The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 342 My Bastia Story, End [The End]

Liverpool Football Club Official Announcement –

With immense excitement and pride, we announce to the world that a new and ambitious era has officially begun at Anfield.

We are incredibly proud to announce the first and most significant signing of this new era – the club has reached an agreement with French national team captain Jan Guay, and the player has officially transferred from Bastia Football Club to Liverpool!
This 18-year-old attacking prodigy has signed a long-term contract with the club and will wear the number 10 jersey, a symbol of the team's core players.

Last season, Gaião achieved amazing results, leading Bastia to win the Europa League, Ligue 1 and French Super Cup as the absolute core of the team. In the Europa League final, he scored an unprecedented hat-trick and provided a hat-trick of assists, dominating the game single-handedly. His talent and strength shocked the entire European football world.

Mr. Abdullah Al Salleman, representative of Liverpool FC's new owners PIF, said: "Young represents the future of football. His arrival resoundingly proclaims our ambition to bring the best talent to Anfield and win everything here. His technique, vision, and goal-scoring ability perfectly match Liverpool's football philosophy, and we firmly believe that he will grow into a world-class superstar here and help the club usher in a new era of glory."

Regarding the transfer, Jan Gaião said: "Joining a club with such a great history and passionate fans, I feel the club's huge trust and expectations in me, which motivates me. I am eager to challenge myself in the Premier League and win trophies for this great club and these incredible fans with my new teammates. I can't wait to run at Anfield to the tune of 'You'll Never Walk Alone'."

Welcome to Anfield, Yang!

This is your new home, this is where you begin to write a new chapter in your legend!

This official announcement has definitively confirmed all the previous speculations.

Amidst a bidding war among top clubs such as Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Chelsea.

Liverpool became Gaio's final destination.

According to multiple media reports, Liverpool paid €8000 million for Bastia's transfer.

This price isn't the most expensive, but it's still amazing enough.

In fact, this was Bastia's way of showing sincerity; they only asked for Gaio's breach of contract fee.

However, the Saudi side did not need them to make concessions, so they gave them another five-year jersey sponsorship contract, this time for the chest area.

It shows the top sponsorship level in Ligue 1.

Meanwhile, Gaio's salary exceeds £30 per week, with some media outlets reporting £35 and others reporting £40.

There is no fixed number.

But everyone knows that the weekly wage exceeds £30.

English critics have offered their opinions.

"This is insane. I'm not questioning Gaio's talent, but putting such a salary burden on an 18-year-old is extremely dangerous and will make locker room management extremely difficult."

"It's a huge gamble, but if he can replicate his performance at Bastia, he'll drive Anfield crazy."

"This shows how alarming the inflation in modern football has become. A player's value is no longer determined solely by his performance on the field, but rather by market capital. We need to be wary of this."

"Amazing talent, amazing price, the nightmare for all Premier League defenders has arrived in the new season."

Amid the shockwaves caused by this official announcement.

May 5st arrived.

early morning,

The sky over Bastia was still tinged with the first light of dawn, but the entire city was already awake.

Fans couldn't wait to put on their jerseys and take to the streets.

Today is an incredibly special day for Bastia fans, not because of the Champions League final, but because of their treble-winning parade celebration!
Early in the morning,
The port avenue of Bastia was completely submerged by crowds, as if the heart of the entire island of Corsica had converged here, pounding violently.

Countless blue flags, scarves, and graffiti covered every corner of the city.

Blue confetti rained down from the balconies facing the street like a blizzard, contrasting beautifully with the azure of the Mediterranean Sea.

As the crowd grew denser, the atmosphere became increasingly intense.

The fans gradually succumbed to a near-manic, all-consuming joy.

The sunlight was blinding, and the sea breeze was salty.

But none of them can compare to the intense heat emanating from the crowd, a heat that seems to want to squander everything.

This is not just a celebration, but a grand, unspoken farewell party, in which everyone is determined to etch it into their memories in the most dazzling way.

nine in the morning.

An open-air bus, adorned with giant posters of the Europa League trophy, the Ligue 1 trophy, and the French Super Cup trophy, slowly drove out of the Bastia training ground, escorted by Bastia police.

The team bus was painted with huge slogans that read "Bastia are the European champions" and a group photo of all the team players.

