After the first 28 rounds of La Liga this season, Atletico Madrid, who are temporarily third in the standings and have 60 league points, are already 11 points ahead of Real Sociedad in fifth place. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 With only ten rounds left in the league, as long as there are no big surprises, Atletico Madrid will certainly not fall out of the top four in the league standings.

In doing so, they will return to the UEFA Champions League after a three-year absence.

However, before the end of this season's league, well-known Spanish media such as "As" and "Daily Sports" broke the news that Atletico Madrid's top scorer, nicknamed "Tiger", Colombian player Falcao (Radamelfalcao), will leave the team after the end of this season's league.

So, after learning that the team's "thigh" will leave the team at the end of the season, the team's head coach Diego Simeone (Diegosimeone) went to the club's president Enrique Cerezo in a rage.

"Enrique, why didn't you notify me beforehand if you were going to sell the tiger?" Simeone said with some excitement.

"Hehe, Diego, don't be so excited." Enrique Cerezo said with a smile. "The other party also just contacted us a few days ago, and we are not sure that we want to sell the 'tiger', so we haven't notified you."

If it were someone else in the club who spoke to him like that, Enrique Cerezo would not have been so polite. However, when this man was Simeone, who led the team last year and won the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in a row, Enrique Cerezo was still very face-saving.

In fact, if it weren't for Simeone's leadership of Atletico Madrid, they would have successfully built a solid defense and tenacious team, and they would have liked to reuse young homegrown players. With the club's very limited financial resources, not to mention winning two European trophies in a row, it is extremely difficult to even qualify for European competitions.

Although Simeone pursues an iron-fisted policy towards the training and management of the team, the atmosphere in the team's dressing room is surprisingly harmonious under the "level play" environment he has created. Moreover, Simeone's personality charm also made most of the players in the team willing to work for him.

Therefore, in the face of Simeone's questioning, Enrique Cerezo's response strategy was to smile.

"Enrique, I think trust is a very important thing in any situation. Perhaps, that's what you're talking about, but I hope that the club will let me know in advance when they make some important decisions about the team. Otherwise, ask the club to hire another high-ranking person...... Simeone prepared to leave Enrique Cerezo's office.

Before Simeone could walk out the door, he was stopped by Enrique Cerezo.

"Wait a minute, Diego. I think we should continue our conversation as I'm going to talk to you about the club's goals for next season. ”

Simeone didn't speak, but sat back down on the couch.

"Diego, I'm really sorry for not informing you about the 'Tiger' beforehand. However, if we are able to reach a transfer agreement with the other side, the club will receive at least a transfer fee of around 50 million euros. After a slight pause, Enrique Cerezo continued: "I think you are also very aware of the financial situation of the team, and if we don't sell the 'Tigers', we can't do much in the summer transfer window. Also, the fact that the guy's agent wants the team to increase his annual salary significantly, I think you should already know about it, right? ”

Simeone nodded, but still didn't speak.

"So I think it would be a great thing to sell Tiger for a good price and then use that transfer fee to strengthen the squad so that we can storm the Champions League next season. What do you think? Enrique Cerezo asked tentatively.

"That's true. But, Enrique, have you ever wondered who will fill the void left by Tiger if we sell it? Simeone said, glancing at the other party.

"Hehe, Diego, I remember you told me that the Brazilian guy with the same name as you doesn't seem to be much worse than 'Tiger' in scoring ability, right? And, in my impression, his goals this season are not much less than Falcao's, right? ”

After a moment of silence, Simeone spoke again: "Enrique, what you said is indeed right. However, if the 'Tigers' are sold, the team will only have one striker left in the next season, Diegoda Silva Costa, who has a relatively consistent scoring ability. So, if you're going to sell Falcao, you'll have to bring in a suitable replacement for the squad once the summer transfer window opens. ”

Seeing that Simeone's attitude had eased, Enrique Cerezo smiled and said, "Don't worry, Diego." What you told me about David last month, Paul [Ford Lei, general manager of Atletico Madrid] has basically negotiated with Barcelona. If 'Tiger' leaves in the summer, then we will bring in David immediately. ”

As soon as Enrique Cerezo's words fell, Simeone's face immediately looked much better.

"That's right, Diego. The Chinese who played in the Bundesliga, the one you asked the club to help you look at a month ago, Gerardo (Guzmán Geradoguzmán Atletico Madrid's chief scout) sent back a detailed scouting report last night. As he spoke, Enrique Cerezo handed Simeone a stack of nearly 20 pages of scouting reports, along with a portable hard drive.

"If you're okay with this Chinese, I'll let Paul handle his transfer."

"Enrique, I can't give you an accurate answer right away. I'll give you an accurate answer tomorrow morning after I've finished reading Gerardo's scouting report and his game footage......"

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This was despite a brace from Mario Balotelli to win over visiting Palermo at the San Siro and cement the team's third place in the Serie A standings.

However, when a reporter asked AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri in his post-match press conference: "...... What is your opinion on the fact that the team once again relied on Mario (Balotelli) to win the game? The expression on Allegri's face suddenly became a little difficult to look at.

"Although Mario once again scored two goals in this game, I would say that the whole team is a unit. Without the solid defence at the back and the strong support of other players in the midfield, it would be difficult for Mario to knock on the opponent's door alone. After a slight pause, Allegri continued: "So, the reason why the team was able to win this game today is that every player who came on the pitch contributed their due......

