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Chapter 25 I have no grudge against you

Guo Xuequan looked back, his eyes passing the door that seemed to deliberately proclaim "I'm rich", and cast towards the three science fiction movie-style buildings located on the central axis of the training base.

The news media center, which is also the press conference hall, is located in the outermost building, which is slightly lower than the main building.

He was unlucky enough not to be called on first during the question-and-answer session, but second.

But he was lucky enough because the first BBC reporter who was qualified to ask a question asked a very stupid question, so he had the opportunity to ask that question.

He even felt that his question was the most valuable question in this press conference.

After all, Tyne's tactical configuration and training status are just minor details. Everyone...all Chinese fans are most concerned about that one thing:
When will Wang Lie be able to play?

Although Wang Lie came on as a substitute during the Sofia FA Cup, it still caused huge controversy.

But Chinese fans, including Guo Xuequan, care about definitely not the kind of "playing" where they are substituted in and out in the second half, but the normal "playing" like a normal player, without any intrigue within the team, any hidden thoughts or conspiracies, and no disputes or topics other than football.

This kind of "playing" has not appeared on Wang Lie for more than half a season.

Everyone wants to know the answer.

And now he had that answer.

This trip to Newcastle was worth it!

Liu Zhong stood next to Guo Xuequan and looked back with him, then said, "I always feel that this matter is not as certain as Wang Lie said... When Wang Lie said that he would definitely appear, I noticed that McNeill next to him showed a little surprise, as if... Wang Lie's answer was beyond his expectations."

Guo Xuequan shook his head: "Maybe he didn't expect Wang Lie to say it so directly. If Wang Lie doesn't play in the next game, the domestic fans will be furious... Even if he plays as a substitute, he must play. It can't be that Tyne signed Wang Lie purely for competitive considerations and didn't take into account the influence of the Chinese market at all, right?"

"But how long has he been in Tyne? And he hasn't played much in the past half season. Isn't it a bit too hasty?"

"We can't really wait until everything is ready before going on stage. The situation doesn't wait for anyone..."

"That's true." Liu Zhong felt that what Guo Xuequan said made sense, so he stopped talking and lowered his head to check his phone.

Guo Xuequan looked at the Northumberland Football City and sighed: "Speaking of which, such an awesome training base was completed in just two years. It was also thanks to the Middle Eastern boss that he hired a Chinese construction company to do it. If he had really hired a local British construction company, this would still be a construction site. Perhaps the Tyne football team is destined to have a connection with China..."

"Fuck!" Liu Zhong beside him suddenly exclaimed, interrupting Guo Xuequan's emotions.

"What's wrong? Why are you so startled?" Guo Xuequan glanced at him.

Liu Zhong pointed at the screen of his mobile phone: "There is big news from Helingham FC! Rost made a big statement at the press conference, saying that he had rejected Wang Lie's joining before, and Tyne was just picking up something he didn't want! He also said that Wang Lie should consider not when to appear on the field, but when to leave..."

Guo Xuequan couldn't listen any longer, so he took out his cell phone to see what was going on.

Around them, the reporters who were leaving one after another stopped and looked down at their mobile phones.

※※※

"Sam, did you make a private promise to Wang that he would play in the weekend game?"

As soon as the press conference ended, assistant coach Cesar Valo ran over to ask head coach Sam McNeil.

Because Wang Lie said very confidently at the press conference that he would definitely play in the weekend game, but Valo, as an assistant coach, had no idea about this, so he had to confirm with the head coach.

McNeill smiled bitterly and shook his head: "No way, he said that on his own initiative."

"Ah? Isn't he afraid of not being able to go on stage and getting slapped in the face?" Varro was surprised. "Oh, or is he forcing you to abdicate? He is forcing you to consider letting him go..."

McNeill shook his head: "I think he just wanted to express his confidence. This is his usual practice. Others do first and then talk, but he talks first and then does."

"Isn't he afraid of being slapped in the face later? He doesn't even leave himself a way out..."

"You're right, Cesar. Wang may just want to force himself to work harder by not leaving himself any chance to fall back. So you see, Wang will definitely show his actual performance in the next two days of training so that we have no choice but to select him into the roster. In fact, he has worked very hard in training these two days, as you saw."

Varro sighed: "Why make yourself so tired?"