When the bus appeared on the street, the entire street erupted in a deafening roar!
"Bastia!"

"Geo!!"

The shouts swept in like a tsunami.

Players such as Gai, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Kanté, and Mane wore championship commemorative T-shirts and waved to the crowd below.

Surrounded by his teammates at the front, Gaio held the Europa League trophy and repeatedly raised it high above his head, each time triggering an even more frenzied wave of cheers.

Rothen, Lukaku, and others behind them were constantly waving champagne and shouting "Bastia are the champions!" with smiles of pure joy on their faces.

The bus moved at an extremely slow speed, like a ship sailing through a blue ocean.

Balconies, windows, lampposts, and even bus stop rooftops along the way were covered with frenzied fans waving flags, blowing horns, and shouting the names of every hero at the top of their lungs.

Countless slogans can be seen everywhere.

"A once-in-a-lifetime triple crown! We witnessed history!"

"Legends need no crowning; to rise above them is to be king!"

"Thank you, Yang! You made our dreams come true!"

"From Bird Spring Town to the Top of Europe - Our Gaio!"

As the bus traveled, fans repeatedly broke through the cordon, attempting to touch the bus and hug the players.

The bus had to stop frequently.

The security personnel formed a human wall by holding hands, but their faces were filled with understanding and smiles.

After several hours of parading, the motorcade finally arrived at the traditional celebration site – St. Nicholas Square.

In front of the Napoleon statue, the area has long since transformed into a boiling blue ocean, and the fountain in the center of the square has also been artificially dyed blue.

The stage was temporarily set up in the middle of the fans.

Chatham was the first to walk onto the makeshift stage. He was wearing a slightly wrinkled suit, no tie, and clutching the microphone tightly in his hand.

He gazed at the surging blue ocean below the stage and remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he shouted, "Bastia! My family!"

A deafening response erupted from all around.

"35 years! 35 years ago, we watched our dreams shatter. At that time, all that remained in this square was tears and silence."

But today!
Look at you, look at us! Look at this blue ocean! Look at these heroes!

Chatham gestured around to the fans, then to himself and the players, and continued speaking.

"We won! And we brought back more than just a trophy! We brought back the pride of Bastia! We told everyone that winning the championship wasn't about proving how great we are, but about taking back what we had lost!!"

"Bastia!"

The cheers from the crowd were almost deafening; the celebration had only just begun, but it was already in full swing.

Chatham took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the noisy crowd and landing precisely on Gaio.

"Now I want to say a few words to one person in particular."

The entire square fell into a miraculous silence as everyone looked toward Gaio on the stage.

"Yang."

Two years ago, on that rainy day, you came to Corsica from Nantes. Many people told me that you were a problem, that you were ruined, and that I shouldn't have wasted my time and resources on you.

But what I see is a lost genius who needs not blame, but an opportunity, a home.

I remember when I first drove you to the training base, you said to me, 'Sir, I won't let you down.'"

Chatham's voice choked up completely, and he had to stop and blink hard.

"Today I want to tell you, Yang, you not only did not disappoint me, but you also surpassed me, surpassed everyone's wildest dreams!"
You gave us all a miracle with your feet, your heart, and your soul!
You have restored the island's pride!
You have proven that believing in the potential of a young person is the most worthwhile adventure in the world!
Thank you, Yang!
Always remember, Bastia will always be your home.

There will always be a door open for you here, and an embrace reserved for you.

You will always be our child, our hero.

As soon as Chatham finished speaking, Gaio stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

He might have become a star even without Chatham, but Chatham's sincerity towards him was genuine.

clap clap clap!
The audience erupted in thunderous applause.

This action is more powerful than any flowery language.

Some of the more emotional fans around were already in tears, covering their eyes with their arms and their shoulders trembling slightly.

Not only because of what they are seeing, but also because their captain is leaving.

After the hug ended, Gaio returned to his teammates, and Chatham, having regained his composure, continued...

"Of course, this isn't just about Yang! It's about N'Golo, about Kevin, about Romelu, about Damian, about Coach Hagi Begic, about everyone who has shed blood and sweat for this team!"

Chatham called out the names of all the first-team players.

Subsequently,

He carefully stroked the trophy placed on the table.

