[Football] Bad Boy Batty

As the America's Cup and the European Cup were held simultaneously this summer, Manchester City's commercial pre-season training was cancelled in consideration of the players' physical fitness. Batistuta rested in Brazil until almost the end of July before returning to Manchester. On the way, he even went back to visit his godfather in the slums of Rio.

The Bloodhounds were unhappy with their loss at the Copa America, but after hearing that Batistuta had been handed the captain's armband, he stopped dwelling on a trophy.

"The football world for the next 20 years will belong to my son!" When he was half drunk, he hugged the machine gun next to him and shouted, as proud as if he was the captain of the national team.

"Of course, you are the one he is most proud of." Qiao Lin said as she half-lay on the sofa and typed on her phone. She also had a cold patch on her forehead. "But speaking of this...did your biological father, Xiao Luo, say anything?"

"Do you mean we lost the America's Cup or I became captain?"

"All."

"He called me and said he would send me a gift, but I refused." Batty walked over and took off the cooling patch on Qiaolin's head and turned on the air conditioner. "To be honest, I found that I care less and less about him in the past two years. It's not that I forgive him, but I just don't care anymore."

"This is a good thing, it means you have finally grown up, Buddy baby." Qiao Lin said with emotion, "We are all adults now, let the past go with the wind, and live our own lives, which is good."

"Like you and your father?" Batty asked casually. "I went to see him last week and he was concerned about you."

Qiao Lin nodded a few times in confusion. She seldom went back to Brazil to visit her father, and didn't really want to talk about this.

"America's Cup, Batistuta." Qiao Lin changed the subject a little abruptly. "You know, thanks to you, our cold circle became even more polar after the America's Cup final."

Batty: ?
"Speak something I can understand, dear."

"It's a matter within our circle. Right now the most popular couple in football is BBBall, but we support allBBB, or you could call it center-oriented. But you looked so handsome when you held on after the final. That kingly aura, if I didn't know you, I would have run away too." Qiao Lin sighed again.

Batty's mouth was not tight.

He didn't really understand the real meaning of the chattering in his small circle of friends. He only knew that as far as he was concerned, he enjoyed the feeling of being served, manipulated and penetrated. If someone insisted, he would have the same feeling, but so far no one had asked him to do so.

"Don't worry, the truth is in the hands of only a few people." This is the only way Batty could comfort his friend.

"Wait - that's it?" Qiao Lin rolled over and stood up, glaring at Batty. "You want to get rid of me with just a few words of comfort?"

"What else?" Batty glared at her, "What do you want from me?"

"Last time I was feeling down you gathered all my crushes together to have a party at your house, but this time you're just talking about it." Qiao Lin said confidently.

"You looked like you were almost soulless when you were heartbroken that time." Batty also had a reason, "You are fine this time, it's just that the living environment of the circle has been compressed. Aren't you very capable? Do it yourself. Come on, I believe you can hold on."

"Oh my god! Listen to what you're saying, is this human language?" Qiao Lin grabbed a pillow and threw it at him, "How could he be such an annoying little bastard!"

"Did you meet me on the first day?"

"Unbelievable!" Qiao Lin groaned. Suddenly she stopped, and before Batty could react, she burst into a cold laugh: "Guess what, you little annoying guy, when the next season starts, I will have a brand new CP to write, and I will take back everything you give me now from the paper man Batty!"

"Oh?" Batty still had that half-closed eyed look of indifference. He yawned and asked, "Who are you going to mess with me? Augustus next door?"

"No, no, no, it's new." She stretched out her index finger and shook it, saying, "In the beginning, many people supported him, but you guys didn't interact much, so everyone left. When he transfers to Manchester United, there will definitely be more people writing about him next season, and I will seize the opportunity to become a popular person."

It's very impressive, but Batty still doesn't know who the CP partner is.

"Who are you talking about?" he asked.

"Who else could it be, Cristiano Ronaldo."

"Huh?" Batistuta had a question mark over his head. He knew nothing about this. "The Portuguese is going to Manchester United?"

"It's 'return'." Qiao Lin corrected his wording, "Ferguson invited him a long time ago. He was previously rumored to be linked with Manchester City, but then the Messi incident happened. Aguero put his transfer on hold. He may have to renew his contract with Manchester City for another year. Ronaldo's agent won't make a fuss about you anymore."

Batty mouthed "Wow" in surprise.

"You really don't know anything, Batistuta? You're a player and the captain of both Manchester City and Brazil. How can you know less than I do?" Qiao Lin couldn't believe it.

"They talked about this in the group, I mean the management group." Batty nodded and said, "But that group is full of the chairman, the financial director, and the team manager. I don't often speak in it."

"So where did you get the news about your transfer?"