McNeill completely disagreed with his assistant's words: "If he hadn't pushed himself hard, how could he have snatched two Ballon d'Ors and a World Footballer of the Year from the decade when Arthur and Ronaldo dominated the football world? You know, before him, the whole world said that it was impossible for Asian players to win the Ballon d'Or, become the World Footballer of the Year, and reach the top."

Varro nodded repeatedly. "I know, I know. I don't mean to deny Wang's past achievements. I'm just saying that he will be 38 soon. He has won everything in his career. He can actually relax a little and face the end of his career with a calmer attitude."

McNeill was amused by Varro's words: "If he really relaxed and calmed down, he would still be staying at Sofia as a mascot. How could it be our turn to take advantage of him..."

Before he could finish his words, the screen of his cell phone on the table lit up, accompanied by a new message alert sound.

McNeill picked it up reflexively and looked at it, his face changed.

Varro noticed the change in his expression and asked, "What's wrong?"

McNeill said nothing, but handed him the phone.

Varro took it and read it. It was a report on social media from an official social media account:
Sky Sports.

Varro looked at the specific content again:

"Hurlingham FC head coach Kofi Rossiter revealed that Wang's team had contacted Hurlingham FC, but as the head coach, he vetoed the transfer that was very likely to happen. He criticized Wang for being a person who put himself above the team... Rossiter also believed that if Wang was at Hurlingham FC, he would never get a chance to play... Rossiter hinted that it was because he rejected Wang that Tyne was able to sign the player..."

※※※

"King, have you ever had any conflicts with Rost?"

On the other end of the phone, Fernando Clemente was asking Wang Lie.

Wang Lie was confused: "No? He coached the team in the Championship last season. I didn't play in the match between Sofia United and Hlingham FC this season. Where did the conflict come from?"

"What about before? Even earlier?"

Wang Lie shook his head: "Who remembers this? Anyway, he definitely didn't leave a deep impression on me. I don't think there is any conflict between him and me..."

"Tsk..." Clement also felt strange, "That's strange, why is he so malicious towards you?"

"Didn't the reporter at the scene ask too many questions about me and irritated him?"

"Then he could have handled the situation in a smarter way. I don't believe Rost is such a reckless person. He never lost his composure like this before when facing direct questioning from reporters at a press conference..."

Wang Lie interrupted his agent and said, "It doesn't matter, Fernando. I don't care what that person's inner world is like, or what his mental journey is like. I don't want to explore whether this is a distortion of human nature or a loss of morality... Whatever, he said it, it has nothing to do with us. You don't need to pay too much attention to it."

"But he revealed that we had approached Hlingham FC..."

"So what? We kept it secret in the first place so that we wouldn't be tripped up by Sofia when we were negotiating the termination of the contract, and secondly, you said we would avoid transfer rumors flying around, making me look like nobody wants me and affecting the teams that really want to sign me. Now that I've moved to Tyne, there's no need to keep it secret, right? If they want to reveal it, then let them do it."

Clement was not used to Wang Lie's nonchalant words at first and found them strange. But he remembered that Wang Lie had said at the press conference that he would definitely play, and he immediately understood: "Did McNeill promise to let you play?"

"No, how could the head coach make such a promise?"

"Ah? I thought you knew you would definitely play, so you were determined to go after Rost."

Wang Lie smiled, "You're right, Fernando. Of course I'm holding back my desire to slap Rost in the face. However, McNeill really didn't make any promises to me. I just have the confidence to make the roster and get a spot on the field. This week, the coaching staff has been training me in offensive tactics as a center, which means they plan to use me. Otherwise, why would they train me? As long as I can train to a level that meets their requirements, I should be able to play."

"Okay... but you can hold your breath and wait to draw Rost during the game. But our team can't really remain silent. We must have an explanation for this matter." Clement understood Wang Lie's thoughts, but as the head of the brokerage team, he also has his own position and responsibilities.

"You guys can handle this. If you want to use my account, just use it." Wang Lie thought it was a small matter, the game was the most important thing. "I have to focus on the game this weekend."

※※※ Kofi Rossiter successfully made himself the most popular person in English football tonight, surpassing Wang Lie, whom he did not like.

What he said at the routine mid-week press conference was widely circulated in the form of text and video, sparking heated discussions across the Internet.

Not only fans, but many professional media are also reporting and commenting on this matter.

After all, Rossiter did say something that no one knew before, which is that before going from Sofia United to Tyne, Wang Lie's team actually contacted Helingham FC, and was rejected by Helingham FC!

