to further promote and consolidate their brands through the sponsor's channels.
Why is the World Cup so popular?
Isn’t it because so many global brands are advertising and promoting him?
Every World Cup year, brands including Coca-Cola, Adidas, Nike, Heineken and others all rush in and hype the event, letting everyone in the world know: Oh, the World Cup is coming!
This is also the effect that the International Champions Cup aims for!
"You are right, Beltre, I totally agree with what you said." Yang Huan nodded.
Bert Hoyet also understood that it would be impossible to win by just talking about this advantage. The key was still interests.
"Master Huan, if we win the main sponsorship contract for the International Champions Cup this time, we will help you publicize and promote the International Champions Cup in all Nike stores around the world during the tournament. And I can guarantee that the sponsorship fee we offer will definitely not be lower than that of Adidas!"
With the current influence of the International Champions Cup, the only companies that can have a piece of this cake are Nike and Adidas.
As for other brands, especially the rapidly developing and eye-catching Chinese sports brands, they are not enough for the time being.
Yang Huan nodded again, smiled slightly, and winked at Sun Yue who was sitting next to him.
Who is Sun Yue?
When it comes to the ability to observe Master Huan's eyes, he considers himself second to none. Who dares to claim to be first?
So, after seeing Master Huan's expression, he immediately laughed and said, "Belt, you are absolutely right, but we plan to make some changes and adjustments this year."
"What do you mean?" Bert Hoyet looked at Sun Yue, somewhat puzzled.
"In addition to the International Champions Cup, we also hope to discuss the sponsorship of four teams, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Monaco and Southampton, together!"
"What?" Bert Hoyet was a little surprised.
Four teams put together?
Bert Hoyet was a little unconvinced and turned to look at Young Master Huan again.
Yang Huan nodded with a smile, which was considered as his agreement.
At this point, Bert Hoyet was really a little panicked because he was completely unprepared for this.
But it doesn’t matter. Today is just their first meeting. Both parties understand each other’s intentions, and the real negotiations haven’t begun yet!
"Belt, I think you should be very clear about our operational capabilities, which have been fully demonstrated in the past few years!"
Sun Yue said this with a confident smile, "We are absolutely confident that Southampton will continue to challenge for the Premier League title, and will build a team capable of challenging for the Champions League title within three years!"
If we had to choose a leader among the teams under Yang Huan, it would undoubtedly be Southampton.
The Saints are the team that Yang Huan has spent the most effort on over the past few years, and it is also the team that has achieved the best results.
Apart from anything else, as long as Southampton maintains its current momentum, it will definitely not be a problem for them to win the Champions League title within three years.
Of course, the impact is an impact, but whether you can get it requires a bit of luck.
"Atletico Madrid was the champion of La Liga last season. So far this season, it still maintains the top two rankings and is still capable of challenging for the league title. Our goal for the next few years is to be the champion!"
Sun Yue raised his eyebrows, "In other words, we hope to make Atletico Madrid the third pole of the La Liga in addition to Barcelona and Real Madrid in the next few years!"
These words made Bert Hoyet's eyes light up again.
The oligopoly game in La Liga can be said to have a long history.
Although there have been cases in the early years where teams such as Deportivo La Coruna, Valencia and Real Sociedad beat the two giants of the Spanish Super League and won the league championship, Valencia even once had the opportunity to compete with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
But in the end, regrettably, these teams all fell into decline.
But now it seems that Atletico Madrid undoubtedly has a good chance.
Apart from anything else, since Yang Huan acquired the team, in addition to building a new stadium, expanding the training base and youth training camp, he has also been continuously strengthening Atletico Madrid's recruitment of new players.
Before Atletico Madrid sold Mandzukic, many people thought that the Colchoneros might slip again.
But who could have thought that this season the trident consisting of Tevez, Diego Costa and Griezmann performed even better, scoring goals like a tide. In the midfield, the local midfield composed of Illarramendi, Koke and Isco was also quite powerful, combining both strength and flexibility.
On the defensive line, Otamendi has suppressed Godin and Miranda this season and has become the mainstay of the Colchoneros' defense. The two players behind him have to compete for another position. Juanfran and Felipe are as stable as ever.
As for Courtois, the goalkeeper, he has become the most dazzling goalkeeper rookie in La Liga.
In addition, players like Bietto, Krasi, Krychowiak, Jose Gaya, Montoya and others also performed quite well, plus young players such as Jose Jimenez, Velasquez, Oliver Torres, Saul and Correa.
Today's Atletico Madrid has a very good combination of old, middle-aged and young players. In theory, it is time to achieve results!
Judging from Bert Hoyte's many years of experience in European football, unless Atletico Madrid gets carried away and completely overturns its previous plan and does things like crazy, otherwise, given Atletico Madrid's current situation, even if it sells players, it will not have much impact on Atletico Madrid.
The reason is simple. Simeone's tactical system is complete and rigorous, and there are at least two players in each position in the team. Even if one is sold, another will quickly replace him, giving the club more time to select replacements.
Such a team is quite stable and its performance will not decline too much!
More importantly, Atletico Madrid now has a boss who is not short of money. Anyone who wants to poach players has to pay a high price. With ample funds, transfer operations will be more convenient and relaxed.
Therefore, Bert Hoyte also believes that Atletico Madrid does have the opportunity to become the third pole of the La Liga.
But whether it works or not, only time will tell!
"Belt, I wonder if you have watched the Ligue 1 recently?" Sun Yue asked with a smile.
Bert Hoyte shook his head, "But I know that Monaco has performed very well in the new season!"
Currently, Martino's Monaco, with the youngest average age in Ligue 1, has climbed to second place in the Ligue 1 standings, only behind Paris Saint-Germain. It even topped the league table for two weeks.
The team is full of rookies and talented people.
In the frontcourt, there is Mitrovic, the new Drogba, as well as talented newcomers like Aubameyang and Depay. Even players like Benzea, Martial, Towan, Fekir and others are quite eye-catching.
For example, Benzema is hailed as the new Benzema, while Martial is hailed as the new Henry.
In the midfield, players such as Verratti, Toularan, Biglia, Capoue, Kondogbia and others have also performed quite well, and this season, midfield superstars such as Rabiot have emerged, winning huge attention in European football.
There is no need to talk about the defense. Marquinhos, Zouma and Mangala are all hot central defenders in Europe. Any one of them is worth more than 30 million euros. Wing players such as Digne, Kurzawa, Denis Appiah and Aurier are also equally strong.
Goalkeeper Navas also performed steadily and reliably.
It can be said that although Monaco is a newly promoted team this season, it has demonstrated the strength to challenge the French Ligue 1 championship and has huge development potential.
Such a team is definitely worth looking forward to!
But this is not what Bert Hoyet cares about most.
What he really values is the effect that these four teams can bring once they join Nike's camp!