Chapter 738 Okay, I’ll satisfy you!

Bert Hoyet paid attention to Mark Parker's expression and understood the conflict in his boss's heart.

On the one hand, it is obvious that Nike realizes this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If it seizes it, it is very likely to quickly consolidate and expand Nike's momentum, just like Adidas seized FIFA's opportunity.

But on the other hand, I am very worried. After all, the risk of doing so is too great.

But isn’t this how the world is?

Crisis, crisis, there is opportunity only when there is crisis, don’t fortune and misfortune always go hand in hand?

"Mark, you just said that Yang Huan has already controlled the teams in four of the five major leagues. I must remind you that he is actively preparing to enter the fifth major league!"

"What?" Mark Parker was a little surprised. "Bundesliga?"

"Yes, if the intelligence is correct, there should be some progress!"

"How is this possible?" Mark Parker shook his head. "Don't Bundesliga teams allow foreign investment?"

"Who said that? The media?" Bert Hoyet burst out laughing. "Besides reading out the rules, what else can they do?"

Mark Parker remained silent because he knew very well that as long as there were rules, there would be loopholes.

For large companies operating commercially, exploiting vulnerabilities is simply their specialty.

Not to mention other companies, how many employees does Nike have in its legal department?

This group of people have nothing to do all day long, so they specialize in studying the legal provisions of various countries to play with. Just throwing any one of them out can fool reporters all over the world.

"If the German Football Association's terms were really effective, Hoffenheim wouldn't have existed, and there wouldn't have been RB Leipzig in the past few years. RB Leipzig's promotion to the Bundesliga this season is a foregone conclusion. Who can do anything to them?"

According to the regulations of the German Football Association, Bundesliga clubs must maintain financial health, but what is the reality?

Hoffenheim's rise is due to the boss's spending. Without Dietmar Hopp's huge investment, would Hoffenheim be able to enter the Bundesliga? Would they be able to gain a foothold in the Bundesliga?

As for RB Leipzig, that's even more embarrassing.

You said that the club cannot be owned by a company and cannot be fully controlled by any individual, right?

Okay, I'll satisfy you!

Since you want a membership system, I will give you a membership system. I will create eleven members and a membership system.

What? Members must be locals?

Okay, I'll satisfy you. I'll specially invite eleven Germans to be members. Are you satisfied?

What? You're accusing me of limiting membership access?

Please, we are a high-end, classy team, how can anyone become a member so easily?

Look at Southampton, their annual membership fee is as high as 100,000 pounds. I only charge an annual fee of 1,000 euros, which is already quite cost-effective, okay?

Besides, what’s it to you how much my membership fee is?

If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll sue you!

Anything else? If you have anything else, tell me now and I will satisfy you!

What? No, but I'm not allowed to do this?

I’m going to sue you!

Damn it, I just don’t believe it. Which article in German law says that I can’t do this?

I'm doing everything according to your rules, but you still don't allow me to run the team. What do you mean?

The final result is that Hoffenheim passed the test smoothly and RB Leipzig is about to pass the test!

Mark Parker was stunned when he heard this. He never thought that this is how things could be played in professional football.

Bert Hoyet laughed, "Mark, you have to believe that when it comes to tricks and gimmicks, those who play football are nothing but hungry babies in front of the experts from big companies. They are not worth mentioning at all!"

Mark Parker feels the same way.

He himself was in charge of football affairs, so he could understand how poorly and badly those professional teams, even many top teams, were operated. Their efficiency was so low that you could hardly imagine.

Even many so-called professionals are pure jokes to outsiders!

Of course, one thing that must be said is that even if you invite the world's most powerful elites to run a football club, they may not be able to adapt, because professional football is a very special thing, and people who are not familiar with it and do not understand it simply cannot play it.

Therefore, it is so rare and precious to have professional managers like Peter Kenyon, Ron Gourlay and Daniel Levy who are familiar with football and have professional abilities.

"Belt, do you mean that Yang Huan wants to acquire a Bundesliga team?" Mark Parker suddenly became interested.

The Bundesliga has always been the stronghold of Adidas and Puma. Although Nike can squeeze in, it can only support some marginal players. As for Bayern Munich, all its shares have been sold to Adidas, and it is completely isolated from Nike.

Dortmund is also said to be selling part of its shares to Puma to further consolidate this cooperation.

If a Bundesliga team rises strongly at this time, not to mention challenging Bayern Munich's dominance, it only needs to reach Dortmund's level, which will help Nike further enter the German market.

Bert Hoyet had the same idea, nodded and smiled, "Yes, and it is a team with great potential."

"Who?" Mark Parker became interested.

"Hamburger!"

"Hamburger?" Mark Parker suspected he had heard it wrong.

But Bert Hoyet nodded very affirmatively, "Yes, hamburgers!"

"How is this possible?" Mark Parker was completely confused. "Hamburg is now in the relegation zone and is the favorite to be relegated from the Bundesliga this season. Yang Huan wants to acquire Hamburg?"

