Chapter 18: The Super Magic of Money
Money is really magical.
No, LFC's football club manager, Stevenage Hoffman, a bad old man with almost no hair out, searched all the football agents and agencies during the summer window of '90, and went on a rampant hunt for players all over the world.
Just because Lu Zheng explained to Thompson and Dudeser that he would poach Coach John Cruyff "at all costs", Thompson may have been too excited, and as a result, when Thompson passed the word to Stevenage, it became "at all costs" to poach players.
Stevenage bragged to all the agents and intermediaries about how much the team's new owner values the player and the team, and is willing to do whatever it takes to develop the team, that is the new billionaire.
Originally, the Red Army was a veteran powerhouse close to a hundred years old, after his boasting, don't say it, the effect is very good, just look at the players he signed:
Signed Samba man for β¬1.5 million from Rome's Parma club β legendary goalkeeper Claudio Taffarell.
Spending β¬12 million from Inter Milan will win the Bundesliga just last season and is known as the most versatile left side of Germany's three carriages - Andreas Bremer.
For β¬6 million, the best newcomer in Europe, AC Milan's star of the game, left-back/centre-back - Paolo Maldini.
Spending β¬12 million from AC Milan will be awarded the "Superstar Award" for one of the world's great footballers, one of the famous "Three Musketeers of the Netherlands", the black swan - Frank Rijkaard.
For β¬5 million, the talented newcomer from Monaco - Gallic Roosters right-back - Lilian Thuram.
Spent β¬6 million to bring in the "Hand of God" from Napoli - the Pampas Eagles midfielder - Diego Maradona.
Spent β¬13 million to bring in a midfielder/defender who has just won the World Footballer of the Year and one of the famous "Three Musketeers of the Netherlands" - Ruth Gullit.
Spent β¬12 million to bring in Lothar Matthaus, the all-round king of Germany's three carriages and an evergreen striker, from Inter Milan.
For β¬12 million, he brought in three German carriage golden bombers from Inter Milan, striker JΓΌrgen Klinsmann.
For β¬10 million, the Prince of Ballet, one of the famous "Three Musketeers of the Netherlands", Marco van Basten, was brought in from AC Milan.
spent β¬1 million to bring in the "Marseille prodigy" - Zinedin Yazd Zidane.
Spent β¬15 million to bring in Samba's "lone wolf" from PSV Eindhoven - Sovusa Romagno.
Spent β¬3 million to bring in unlicensed coach Johan Cruyff from Barcelona.
My God, Lu Zheng wanted to cry without tears when he saw this list, so he almost pointed to Stevenage's head and scolded - you bad old man is very bad, this is preparing to make a mortal enmity with AC Milan and Inter Milan. If you do this, you are digging up someone's cornucopia, and cutting off people's money is equivalent to killing your parents, you are causing a big disaster.
It's a pity that it's only on the phone, and I can only comfort this bad old man: "But don't be afraid, I'm not afraid of the sky, I'm afraid that others will have a way to live." β
Stevenage was in a cold sweat on the other end of the phone, and he couldn't figure out the personality of the new owner, and he didn't know if he was as moody as some people. I heard that the new owner is still a young man, oops, it seems that the current young personality is strange, I can't figure it out as an old man, you see, it seems that I am still timid, afraid that I will have a mortal enmity with AC Milan and Inter Milan......
Stevenage's inner world is too rich, and when he heard that he was not afraid, his face finally bloomed with a smile that fascinated all the old women of Englesi, and he couldn't help but praise: This young man wants to get it.
Oh, what a young man, I'm afraid that others will have a way to live, wait a minute, I'm a little too old to turn around, he's praising me?
Well, that's right, it's right not to leave someone else alive!
In this very short period of time, Stevenage had a lot of interesting ideas in his mind.
Stevenage cautiously said into the phone: "Boss, these are all players who were recruited according to Mr. Thompson's instructions, but our club has a strong influence, and these players can come together." It is also an honor for them to be cared for by the Boss. β
Lu Zheng didn't want to talk much about this bad old man, he felt that he was already floating, and he still had a strong influence, and he had a few pounds and a few taels, and he didn't have any points in his heart?
continued to look at the list and explained lightly: "Since you have signed them, you should treat them well." After all, the club still depends on them to make money for us, you have to manage your subordinates well, and make all the staff and players feel at home at the club. This is also what I ask of myself and my employees in the company.
In addition, since these players have been signed, I took a look at the information of these players, plus the team's own you are ready to let the head coach and the players run in and practice 3143 and 443 formations, forget it, I don't care about these. You make sure the manager makes sure that every player gets the most out of their strengths and tells the lads: I'm going to watch their first game. β
Without waiting for Stevenage to speak, he pointed to the name of Da Luo in the list and said: "I'll go, you actually spent only β¬100,000 to sign the 14-year-old Samba Ronaldo and put him in the academy." Well done!"
Lu Zheng was so excited that he almost blurted out, that is the superstar of the future - alien Da Luo!
Lu Zheng felt: Why are there so many surprises today, I feel that I am now floating in the clouds, it is so beautiful!
However, when I saw the expenditure of about 100 million, I felt that I was down-to-earth.
According to the club's latest financial report, Lu Zheng earned a total of β¬65 million from selling players, a total of β¬108.6 million on buying players and coaches, and a net loss of β¬43.6 million.
But when I think about the good results of the club in the later stage, there will be more sponsorships, and the ticket revenue will be higher. If the supply of tickets for Anfield Stadium is outstripped, it is estimated that the price will rise, after all, there are so many superstars.
Lu Zheng thought so much here, and Stevenage's high-pitched baritone finally sounded in Lu Zheng's ears: "Boss, the contracts signed by this batch of players this time are quite long: the goalkeeper has signed for 8 years, the Dutch Three Musketeers and the German Three Carriages have been signed for 10 years, the "Hand of God" has been signed for 5 years, the "Marseille Prodigy" has been signed for 10 years, the "Lone Wolf" has been signed for 8 years, Mr. Cruyff has been signed for 5 years, and the Samba boy Ronaldo has been signed for 15 years.
The contract stipulates: Except for retirement, after the expiration of the contract, our club has the right of first refusal to sign. In the future, our club will only account for 30% of their advertising agency fees. They also own 100% of the image rights, which I gave to them. But if they default, the penalty is 500% of the signing fee......"
When Lu Zheng heard this, he smiled knowingly: "Sure enough, Jiang is still old and spicy, you have done it so well, I should have explained it, then for the rest, the club will take out the results to give back to the fans and me!"
Now, on behalf of the loyal fans, I'll be waiting to see if there is an important game to let me know a few days in advance. β
After saying that, he hung up happily.