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Hoffenheim is made up of two German words, "hoffen" means "hope" (verb) and "heim" means "home" (noun). Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 ｉｎｆｏ

It is a "home of hope" when practiced.

And today, within this small village, Hoffenheim FC welcomes a man who is said to give them more hope.

It wasn't the first time Chu Zhongtian had come to Hoffenheim, so when he saw the sign at the door, he smiled knowingly.

"If the dog rushes out, lie on the ground and wait for rescue. If no one comes, then you can only wish you good luck! ”

It's so nostalgic. The first time I saw him was two years ago, in 2006, when he and Metz came here to play, and the day before the game, he and his teammates went out to Hoffenheim.

At that time, Ribery complained to himself that it was simply a village, and he still wished there were more big cities. Playing in Metz, he travels to Paris and Marseille whenever he has a holiday, and he really likes the big cities.

On the other side, Ibisevic thinks that there is nothing wrong with the small village, small but quiet, and he likes quiet places.

The past came to mind, and now he and the two are separated, Ribery is in Bayern Munich, Ibisevic is still in Metz, and he has come to this small village with a relationship.

At the time, he must not have imagined that he would one day move to this team.

Fate is a wonderful thing.

Rangnick, who followed Chu Zhongtian to get out of the car from the other side, found Chu Zhongtian standing at the door of the club, but he was looking at a sign on the side of the road and was distracted.

"What's wrong, Chu?" He asked.

Chu Zhongtian retracted his gaze and shook his head with a smile: "It's nothing, I suddenly remembered something." ”

"I know you came here with the team to play a warm-up game two years ago......"

"Yes, I didn't think I would join Hoffenheim."

Rangnick smiled and patted him on the shoulder, "Let's go, everyone is waiting for you." ”

Rangnick is not talking about the media, nor his new team-mates, but the team doctor and the president of the club.

On June 20, when the European Cup was in full swing, Chu Zhongtian dealt with all the things in Metz, said goodbye to his friends one by one, notified his teammates, and gave Metz coach Jean Metz who was on vacation. Fernandes called in to thank him for helping and nurturing him over the past four seasons.

After doing all this, he came to Hoffenheim today by plane, train, car and other means of transport.

He will undergo a medical examination here and, if he does, sign a four-year contract with the club.

The contract raised his weekly salary to 60,000 euros, and his annual salary after tax was 3.12 million euros, which is the highest weekly salary in Hoffenheim's current player contract.

Although after the team is promoted, some players are talking to the team about new contracts, but it is estimated that no one can exceed Chu Zhongtian's contract.

In order to attract Chu Zhongtian to play for the team, Hoffenheim really spared no effort.

The transfer fee of 30 million euros is currently the highest value in the Bundesliga this summer. I wonder if he will become the "standard king" of the Bundesliga this season!

"China Standard King"! Those Chinese media who followed Chu Zhongtian from Ligue 1 to Bundesliga have good hype material again. Now they all have it - "the most expensive player in the history of Chinese professional football!" "Asia's most valuable player is born!"

The previous highest transfer fee for a Chinese player was set by Dong Fangzhuo, who moved to Manchester United for £3.5 million, which is also the third highest transfer fee for Asian players. The record for the highest transfer fee for an Asian player belongs to retired Japanese star Hidetoshi Nakata, who moved to Parma for £18.6 million after helping the team win the Serie A title in the 2000-01 season in Roma.

In second place belongs to South Korean star Park Ji-sung, who moved to Manchester United for £4 million in July 2005. He won the Premier League title with Manchester United, and just this season, he also lifted the Champions League trophy with Manchester United, becoming the most successful overseas player in Asia.

Now Chu Zhongtian has broken Nakata's seven-year-old Asian transfer fee record for 24 million pounds, and the next target for Chu Zhongtian in the Chinese media is to break Park Ji-sung's record of honour at Manchester United. Just look at the team that Chu Zhongtian joined...... The media was discouraged. It seems that to let Chu Zhongtian win the Champions Cup, there is only one more turn, maybe Hoffenheim is just a springboard, and Chu Zhongtian's next stop is Bayern?

The discussion of the matter has intensified online in China. After everyone accepted Chu Zhongtian's transfer to Hoffenheim for 30 million euros, they began to criticize the Chinese Football Association.

The masses have said that a player whose value can be ranked in the top ten in the world, and the No. 1 player in Asia cannot be selected for the National Olympic team, which is simply the biggest scandal in the history of Chinese football! And it is also a great pity that Chu Zhongtian did not participate in the Beijing Olympics.