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Although Allegri said so, it is an indisputable fact that after the winter break, Balotelli almost single-handedly carried the attack of the Milan team.

Before the winter break, Stephanel Shaarawy, who played 18 league games for Milan and scored 14 goals, fell into a goal drought in 11 league games after Balotelli joined the team halfway through. Giampaolo Pazzini, who also performed well before the winter break, suffered a major injury shortly after Balotelli joined the team, ending the season early.

And the French teenager Niang, who joined the team at the beginning of the season, although he has great physical fitness, and his skills at his feet are not bad. However, the performance of nearly 20 league appearances without scoring a single goal is somewhat unsatisfactory.

and Bojankrkic, who was known as the "La Masia genius" who was not inferior to Messi...... Don't mention it.

Although qualifying for the Champions League is not a big problem after the end of this season's league season, how to rely on Berlusconi's limited financial resources to make the team more competitive next season has become the primary concern for Allegri at the moment, given that Berlusconi is unwilling to invest heavily in the club.

Although today's AC Milan team is much dimmer compared to the "Milan Dynasty" many years ago. But in fact, the team's defensive ability is quite good among Serie A teams. This is evidenced by being one of the three Serie A teams who have conceded the fewest goals for three consecutive seasons.

It's just that the team's midfield lacks a top-level playmaker to sort out the team's attack. Coupled with wide players such as Shaarawy and Niang, who do not have Bayern's Ribery and Chelsea's Hazard, they can easily tear apart the opponent's side defense, so that the team's forwards can deliver enough shells, which led to the AC Milan team being "crushed under the body" by the "old woman" for two consecutive years.

Although Allegri very much hopes that the club can also spend a lot of money in the transfer market like other giants, so as to improve the team's fighting power. However, after the club sold Zlatanibrahimovi and Thiago Silva last summer, Allegri knew that it would be a dream to get the "old club" to pay for the big names.

It was a surprise that the club were able to bring in Balotelli after the winter break.

Therefore, if you want to improve your squad next season through recruitment, you have to pick young players who are just emerging in European football and are still some way away from superstars. Or let the club's general manager Galliani, with his "bicycle tactics", use his "bicycle tactics" to bring in some "pseudo-superstars" who are older or gradually fall out of favor at the original club.

However, if Allegri had to choose for himself, he would prefer to choose young players with superstar potential. Because of those older "pseudo-superstars", although it seems that they can immediately improve the team's combat effectiveness. But in fact, their past "success stories" make it difficult for them to come to Milan and be as energetic as they were when they were younger.

And now the AC Milan team, which looks a little dull, needs the most is the hard work of young people.

As a result, Allegri has put all the focus of the team's recruitment next season on players under the age of 26.

Just as Allegri left the scene of the post-match press conference and left the San Siro stadium in the team's bus, his mobile phone suddenly rang.

"Hey, old man, how's your going over there...... What the!? That kid scored again? Hehe, what an incredible guy...... Okay Ricardo, I want you to give me a detailed scouting report within three days......"

After hanging up the phone, Allegri sighed unconsciously.

"What's the matter, Mano (Allegri's nickname)?" Assistant coach Maurotassotti asked with concern.

"Hey, the 18-year-old we fancy has scored again. Moreover, there are two more ...... this time," Allegri said with a bitter face.

"Uh...... I don't understand that. Shouldn't we be happy that he did a great job? Tassotti asked, confused.

"You're right. However, the more goals he scores, the more valuable he will become...... Do you think that with the current business strategy of the club, it will make an offer of more than 20 million euros for a young man who is not from the EU? Allegri said helplessly.

"Twenty million euros? Don't joke Mano, how can a Chinese be worth so much money? Tasotti said with some disdain.

"Hey, Mauro, if I told you that kid scored 14 goals in 13 appearances in the Bundesliga and also contributed 12 assists, would you still think 20 million euros is worth a lot?"

"What!? Is this true!? Tasotti asked in surprise.

"Yes, absolutely. Just now, Ricciardo, who has been following the kid's training and games for more than a month, told me that the kid is not only getting sharper and sharper in his dribbling, but also getting more and more accurate in passing. The accuracy of his shots, even from a distance of about twenty-five or six meters from the goal, is a noticeable improvement from before. ”

After a pause, Allegri continued: "And, Ricciardo also told me if we can't get that kid done before the end of the Bundesliga season. By the time he reaches this summer, he will even be worth as much as Eden Hazard, who moved to Chelsea Football Club last summer. ”

This time, even Tasotti couldn't help but sigh a little and said: "Hey, if it's really like you said, I'm afraid it's unlikely that the current Silvio (Berlusconi) will pay for that Chinese kid for us......"

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Although it was more than 1 o'clock in the morning on March 21, after reading the scouting report compiled by Gerardo Guzmán and the accompanying video materials, Diego Simeone, sitting in front of his laptop, not only did not feel the slightest tiredness, but also had an excited expression on his face.

Simone, who was full of excitement, didn't bother to glance at the time on the wall clock in the apartment, so he quickly picked up the mobile phone on the table and skillfully dialed a phone number......

――――――

Enrique Serezo, who had been partying with the Russians until midnight after finalising the transfer fee for Falcao, had just returned home before he could take off his coat when his mobile phone rang.

"Oh, what the hell! Who the hell is bothering me so late? Enrique Cerezo grumbled as he pulled his phone out of his bag...... (To be continued.) )