"This trophy belongs to everyone who has cheered at the Thessaloniki Stadium! It belongs to everyone who has never given up on blue in 35 years! It belongs to every Bastia soul who believes in miracles!"

"Fight, Bastia!!"

The revelry continued amidst the crowd.

Chatham's voice deepened, filled with emotion: "The world of football is always changing, and things will change in the future, but some things will never change."

"No one can take away the history we created together!"

"These joyful tears we shed for the championship can never be wiped away!"

"No one can take away the pride we hold in our hearts as Bastias!" "Therefore, today! Under the watchful eye of Napoleon the Great!"

He pointed to the statue in the center of the square.

"Let us tell the world: The heart of Corsica never walks alone! Bastia, champions forever!"

He raised the microphone high into the sky, completely immersing himself in the deafening blue wave of cheers and tears from the audience.

Chatham has set the scene on fire.

Immediately afterward, Hajibejic went up to speak. He said it simply, thanking everyone, and then he shouted at the top of his lungs: "This championship belongs to you! It belongs to every Bastia!"

The microphone then passed to the boss, Jerónimí.

His eyes were already brimming with tears.

This was his best investment ever!
He could barely speak, and finally managed to say, "You guys are the best fans!"

And when Captain Gaio took the microphone and walked in front of everyone.

The decibel level in the entire square reached its peak.

"Geo!"

"Geo!!"

Tens of thousands of people at the scene chanted his name in unison, the sound almost shaking the sky.

He looked around at the endless crowd below, remained silent for a few seconds, as if processing this unbelievable scene.

"Thank you!" His first words were simple yet powerful.

"Thank you, Bastia! Thank you all for your support! This championship belongs to everyone here!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was drowned out by a huge cheer.

"Two years ago, when I came here, I was a... lost person. It was Mr. Chatham who gave me his trust, the coaching staff who gave me patience, and your every shout and every act of support that pulled me out of the mire and taught me how to run, how to shoot, and how to fall in love with football again."

Some say this trophy is my farewell gift to Bastia, but no, you're wrong.

This trophy is a gift we gave ourselves together!
This is the best answer to all the sweat, effort, and perseverance we've shared over the past two years!

I will never forget Antoine, the boy who told me my dribbling was like the sea breeze.

His father was also present today.

I want to tell him, sir, your son did not misjudge him.

Antoine also has a share in this trophy.

As arranged by the staff, Antoine Sr. was in the front row. Gaio walked over to him and gave him a hug.

Everyone saw the father with tears streaming down his face and was deeply moved.

They responded with thunderous applause.

Gaio patted the sobbing old Antoine and returned to the stage.

“I will never forget the melody of Allez Bastia. This period was the happiest and most blissful time of my life.”

Gaio paused, his tone becoming firm.

"Yes, everyone knows that my next stop will be Liverpool, which will be a completely new challenge in my career."

But please believe that no matter which club's jersey I wear, I will always be that kid who came from the gravel of Bird Spring Town, and my heart will always beat for the blue of Bastia!
This is not a farewell, it's just a temporary separation.

As I wrote from a first-person perspective, one day, after I've experienced everything in the outside world, I will return here and end my career as a Bastia player in Bastia.

It begins in Bastia and ends in Bastia.

This is the career path I've envisioned for myself.

Therefore,
Let's not cry today!

Let's celebrate! Let's revel! Let's celebrate this incredible miracle we've created together!
Because of Bastia, you will never walk alone!
I love you all! Long live Corsica! Long live Bastia!

After practically shouting out those last few words, Gaio put down the microphone, faced the entire stadium, and bowed deeply, almost at a ninety-degree angle, remaining there for a long time.

When he finally looked up, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.

The atmosphere reached its peak at that moment, with cries, laughter, shouts, and applause blending together completely.

Gaio wiped away his tears and said, his voice choked with emotion, "I told you not to cry, today is a day of celebration! Come on, Bastia is the champion!!"

He shouted again.

The crowd joined him, chanting, "Bastia, the champion!"

we are the champion!
At the same time, countless blue ribbons burst forth from all around the stage, like a blizzard, instantly enveloping the entire square.

The Bastia team song played from the speakers.

The crowd began to jump, sing, cry, and hug wildly.