There are indeed people in the Football Association who have been shocked by this value, but the people led by Xie Yalong have already made the decision not to let Chu Zhongtian participate in the Olympic Games, how can they bow their heads and admit their mistakes? Fortunately, in the "struggle" with fans and the media for so many years, they have long mastered the skills of sticking their heads in the sand and pouting their buttocks, and they don't listen to what is going on outside the window, "It's dark when I close my eyes." Let the wind blow from east to west, north and south, I will stand still...... Moreover, their biggest reliance is naturally the results of the Olympic Games, as long as the national Olympic team plays in the Olympic Games to the satisfaction of the people of the country and the satisfaction of the leaders, Chu Zhongtian is not a problem at all. At that time, the whole of China will sing praises for them, and no one will use "Chu Zhongtian" to respond to them.

Just like the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, all Brazil was shouting for Scolari to be called into Romario, but Scolari just didn't listen and became a public enemy of the whole people, being scolded by hundreds of millions of people. The result? His Brazil team won the World Cup without Romario, and he went from being a public enemy to a national hero. No one ever mentions anything as unappetizing as "why not recruit Romario into the team".

The Football Association believes they will be like that. As long as the Olympics are played well, it may become a credit if Chu Zhongtian is not recruited. Chu Zhongtian, aren't you dissatisfied with us? Let's take a good result in the Olympics and beat you down, and see if you accept it later!

Well, that's a long way off...... There are pros and cons, and the record transfer fee of 30 million euros is actually a sharp double-edged sword. Because high worth also means high pressure. Since you're spending so much money on the club, the media and the fans will be staring at you every day, putting every game you play under a magnifying glass and looking at it to see if you're really worth the 30 million euros. As long as you don't play well in one or two games, you're afraid you're going to face a lot of criticism from the media and fans.

So far, the Bundesliga has the highest value this season and the highest annual salary in the team...... These were both shining auras and terrifying swords of Damocles to Chu Zhongtian.

He must prove that Hoffenheim's $30 million has been spent in his new team with consistent performances and that he is worth his money.

It's a big challenge. However, Chu Zhongtian himself likes to challenge the most.

When Chu Zhongtian underwent a physical examination, the club did not invite a media reporter, except for their own official website to be responsible for recording the report. Just when it was rumored that Chu Zhongtian was sure to join Hoffenheim, some German media came to the door and asked the chairman of the club, Mr. Hope, whether he introduced Chu Zhongtian for the Chinese market.

Hope replied simply: "Hoffenheim don't buy players just to open up a market somewhere. We spent money to buy Chu Zhongtian because we were very optimistic about him. Rangnick thinks he has the potential to become a second Summer......"

The German media that interviewed Hope were stunned for a moment.

The second Summer? That Summer?

Hope saw the confusion in their eyes and explained, "It's Matthias. Summer. ”

So the German media fryed.

As long as you are a German footballer, you must know "Matthias. What the name "Sameer" represents. The former "Caesar II", the successor handpicked by Beckenbauer, led Dortmund and Germany to win the Champions League and the European Championship one after another.

Now Hope is saying that a Chinese player has the potential to become a second Summer? Isn't the second Summerr the third Beckenbauer?

He doesn't have a fever, does he? Rangnick is still sober, right?

Naturally, the German media did not believe it, and Hope did not explain much. In fact, Hope himself didn't know what to explain, he wasn't sure if Chu Zhongtian was as powerful as Rangnick said. But he believed Rangnick, and since Rangnick said it, he relayed it.

In his heart, he felt that Chu Zhongtian only needed to be able to play like he did in Metz, as for the second Summer, the third Beckenbauer...... It's just a gimmick...... Hope and Rangnick were waiting outside the room at this moment, waiting for Chu Zhongtian's physical examination report to come out.

The door opened, and the team's team doctor, Peter. Dr. Bakers (pieter_beks) and Chu Zhongtian walked out one after another.

He nodded to Rangnick and Hope, "It's perfect. His physical indicators are normal, and they are better than I imagined. ”

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Hope's face. And Rangnick also cast an approving glance at Chu Zhongtian.

With his understanding of Chu Zhongtian, he naturally knew that Chu Zhongtian was not a problem at all in terms of physical fitness.

'He had previously suffered a muscle strain in his left leg in the UEFA Cup final and fractured his right forearm. But now I can't see it, and I'm completely healed. ”

Since there is no problem with the medical examination, what are you waiting for?

Chu Zhongtian followed Hope and Rangnick to sign a contract.

Holding the contract, he glanced at it. If he loses this money, he will be a Hoffenheim player for at least the next four years.

Regret it?

That's a pointless question.

From the moment I made this decision, I had no regrets.

Chu Zhongtian put down his pen and signed his name on the contract.

