After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

(In the Club World Cup semi-final, PSG defeated Real Madrid 4-0. The new king successfully challenged the old king, and the new king is becoming more and more like a king.)

London Heathrow Airport.

Yan Yuan pushed his luggage cart, mingling with the crowd of people who had just disembarked from the plane. His face showed a hint of fatigue from the long flight, but even more so, anticipation of seeing his parents and an indescribable excitement.

At the age of eighteen, having just lifted the Bundesliga championship trophy in Germany, he is about to begin a new chapter in his professional career.

"Son! Over here!" A familiar voice cut through the noise.

He looked in the direction of the sound and saw his parents waving vigorously at him from the exit.

My father was wearing a well-fitting casual suit and looked very energetic.

The mother, her face radiating undisguised joy and heartache, hurried over to greet him.

"Dad! Mom!" Yan Yuan pushed the cart and jogged over, not even noticing the loud crash as the cart hit the guardrail.

He first hugged his mother tightly, feeling the familiar warmth with a faint smell of cooking oil, and then hugged his father tightly as well.

His father patted him hard on the back twice.

"You've worked hard, son." Mother Yan cupped her son's face in her hands, examining him closely under the lamplight, her eyes slightly red. "Playing football must have been tough, but you've grown into a grown-up."

"It's not hard work, Mom." Yan Yuan grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long, we came over from the hotel as soon as we got your call, it only took about half an hour." Mr. Yan took the luggage cart, his movements quick and efficient.

"Come on, the car's outside. Let's go back to the hotel and settle in first. Are you hungry? I'll have your mom get you something to eat later."

"I ate on the plane, it was alright." Yan Yuan followed his parents, feeling the solid London soil beneath his feet, and his heart settled down.

This is no longer a place for a short stay, but a place where he will soon settle down and work hard.

The car drove into the London night.

Outside the window, the city's silhouette undulates in the lights, a stark contrast to the tranquility of Stuttgart and Sinsheim, exuding the bustling pulse unique to metropolises.

Yan Yuan leaned back in his chair, watching the neon lights flash by outside the window, his thoughts drifting away.

Wembley, Emirates Stadium...

These landmarks, which he could only see on television before, will soon become a part of his life.

"Son, what are you thinking about?" His father asked, looking at him in the rearview mirror.

"It's nothing," Yan Yuan said, coming back to his senses. "I just feel like it's finally here."

"Yes, it hasn't been easy." Yan's father's voice was filled with emotion. "From the Birmingham youth academy to Paris, and then to Hoffenheim, you've worked your way up. Son, you've really made your parents proud."

"It's mainly because of your support," Yan Yuan said sincerely.

He knows how much his parents have sacrificed for him, especially when he was eliminated from the Paris youth training program and was at the lowest point in his life. It was his parents' unconditional trust and encouragement that helped him get through it.

The car was parked in front of a business hotel, and the family went upstairs to their room with the help of the staff.

The room was spacious and clean, with fruit and several bottles of mineral water prepared in advance by the mother on the coffee table.

"Come, sit down, have some water," Aunt Yan invited.

The family of three sat down on the sofa.

Although it's a hotel, as long as the family is here, it's home.

"Dad, Mom," Yan Yuan turned to look at his parents.

"This time, you seem... a little different?" He vaguely sensed that his father had lost some of the busyness of a businessman, and his mother seemed more composed.

Mom and Dad looked at each other and smiled.

"You're quite observant, kid." Yan's father lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said, "Yes, there have been some changes at home, and I should tell you about them."

He slowly exhaled a smoke ring:

"My foreign trade company officially closed down last month."

Yan Yuan was stunned: "It's off? Dad, that wasn't you..."

"I founded it myself, that's right." Mr. Yan waved his hand, interrupting his son's surprise.

"But now, son, your football career is the most important thing."

Back when you hadn't yet made it big, I could barely be your part-time agent. But things are different now. You've made it big, become a star, and your future is limitless.

My responsibilities as your agent are getting heavier, the professional requirements are getting higher, and there are more and more trivial matters. So, your dad has to give it his all.