Bert Hoyte nodded heavily. "Although I don't know their specific acquisition plan, I have received news that the two parties have reached a preliminary intention. However, I don't know how to distribute the equity and who will be responsible for the club's operation."

"Why a hamburger?" Mark Parker had no idea.

Yes, this team is indeed the most traditional powerhouse in the Bundesliga besides Bayern Munich, but over the years, Hamburg has already declined and is no longer as strong as it once was. Now it has even become a relegation team.

The only thing Hamburg can be proud of, their glorious history of never being relegated from the Bundesliga, may very well be wiped out this season. So, what is there for Yang Huan to value about such a team?

Bert Hoyet shook his head and laughed, "Yang Huan doesn't focus on results when selecting the team."

"What's important then?"

“Business environment!”

"What's the meaning?"

"Hamburg is Germany's largest port, with developed commerce, and is quite international and modern, unlike Munich, which is a typical German city. Hamburg's population ranks second in Germany, but its per capita GDP is far ahead in Germany, even far exceeding Munich and Berlin."

"Not only that, there are more than 500 European branches of Chinese companies settled in Hamburg, which ranks first in Germany. With the visit of the Chinese president to Germany this year, the economic and trade relations between the two sides will expand again. Hamburg will attract more Chinese companies to settle down."

"In terms of tourism resources, Hamburg is located close to Northern Europe. It also has high-quality tourism resources and good public security. Therefore, it is very suitable to be a stopover for foreign tourists, especially those interested in Northern Europe."

Mark Parker had to admit that after Bert Hoyet's analysis, it seemed to make some sense.

"More importantly, I checked Hamburg's financial revenue. This team, which is stuck in the Bundesliga relegation zone, ranks 19th in Europe in terms of revenue. And this is even without any income from European competitions, low ticket prices, and pitifully little income from broadcasting fees. This shows how amazing Hamburg's commercial operation potential is!"

"Looking at Yang Huan's past acquisitions, he values ​​not only football but also the business environment. Combining all these factors, Hamburg has great potential. At least from the perspective of business environment, it is not inferior to Bayern Munich at all. In fact, Hamburg has also competed with Bayern Munich in the north and south in history, but the management of the club has been too fucked up in the past 20 to 30 years!"

Mark Parker understood everything by now.

He knew Hamburg and the potential of this city, but he didn't expect that Yang Huan's vision would be so sharp.

In fact, Bert Hoyet has not mentioned the key point, that is, within Germany, Hamburg's status has already surpassed Berlin. Germany intends to host the Olympic Games in 2024, and will apply to host the European Cup and the Champions League before that. Among them, the host cities, without exception, all promote Hamburg.

Under such circumstances, it is not surprising that Yang Huan chose a hamburger.

However, he was somewhat skeptical as to how Yang Huan would acquire Hamburger.

Also, after he acquired Hamburg, can he bring this former Bundesliga giant back to the ranks of the Bundesliga's strong teams?

"To be honest, Mark, I have no doubt that Yang Huan's acquisition of Hamburg will be successful. The German Football Association and even the German government will not reject his acquisition."

"Why?" Mark Parker was a little confused.

Bert Hoyte smiled and said, "Who can resist investment from China now? If a Chinese owner appears in the Bundesliga, do you know how much benefit this will bring to the entire Bundesliga?"

"Also, judging from Yang Huan's investment in Southampton and Madrid, he will definitely invest heavily in Hamburg after acquiring the city. In the past few years, the Hamburg municipal government has been eager to attract more Chinese tourists and investors. Yang Huan's arrival will help them achieve this goal."

Although Mark Parker was reluctant to accept it, he had to admit that it was the fact.

Investment from Chinese companies has become something that all governments around the world are eager to win, and Chinese tourists are known for their generosity.

Let me ask you, after cities like Frankfurt and Munich have tasted the sweetness of Chinese tourists, will Hamburg be willing to refuse this piece of fat meat?

Although the German Football Association is independent of the government system, it has to bow and compromise to the government in many cases.

Why were Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig able to pass the test smoothly?

Ultimately, the German Football Association is also afraid that the matter will become a big deal and even resort to legal means.

If this case really goes to court, the German Football Association will definitely lose!

"Mark!" Bert Hoyet said this and stared at Mark Parker seriously.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have great confidence in Yang Huan and I think he will succeed. In fact, he has always been successful, and this time is no exception!"

Bert Hoyet's words made Mark Parker fall into deep thought again.

He almost went through Bert Hoyet's entire plan from beginning to end in his mind.

Bert Hoyet sat opposite him the whole time, looking at his immediate superior with concern.

Every decision made by the other party at this time may change the future development direction of the company at any time and anywhere.

Therefore, we have to be cautious, and again cautious.

After a few minutes, Mark Parker raised his head again, looked at Bert Hoyet, smiled slightly, nodded and said: "Okay, Bert, you can propose your plan at the board meeting, I will support you!"

Hearing these words, Bert Hoyet's old face suddenly broke into a smile!