There was no command, no rehearsal.

The players, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, lined up on the stage, forming a giant whole with the tens of thousands of fans below, and began to sing the team song that had long been ingrained in their blood.

The singing wasn't very synchronized, because sobs, choked sobs, and screams that cracked from overexertion were constantly added, making the melody rough but incredibly real.

Lukaku wrapped his huge arms tightly around Gaio and De Bruyne's shoulders, tilted his head back, closed his eyes tightly, and tears streamed down his face, but he still sang with all his might.

De Bruyne lost his composure. He raised one hand high and waved it vigorously to the rhythm, as if trying to etch this final melody into his heart.

Gaio stood in the center, his left hand pressed tightly against the team emblem on his chest, and his body trembled slightly with each shout.

The ten-minute song felt like a century condensed.

As the last note finally trembled and dissipated in the air, the square fell into a brief, heavy silence, with only the sound of the sea breeze rustling the flags.

The players faced the east stand and bowed deeply.

He stood up, turned to the south stand, and bowed deeply once again.

West Stand. North Stand.
Each bow elicited a thunderous response from the area, a cacophony of shouts and cries.

After the final bow, Gaio, as captain, stood at the front and slammed his right fist heavily onto the team emblem on his left chest, holding it there for a long time.

The other team members did the same thing.

finally,
ended.

The celebration ceremony has ended.

But the celebration did not end, and the people in the square did not leave immediately.

Many people remained standing, looking up at the empty stage, at the silent silhouette of the Napoleon statue, and at the sky gradually filling with clouds, as if still savoring the songs and warmth that had not yet faded away.

When the sea breeze finally dispersed the blue haze that filled the surroundings, it also dried the tear stains on many people's faces.

An era has come to an end in the most glorious way.

The players' bus eventually returned to the Bastia training ground, shutting out the noise.

All that could be heard was the ceaseless churning of the sea.

As he got out of the car, Gaio glanced back at the direction of the training base gate.

The deafening chorus seemed to still be buzzing in my ears, like the lingering echo of a dream I didn't want to wake up from.

The tactile sensation of countless hands touching him as he tossed the scarf still lingered in his hands—hot, rough, and imbued with the unique vitality of Corsica.

"ended."

The thought came to mind unexpectedly.

He suddenly realized.

His Bastia story has truly come to an end.

It did not end in failure, regret, or a quiet departure, but rather in the most extreme, glorious, and unforgettable way, abruptly ending at its peak.

A wave of bitterness rushed into his nostrils, and everything before his eyes instantly blurred into a shimmering expanse of water.

He recalled all the things that had happened in the past.

Goal, cheers, teammates, fans, excitement, promotion, championship, celebration.
Countless fragments, like a summer downpour in Bastia, violently pounded into his mind.

He knew that the headlines in the newspapers outside were already filled with headlines like "Liverpool's New Core," "Sky-High Transfer Fee," and "A New Era."
But at this moment, all those clamorous futures have receded into the distance.

His entire being was occupied only by the rough seaside training ground beneath his feet and the salty sea breeze in the air.

And before me lies this blue ocean, boiling with joy for him, weeping for him.

He realized that the purest, most passionate, and most reckless journey of loving and being loved in his life was about to be permanently sealed in his memory at this moment.

This is not a failure, but a loss of happiness.

He achieved the perfect ending that every player dreams of, but at the cost of having to leave the place that made it all possible.

Beneath this surging sorrow of parting, a completely different, scalding undercurrent began to surge within his heart—

It was a burning desire for the future, a call to action that would soon echo through Anfield with "You'll Never Walk Alone," and an unstoppable ambition to prove himself in the world's top league.

He lost a blue ocean, but he is about to conquer another red land.

He took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the surging, almost overflowing longing and sorrow back into his heart, replacing it with a resolute determination mixed with grief.

He took one last look at the training field in Bastia, at the land where he had fought for two years, yet it felt like he had spent his entire life.

Then, Gaio turned around and walked towards the dormitory.

He didn't look back.

Because he knew that some stories must be closed at their most glorious moment to become legends.

His Bastia story has come to an end.

But the story of Anfield awaits him to write an even more magnificent prologue with the same passion and sweat.

[Volume 1: End]

(End of this chapter)