He gently flicked the cigarette ash into the ashtray:

"Therefore, I closed the company and plan to devote all my time and energy to you."

From now on, I'll be your full-time agent. And this "agent" from now on will need to be certified and do a more professional job.

A warm feeling and a sense of responsibility welled up in Yan Yuan's heart:

"Dad, you don't actually need to..."

"There's nothing you don't need," Aunt Yan replied, her tone gentle yet firm.

"Your dad is right. As your parents, we have to pave a smoother road for you to get to where you are today. Not only your dad, but I've also sublet my little restaurant in Birmingham."

"Huh? Mom, our family's restaurant..." Yan Yuan was even more surprised.

He knew how deep his mother's feelings were for that small restaurant that she had poured her heart and soul into over the years.

"I am a little reluctant to leave," Yan's mother admitted frankly, her eyes filled with nostalgia, but even more so with anticipation for the future.

"But your career is more important. London is a big city with many opportunities."

Your dad and I have discussed it. Once you've settled down at Arsenal, we'll look for a suitable place in London to open another restaurant.

Maybe it'll be bigger, maybe it'll have more dishes, anyway it'll be close to you, making it convenient to take care of you.

Yan Yuan looked at his parents, unsure of what to say.

His parents sacrificed their business, which they had built up over many years, just to better support him in pursuing his dreams.

To be honest, I was genuinely touched.

"Thank you, Mom and Dad." A thousand words can be summed up in a simple thank you, but the emotions conveyed are understood by both parents.

"This kid, no need for thanks from the whole family." Mr. Yan stubbed out his cigarette, his expression turning serious and professional.

"Speaking of your career, son, things are indeed getting more and more complicated for you now, such as endorsements."

He leaned forward slightly and said, "Lately, I've been receiving endorsement offers from major brands like snowflakes—sports brands, fashion brands, car brands, electronics brands… the terms are all very tempting. But…" He emphasized,

"The negotiation of these contracts, the review of the terms, the supervision of their subsequent performance, the maintenance of our image, and the potential disputes are all things that I absolutely cannot handle on my own, even with your mother's help."

We're not professionals in this field; our energy, knowledge, and connections are limited.

Yan Yuan nodded; he understood his father's meaning.

Developing the commercial value of top players is a large and professional system.

(The following public relations team members are fictional characters.)

"So," Yan's father continued, "I've already started to assemble a professional agent team for you, with myself at the core."

"A team?" Yan Yuan became interested.

"Yes." Father Yan counted on his fingers.

"First and foremost, legal support is paramount. The Premier League rules, the pitfalls of player contracts, and the legal terms of commercial endorsements are all incredibly complex. Through a former client of my foreign trade company, who was a minor shareholder in Brentford FC, I was introduced to a seasoned sports lawyer named Simon Evans."

This person is no ordinary individual; he has been working in the field of sports law for over a decade and is intimately familiar with all the rules of the English Premier League.

He's handled many player contract disputes, with numerous successful cases in both the Championship and the Premier League. With him overseeing the contracts, your mother and I can finally feel at ease.

"Then, there's brand endorsements and commercial development," Mr. Yan continued.

"Over the past few weeks, my inbox has been flooded with endorsement offers, but I know very well that I can't just look at the money. Endorsements are related to your image and long-term development, so I must carefully screen and negotiate them."

So, through that sports lawyer's introduction, I hired Mark Nash as my brand marketing manager.

He works as a professional manager at a top sports marketing company. He has extensive negotiation experience and understands player brand positioning. Having him specifically responsible for screening and negotiating these commercial contracts ensures that your interests are maximized and prevents you from being overexploited.

"Then there's public relations." Yan's father paused. "This is very important. The media environment you'll face in the future will be more complex, and you'll need someone to help you shape and maintain your public image and handle unexpected public opinion crises."

Through a professional headhunting agency, I found a personal public relations manager named Eduardo Wilson, who is in his forties and very experienced.

He used to work at a top PR firm handling public relations for athletes and celebrities, and now he's offering personal, exclusive services. He's a man of few words, but steady and reliable in his work.

Yan Yuan listened to his father introduce the team members as if they were his own treasures, and his heart was filled with surprise and admiration.