After signing, club owner Hope was the first to extend his hand to him: "I'm glad you were able to choose Hoffenheim in the end, lad. ”

"Thank you, Mr. Hope." Chu Zhongtian replied in German. For the old man in front of him, he still has a lot of respect. Having learned about Hoffenheim's history, he could not help but show respect for the richest man in Germany. Hoffenheim can be where he is today, and this gray-haired old gentleman is inseparable. If it weren't for his 20 years of investment in supporting Hoffenheim, renovating the team's hardware facilities, improving the academy for the team, setting up the women's football team, and building the best high-tech clinic in Germany...... Without his passion for football and his hometown team, Hoffenheim would never have appeared in the Bundesliga, and he would not have chosen to join Hoffenheim. It was precisely because he learned that Mr. Hope was a club owner who loved and understood football that he was relieved to join. Because he believes that here, he won't worry about facing a whole bunch of different teammates every year. For a team to produce results, it needs a stable environment, and Hoffenheim have all of them, but they lack a real core. So now he's coming.

'I believe this club has a bright future, so I'm here.' He said to Mr. Hope.

Dietma. Hope nodded, very satisfied with Chu Zhongtian's reply. "You're right, young man. We do have a bright future here. Come on, do a good job! I believe in Ralph's vision and I believe in your ability, and we've been following you for two seasons. Don't let the Hoffenheim fans down, lad. ”

Chu Zhongtian replied, "I will not disappoint Hoffenheim, Mr. Hope. ”

Hope stepped aside with satisfaction, and then Rangnick came up, although he and Chu Zhongtian had known each other for a long time, at this time he still stretched out his hand to Chu Zhongtian: "Hoffenheim welcomes you, Chu!" You've made the right choice! ”

※※※Although the contract has been signed, the official joining will not be until July 1, and Rangnick has already told Chu Zhongtian. On the first of July, the team will hold a welcome ceremony for him at the stadium. He's also the club's biggest investment so far this summer, and probably the biggest investment of the entire season. A welcome ceremony should also be arranged.

Chu Zhongtian, who signed the contract, did not leave, but was busy moving, buying a car, and learning a driver's license. He plans to use these few days to start learning to drive a car, try to get a driver's license as soon as possible, and then buy a car, so that it will be convenient for him to go anywhere.

Because he finally decided to live in Sinsheim, which is still some distance from Hoffenheim, it will be more difficult for him to go to training if he doesn't have a car.

The wine he had delivered from Metz arrived, and he carefully unpacked and inspected each bottle to make sure that every bottle was intact before paying.

He is very attached to these bottles, so he has a high insurance policy. But he still didn't want the bottles to be damaged during transportation, which no amount of money could buy, about his honor and memories.

His home in Sinsheim had already been packed, and the wine cabinet had been bought in advance, so he just had to put the wine in.

At the moment this house is rented, and it is only a temporary place to stay. Chu Zhongtian still has to find time to buy a house.

He did all this by himself, and he knew German anyway, so it was not a problem to communicate. Buy a map, carry a bag, and run around, looking at houses, buying furniture.

Time flies, and the time of June is fleeting, and it is July 1st in the blink of an eye.

The day has come when he and the Hoffenheim fans will meet for the first time.

Rangnick told him that the club had arranged the most grand welcome ceremony for him, so Chu Zhongtian still had some expectations.

When I arrived at the scene, more than 1,000 fans sat in the team's original home stadium, Dietma. Hope Field (dietmar_hopp_stadion) in the main stand, waiting for him.

These numbers are not as many as the fans he once met when he played at Wimbledon...... There are quite a few media outlets, but with the exception of a few representative German media, most of them are from China, or from France to be exact.

In fact, if Rangnick hadn't said that this was a very grand welcome ceremony, he might not have the sense of loss he has now. Because what he hadn't expected at all was Rangnick's words that made him suddenly look forward to it.

Rangnick seemed to notice Chu Zhongtian's mood, and before he appeared, he pointed outside and said, "Hoffenheim only has three thousand people in total, but more than half of them are our members. Normally, the stadium has an attendance rate of 94.9 percent. Of course, we still have too few fans compared to the big teams in the Bundesliga, but our supporters will gradually increase, when we get good results in the Bundesliga. ”

was told through his heart, Chu Zhongtian smiled embarrassedly.

But he believed Rangnick's word - as long as the team's results were good, there would be more fans. This is an eternal truth.

This made him feel more fulfilled to play at Hoffenheim. Not only to make the team's results better and better, but also to make the team's fame bigger and bigger, so that more and more fans like the team...... This was Chu Zhongtian's idea, but in fact, there were other reasons behind the fact that only 1,500 people came this time.

The arrival of Chu Zhongtian caused a "split" among Hoffenheim fans. Some people welcomed a former UEFA Cup winner to join the team, believing that Chu Zhongtian's arrival would help improve the team's strength and help them gain a foothold in the Bundesliga. Others complained about Salihovic, who had been promoted to the first division by his outstanding performances in the previous two seasons, and Rangnick had said more than once that Salihovic had the Bundesliga level. Why did he just get promoted to the first division, so he turned his face and didn't recognize anyone, and bought a Chu Zhongtian to replace Salihovic?