"Same as you, on Twitter," Batty said matter-of-factly.

Qiaolin: ...

"Okay, so do you know about Grealish?" she asked again.

"Who?"

"The captain of Villa, he looks like a young Beckham." Qiao Lin reminded, "He's the man who beat you twice before and almost broke your undefeated streak last season."

After thinking for a long time, Batty finally dug out from the corner of his memory the guy who looked like a puppy, had droopy eyes and spoke with a heavy accent.

He nodded: "I remember, what happened to him?" "He is spreading rumors with you." Qiao Lin twitched her eyebrows, "Neymar was injured too suddenly last season, fortunately he was lucky to get to the top. Some people say Guardiola wants a new left-wing player."

"That's good." Batistuta was reluctant to intervene in the team's transfer, except for the Neymar transfer. "Next season's schedule is tight and we need more players. It's a good thing to have players who can fight immediately."

"But it is said that Villa wants 1 million, and you were ready to pay, but Messi suddenly decided to leave Barcelona, ​​so the negotiations were shelved." Qiao Lin seemed to understand a lot, and was closer to the image of an "insider" than Batistuta. "Now Villa is a little anxious, and they may lower the price."

"Oh yeah!" Batty jumped up from the sofa. "How could I have forgotten that!"

Now that Messi's contract with Barcelona has expired and he has become a free agent, Aguero is restarting contract renewal negotiations with Manchester City. Manchester City's first team has always had a pitifully small number of players, and every intensive schedule makes people sweat. The coach is still Guardiola, so will Messi also consider joining the Blue Moon Army?

Batistuta was about to pick up his phone to make a few calls when Qiao Lin stopped him: "Wait dear, I haven't finished asking. Without considering anything else, do you personally hope that Messi will come to Manchester City?"

This question——

"I don't care, I can welcome him if he wants to come, even if he is Argentine and has just won the America's Cup in Brazil," he shrugged.

"You mean, he won't threaten your position, so you don't care, is that right?" Qiao Lin analyzed his words and asked back.

"almost."

But wait—

Batty's hand that was dialing suddenly paused.

Since entering the end of his career, Messi has transformed into a midfielder. In the past season and the America's Cup, Batistuta's position has been very close to the core of the midfield, so from a certain perspective, Messi's arrival may take his place.

Then the nature of the matter changes completely.

Even if we take a step back, would he, Lionel Messi, the Argentine king of football, be willing to come to the more competitive Premier League and serve as a substitute player in the season before the World Cup?

Looking at Batty's changing expressions as if he was petrified, Qiao Lin knew that she had asked some core question and stopped talking.

She is just a CP fan.

Apart from that, I know a little bit about football, that's all.

……

Before Batistuta called an insider to find out the situation, Manchester City's sporting director called him first, which surprised Batistuta a little. When he heard Mario's name from the other party, he was even more surprised.

They wanted to loan Mario.

And this idea came up before the America's Cup. Due to some personnel changes next season, Manchester City must start to supplement its defense. In addition to buying ready-made players, they also paid attention to a group of youth training players, including Mario.

Of course Batty was happy to do so.

The World Cup is next year. If Mario can come to Manchester City, even if he only plays for the echelon team, it will help them develop tacit understanding and cooperation and speed up his growth.

They chatted for a while about the team and all sorts of things, and then something happened that surprised Batistuta - Guardiola answered the phone.

"Pep? It's vacation time, what are you doing in the director's office if you're not playing golf?"

"My vacation ended early and I came here today to discuss something." Guardiola's answer was very vague, which aroused Batistuta's curiosity even more, but then the Catalan made a sharp turn and changed the topic to a completely new angle.

"Hey Batistuta, I just finished a phone call with your godfather. Mr. Edmundo and I agree. We both think your performance as the core of the America's Cup was great," he said.

"Wait - you called my godfather?" Batty insisted. "Did he talk to you or did you talk to him? What did you talk about? What was different from the phone call last season? Did you talk about anything else besides me?"

This series of problems left Guardiola a little overwhelmed.

"Don't be nervous, Batistuta, this is not a parents' meeting." Guardiola softened his tone and deliberately said in a relaxed manner, "Your godfather and I often call each other, and he cares about you very much."

Of course Dudu cares about him.

But it's still suspicious.

"Don't beat around the bush, Pep, what do you want to say?" Batistuta asked, suppressing his annoyance. "If you have nothing else to say, I'll leave. I have several phone calls to make. I'm the captain and I'm busy during the transfer window!"

"Okay, let me be frank." Guardiola took a deep breath, "You play well as a core player, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. I was wondering if you want a transformation coach, the kind who is very good with Aguero?"

Batty: ...

You might as well just tell me the man's name.

(End of this chapter)