Although my father wasn't in the sports world before, he managed to build a professional support network covering legal, business, and public relations in such a short time for my sake.

"Tsk tsk... Dad, you're really amazing." Yan Yuan said sincerely, "I didn't expect you to have arranged everything so perfectly."

Mr. Yan smiled, a smile that reflected both paternal pride and the confidence of a professional agent.

"Although your dad is a latecomer to this field, since he's going to do it, he can't hold you back. These people are all carefully selected. I've met them all, and their professional abilities are not a problem. I've also learned about their character from both direct and indirect sources."

From now on, this team will work closely with you to ensure everything goes smoothly for you off the field, so you can just focus on playing football.

He then changed the subject: "Speaking of playing football, the most important thing right now is signing with Arsenal."

Yan Yuan immediately sat up straight; this was the core of the trip.

"Arsenal's sporting director, Raul, has been communicating with me frequently lately," said Yan's father.

"Professor Wenger has also personally expressed his high regard for you. Their desire is very strong; they hope to finalize the contract as soon as possible so that you can integrate into the team before the start of the new season. Tomorrow morning, we will go to the club headquarters to officially begin negotiations."

He looked into his son's eyes:

"Son, I need to ask you something before we go."

This is your own career, and the first truly significant contract of your life.

Regarding core terms such as salary, signing bonus, bonus, and image rights, what are your true thoughts?

Or rather, what are your expectations?

"Dad needs to hear your bottom line and thoughts first before he can talk to them, make sure you get the best possible terms."

The room fell silent.

The London lights outside the window shone in, casting shadows on the faces of the father and son. Yan's mother also looked at her son with concern.

Yan Yuan remained silent for a few seconds.

This is not a question that can be answered casually.

He recalled his time at Hoffenheim, from the low point of being eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain to receiving Nagelsmann's trust, and fighting alongside his teammates to win the Bundesliga title and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

He recalled his in-depth and pleasant conversation with Professor Wenger, whose understanding of football and philosophy on cultivating young players deeply impressed him.

His choice of Arsenal was not just based on sentiment, but also on his belief that under Wenger's leadership and at the Emirates Stadium, he could grow better and achieve greater dreams.

A dream called champion.

He raised his head, his gaze resolute:

"Dad, I've thought it through very clearly."

First of all, money is important, but it's not what I value most right now.

I'm only 18 years old, and my professional career has just begun.

"I chose Arsenal because of Professor Wenger, because I felt that it would allow me to continue to improve and achieve greater goals, such as winning the Champions League." His tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority.

"This is what I crave most at this stage of my career: a truly significant trophy. I don't want to repeat the mistake of being eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals."

Both of Yan's parents listened attentively to their son without interrupting.

"So," Yan Yuan continued.

"I am willing to make some appropriate concessions on salaries so that the club has more funds to strengthen the squad."

I know that, given my current performance in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, and my potential for the future, many top clubs will offer me very high weekly wages, possibly far more than £20 or £30.

He paused for a moment, then clearly stated his bottom line:

"My bottom line is a weekly wage of £15."

Dad, this is the bottom line. I can't accept anything below this, as it's a recognition of my abilities. But I also want to make it clear that my expectations won't be set much higher than this number.

For example, if they offer 170,000 or 180,000 or even 200,000, I would be happy, but if it's too much more... it might take up the team's transfer budget.

I hope to leave room for the club to strengthen the team through player recruitment; Professor Wenger had previously promised us that we would improve the squad.

A weekly wage of £15 is an astronomical figure for ordinary people.

However, in the world of top football, for a rising superstar, especially in a money-driven league like the Premier League, this is indeed quite restrained, or even a "pay cut".

It's worth noting that many players whose skills are far inferior to Yan Yuan's earn close to or even more than that amount per week.

Yan Yuan then explained:

"The signing fee is the same; it's a large sum of money, I know."

But I'm willing to take less, but the less I take won't be taken for nothing.

If possible, I hope the club can directly convert that into this summer's transfer budget to buy stronger players.

"Dad, you can bring this idea up with Director Raul and the professor. The championship is more important than a large signing bonus right now."