Over the past season, the local media have been touting Hoffenheim's ability to play directly in the Bundesliga. So who else do we buy? If you want to buy someone, don't buy 30 million...... Who knows if he's really worth that price? 30 million is not 3 million, if you buy a parallel import, who is responsible?

Therefore, the people who welcomed Chu Zhongtian to join came, and those who opposed and questioned Chu Zhongtian and were not optimistic about Chu Zhongtian's joining did not come. Originally, the Hoffenheim fans were very enthusiastic, and the club was so generous that the number of fans who came to cheer should have exceeded 3,000, but now only half of them came. Obviously, it was the Hoffenheim fans who gave Chu Zhongtian a dismount.

It's just that Chu Zhongtian doesn't know anything about these "insiders", and he also plans to help the team get more fans.

This made those fans who wanted to give Chu Zhongtian Ma Wei a little "wasted expression...... For Chu Zhongtian, this meeting ceremony was definitely not a happy one, not because only 1,500 people were present to welcome the fans. It's the media.

The attitude of the German media towards him was not very kind, and Chu Zhongtian did not understand what the reason was. The Chinese media is entangled in why he made the choice to move to Hoffenheim.

Although he received calls from some reporters after the transfer news was announced, asking why he did it, he had already answered the questions.

But in the eyes of the reporters, this answer is really idealistic.

Chu Zhongtian said: "Hoffenheim is more suitable for me. ”

Look at this, you say it's more suitable for you, it's more suitable for you? Then we also say that Hoffenheim is not suitable for you at all, who should you listen to?

This time they chased to Germany, and the question was still asked.

"Chu Zhongtian, what prompted you to make the decision to transfer to Hoffenheim?"

Chu Zhongtian sighed, this group of people is here again.

He didn't lie, he was telling the truth, but why didn't the reporters believe it?

"Because it's a better place for me." His temper also came up, and he answered the reporter with the previous answer.

The reporter felt that this was perfunctory.

Chu Zhongtian didn't bother to entangle with them, and directly said to the reporters from his homeland in his native language: "Time will prove my choice." If you don't believe me, let's make a bet, shall we? If we do well after one season, you have to collectively apologize for today's doubts. ”

A group of Chinese journalists looked at each other. One of the veteran reporters stood up and asked, "What does it mean to behave well?" ”

"Hoffenheim are in Europe next season!" Chu Zhongtian's answer was resounding, and the Chinese media did not expect Chu Zhongtian to make such a promise. There was no response for a while.

Promoted horses want to qualify for next season's Champions League? It's not that they don't know how difficult it is. It's not just the difference in strength, but also luck. The league is not a cup competition, and if you win one game, you are one step closer to the championship, and the league has a total of 34 rounds and will be played for almost ten months, and anything can happen in it. Who can guarantee a result before the race? At most, it means "we are trying to move towards our goal". Even Bayern Munich now dare not say that they are sure to win the league title this season.

The reporters thought that Chu Zhongtian was forced by them to say this, and thought that it was better not to make the relationship between the two sides so stiff. Chu Zhongtian is now the only player with a positive image in Chinese football, and he is also their trump card to attract attention. In case he gets into a fight with him here, he will block it, and the power will be much more powerful than the Football Association's blocking...... As a result, the media no longer mentioned the question of whether the transfer to Hoffenheim is really suitable for Chu Zhongtian. Asked a few that didn't hurt or itch.

Then German journalists came out.

From the very beginning, Chu Zhongtian could feel the unfriendliness of German journalists, because they looked at themselves with the wrong eyes. It seems to harbor an inexplicable hostility.

It stands to reason that this is not the first time he has dealt with the German media, last season, when Metz played with Bayern Munich, he was interviewed by the German media, and later the German media in Munich made out rumors that he was poached by Bayern Munich.

During the Olympic torch relay, many German media also made waves, and the French media were on the same page. This made Chu Zhongtian have a very poor view of the country's media.

But he's a footballer, he doesn't talk about politics. He did not quite understand what the German press was dissatisfied with about him.

Until a German journalist stood up and asked him: "Chu, do you know Franz. Beckenbauer? Mathias. What about Summer? ”

Chu Zhongtian faintly heard some extraneous sounds from these two names.

He nodded: "Of course I know. ”

"And how do you compare to them?"

At this point, there was already a strong smell of gunpowder, Chu Zhongtian was not a fool, he already knew what was wrong. It must have been the manager Rangnick or the club's president, Mr. Hope, who said something to the media.

He glanced at Rangnick and saw that the manager was also surprised, but Hope, who was sitting on Rangnick's side, had an uncomfortable expression on his face.

He withdrew his gaze and replied to the interrogative gaze of a German reporter: "For now, it is not as good." ”

(To be continued)