Soccer: Maxed-out ball control, the skill is too overpowered.

"Who designed this prize plate? It feels really nice to the touch."

"Kevin, that's going too far!"

"What's wrong with touching the trophy after winning the championship?"

"I know, but who brings their championship trophy to the cafeteria for breakfast?"

"..."

Kevin De Bruyne blushed.

He was indeed a little too excited.

Three days have passed since the Bundesliga title win.

Until now,

Kevin De Bruyne remembers every single moment of that day vividly.

Including after the match,

Everyone on the bench, along with the entire stadium, rushed onto the field to celebrate their successful title defense.

The Bayer Arena became a carnival venue.

Strangers of different skin colors and nationalities unleashed their excitement for victory on the same court.

Then comes the Bundesliga tradition.

A beer bath to celebrate winning the championship.

De Bruyne was the most honest, and also the most unfortunate.

He was repeatedly tricked by Lu Xiao, Son Heung-min, Julian Brandt, and others, and his whole body was soaked in beer.

Even the coaching staff bullied him, and De Bruyne enjoyed it immensely.

Can anyone think of,

He looked lost on the Chelsea bench.

They actually won the championship!

Coming to Bayer Leverkusen was the best decision he ever made.

Players including Firmino, Harry Maguire, Van Dijk, and Rüdiger were also relieved.

Among many teams, I chose Bayer Leverkusen.

Everyone is unknown in the second division or among the bottom teams in the league.

He spent one season at Bayer Leverkusen.

Not only did they win the league championship,

There is a chance to achieve a double crown.

They even made it to the Champions League final!

Everyone's net worth skyrocketed.

From an initial few million euros, it has increased tenfold!

According to the current assessment by Transfermarkt,

Harry Maguire's net worth is $4500 million.

Van Dijk, 5000 million.

Rüdiger, 3000 million.

Joshua Kimmich, 2500 million.

Nathan Ake, $3000 million.

Even the relatively unknown Julian Brandt has a net worth of 4000 million.

A group of "disillusioned people's alliance"

He is now a highly sought-after star in the Bundesliga.

In recent days,

The Leverkusen players, now champions, are busy preparing for the upcoming German Cup final against Wolfsburg.

And the almost hopeless Champions League final.

The atmosphere within the team was fairly relaxed.

However, the coaching staff and management are already in a state of panic.

On the training field, the assistant coach led the team in training.

Head coaches Sasha and Hyypiä accompanied team director Michael Shad as they reviewed the numerous transfer requests.

From Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, Bayern Munich...

Numerous top clubs have practically emptied Leverkusen!

Manchester United are interested in signing Maguire, while Tottenham and Liverpool are also eyeing him.

I have a feeling that Maguire will definitely return to England within the next couple of years.

He prefers to play in the Premier League.

"Leaving Maguire aside for now, what about the others?"

Liverpool have their sights set on Virgil van Dijk, while Real Madrid and Chelsea have their sights set on Antonio Rüdiger.

Manchester City have their sights set on Ake.

Bayern Munich have also set their sights on Kimmich, and our defense is about to be completely hollowed out.

"Boss, is it possible to retain them? Even just raising the salary cap or giving them more bonuses?"

"Yes, with their defense being poached, next season will be really tough."

Faced with the head coach's long complaint,

Michael Shad was also at a loss for words.

"The key is that we're in the Bundesliga, so we can't invest any more."

They couldn't even apply for capital injection from Bayer headquarters.

To break even, the only option is to try selling to one or two people...

As you know, Lu's salary makes up the vast majority of his income.

If we give other people a raise...

"Unless Lu leaves, who among you is willing?"

Sasha and Hypia kept shaking their heads.

The whole team can be dismantled, but Lu Xiao cannot leave.

The team's repeated losses this season have proven that it suffers from "Lu Xiao dependency syndrome".

He is the sole core of the championship victory and is irreplaceable.

Look at Lu Xiao's record-breaking 47 goals,

Whether placed in the Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A

Who can score 47 goals in a single season?

Only Messi and Ronaldo,

Their goals included a large number of penalties.

The vast majority of Lu Xiao's goals are from open play.

One person accounts for more than 60% of the team's offensive firepower!

Selling Lu Xiao would be like cutting staff off the lifeline of the workforce.

"Honestly, I think it's worth considering."

Lu has many offers now.

I am confident that I can generate 1 million euros in cash flow.

With this money, you can boldly buy players and build your roster.

Maybe Bayer Leverkusen really has a chance to become a powerhouse!

Michael Shad had already begun to fantasize.

But neither head coach Sasha nor Hyypia showed any excitement on their faces.

"Didn't you want the transfer budget? Why are you unhappy?"

Yes, Leverkusen has the potential to become a powerhouse.

But that's on the condition that Lu Xiao stays.

"this……"

Michael Shad's smile froze instantly.

"I know Lu's importance goes without saying, but..."

If Lu Xiao stays in the team, everyone else has to leave.

The club's size does not support the formation of a super team.

Every year they repeatedly bring in promising players, nurture them to maturity, and then sell them.

To become a "superstar training village" similar to Borussia Dortmund.

Either sell Lu Xiao, get a large sum of money, and use that money to slowly build up the team.

It will be very painful no matter what.

A single-minded person becoming blocked at both ends is an example of this.

This is the tragedy of mid-to-lower-tier teams in the era of money-driven football.

This is also why Bayern Munich is the only powerhouse in the Bundesliga.

"Alright, alright, let's discuss the transfer later."

You two should focus on leading the team and preparing for the German Cup now.

Since the Champions League hopes are slim,

Winning the Bundesliga double this season is a pretty good ending.

The discussion ultimately yielded no results.

Michael Shad had no choice but to temporarily shelve the controversy.

After Sasha and Hypia left,

Michael Shad sighed and picked up the phone.

"Yes, that's right, Mr. Chairman, they still can't accept it..."

"Yes, yes, I understand. The final decision rests with our management team."

"Okay, I know what to do."

Standing in the Leverkusen CEO's office,

Looking down at the training field through the spacious floor-to-ceiling windows,

The most eye-catching person in the arena was an Asian boy with black hair and yellow skin.

His flashy skills on the field allowed him to dribble past his teammates and score a beautiful goal, eliciting cheers from the entire team.

A group of passionate young men revel in football, enjoying the fun of "brotherhood football".

However, in Michael Shad's view,

This joyous scene is probably about to come to an end.

……

2015, April 5.

German Cup final,

Bayer Leverkusen vs Wolfsburg

Berlin Olympic Stadium.

The 2014/15 UEFA Champions League final will be held here in a week.

The FA Cup final can be considered a rehearsal for the Champions League final.

Bayer Leverkusen is about to engage in a top-level showdown with Juventus here.

However, as is well known,

This will be the most predictable Champions League final in history.

Several key players from Bayer Leverkusen failed to reach the final.

Lu Xiao, Van Dijk, Aké, Lars Bender...

They could only unleash all their regret and anger on Wolfsburg in the German Cup final.

Entering the locker room,

Everyone is busy with their own things.

Dealing with Wolfsburg is routine; the atmosphere is no different from that in the Bundesliga.

Lu Xiao was chatting with his brothers,

The cell phone suddenly rang.

"Mr. Mendes?"

Jorge Mendes, the brokerage tycoon who only visits when he needs something,

He always speaks very directly and gets straight to the point.

"Lu,

Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, which one do you want to go to?

"No, wait... huh?"

"Yes, Lu, you are now the most sought-after person in all of Europe."

As expected, the most expensive signing in the summer transfer market.

"You're the one."