"As for portrait rights," Yan Yuan looked at his father, his eyes full of trust, "I'll leave this entirely to you. I believe you and your team can balance commercial development and personal image, fight for what needs to be fought for, and concede what needs to be conceded. I trust you to manage it for me."

After Yan Yuan finished speaking, he looked at his parents.

His thoughts were clear and mature, demonstrating both a persistent pursuit of his dream (winning the Champions League) and a sense of responsibility beyond his years (making concessions for the team's signings), as well as expressing full trust in his father's abilities (image rights).

Yan's father took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

Looking at his son's young face, he was filled with mixed emotions.

There was pride, relief, and a touch of heartache.

The son wasn't unaware of the value of money; rather, he prioritized something far above money.

This kind of vision and mindset is especially precious in the fickle world of football.

He reached out and patted his son's shoulder hard:

"Okay! Son, Dad understands."

"I think your overall approach is correct!" Dad said confidently.

"When you're young, laying a solid foundation, winning honors, and building a reputation are more important than anything else. With championships and status, big money will naturally flow in."

Your idea of ​​first making the "cake" bigger, and then dividing it, shows a long-term perspective.

"However," Yan's father changed the subject, his eyes becoming sharp and shrewd, a confidence stemming from his dual roles as a businessman and a father.

"Understanding your thoughts doesn't mean Dad will foolishly accept everything at the negotiating table. The rights we should fight for and the guarantees we should receive must not be reduced in any way."

"A weekly wage of £15 is the bottom line, no problem. But since this is your 'bottom line,' Dad will do his best to negotiate a higher one for you. This is a reflection of your value and also a negotiation skill."

At the same time, bonus clauses are very important, including goal bonuses, assist bonuses, appearance bonuses, and team performance bonuses. These need to be clearly defined, competitive, and easily achievable. This will both incentivize you and ensure your total income level while keeping your fixed salary relatively restrained.

"You're willing to take a smaller portion of the signing bonus and leave it to the club for transfer fees. That's a great idea, very considerate of the bigger picture. Dad knows how to express that idea tactfully."

But how to do it is a skill. You need to make the club feel your sincerity and sacrifice, and you also need to ensure that this money is used effectively and does not become someone else's signing fee.

At the same time, we must ensure that you receive the remaining signing fee in full and on time. This is what you deserve; it's the realization of the value of your past efforts.

"You can rest assured about the portrait rights." Father Yan revealed a knowing smile.

"Dad and the team will plan carefully, both to protect your personal image and to maximize your commercial value."

"We won't sell them off cheaply, nor will we overdevelop them. Professor Wenger and Arsenal have always valued the team's image, and we'll have a common ground in this regard."

"In short," Yan's father concluded.

"I have a plan for tomorrow's negotiations. I will understand and support your core demands, ensure the team's competitiveness in the championship race, and within the bounds of rules and morality, I will strive to secure a lucrative contract for you that matches your ability and potential, and allows you to play with peace of mind."

Try to make Arsenal feel that signing you is a good thing, and also make you feel that your efforts and choices have been respected and rewarded.

Neither you nor the club will suffer a loss; this is the foundation for long-term cooperation.

Hearing his father's words, Yan Yuan was completely relieved.

His father fully understood his intentions and had the ability and wisdom to realize them, finding the best balance between ideals and reality.

"Alright, Dad, it's up to you!" Yan Yuan nodded vigorously, a relaxed smile on his face.

"Alright, alright," Aunt Yan said with a smile as she stood up. "Have you finished discussing the important matters? We still have negotiations tomorrow. Your son must be tired after a long day on the plane. I'll go get you two some simple late-night snacks. Eat and get some rest."

"Thank you, Mom!" Yan Yuan stood up as well, stretched out his arms and legs, and his fatigue seemed to be washed away by his anticipation for the future.

As night deepened, the lights of London flowed like a dazzling galaxy outside the hotel window. Yan Yuan stood by the window, gazing at this ancient yet vibrant city.

Tomorrow, he will walk into the building behind the Emirates Stadium and sign a contract that carries his dreams.