Being rejected by a wealthy club would have been fine, but Wang Lie was actually rejected by Helinghan FC, which was ranked in the middle of the league!

This person is really in big trouble!

Moreover, we can think about it again: this is the only family that was exposed, so how many more have not been exposed?
Well-known columnist and commentator Lawrence Dadomo, a famous "Wang Liehei", said this when he participated in a live webcast program in the evening:
"We all knew that Wang's agent had contacted many European giants, but without exception, none of them were willing to take him. Unexpectedly, Wang's agent team also found a mid-ranked team like Hurlingham FC... and we also know why it was Tyne - it's very simple, probably because the teams ranked before Tyne didn't want him!"

The host of the online show echoed: "No wonder there was no news about Wang's whereabouts in the market before Tain suddenly announced Wang's transfer. I have to say that Wang's team did a great job of keeping it secret."

Dadomo grinned. "He has to be outstanding. Otherwise, we'll see news reports every day about a certain team rejecting Wang. Maybe the bookmakers will even have to open a betting market for which team will reject Wang next..."

The host laughed so hard that he fell over.

……

"Welcome to the News Focus program on BBC5. I think everyone already knows the focus news we are going to discuss today. Of course, it is the revelation of Kofi Rossiter, the head coach of Hurlingham FC. We have invited Marvin Bullock, a famous player of Sofia United, to talk about his view on this matter..."

As the host gestured and extended, the camera cut to the guest Marvin Block next to him.

The famous left-back, who had played for Sofia United for twelve years, nodded to the host in a suit and tie.

“And Liam Adeyemo, the renowned football biographer.”

Adeyemo, who was beside Block, also nodded and greeted the camera.

After introducing the guests, the host asked, "You two already know what happened, so first of all... Brock, what do you think about Wang's team secretly contacting Hellingham FC?"

Bullock said: "To be honest, there is nothing wrong with contacting other teams when the head coach is sent to the youth team. If it were me, I would do the same. So I think the point is not that he contacted other teams, the point is the 'secret'.

"Why keep it secret? If Rossiter hadn't been annoyed by the reporters' questions, we might not have known about this incident until now. I think Wang's team should have considered that they have not yet terminated their contract with Sofia United, so they don't want Sofia United to know that they are in contact with other Premier League teams..."

"Why don't you want Sofia United to know?" the host asked at a very timely moment.

Brock explained to him and the audience in front of the TV: "Because Wang and his agent are very clear that as a legendary player of Sofia United, going to another Premier League team is to make enemies with Sofia United. They also know that doing so will cause dissatisfaction among Sofia United fans and affect Wang's personal image."

The host looked as if he had suddenly realized something: "So Wang actually knew that what he did was immoral, so he chose to conceal it?"

Brock nodded: "Do you remember that when Wang was kicked out of the youth team, there were a lot of speculations about where he would go next? Some said he would go to Spain, some said he might go to Germany or France, and many said he would choose to return to China... but no one guessed that he would stay in England, right?"

The host nodded in agreement.

"Because everyone knows that Wang Lie will not stay in the Premier League. He cannot and should not be an enemy of the team he loves. But in the end, he went to Tyne, a Premier League team..." Brock shrugged. "Combined with Rost's revelations today, it is obvious that Wang wanted to stay in the Premier League from the beginning. He wanted revenge on Sofia! So was my previous criticism of him wrong? He didn't take Sofia seriously at all!"

The host then asked Liam Adeyemo a question.

The biographer raised a finger and said: "I want to draw your attention to a detail - Hurlingham FC is a team with Chinese capital... Oh no, I'm not saying that having Chinese capital is bad. Our Premier League is a diverse and inclusive football league. There are not only Chinese-funded teams, but also Qatari, Saudi Arabian and American-funded teams. This is nothing...

"What I want to say is that Hlingham FC, which has Chinese capital, is indeed a very suitable team for Wang. He will never encounter the same problems as in Sofia United... He can even be the 'emperor' of Hlingham FC. I think if possible, Wang must want to go to Hlingham FC very much. On the one hand, it has Chinese capital, and on the other hand, Hlingham FC's league ranking is higher than Tyne. But Hlingham FC finally rejected Wang because of the strong opposition of the head coach...

“Please allow me to pay high tribute to the management team of Hurlingham FC. I admire your respect for professional opinions. After all, the pressure you were under at that time must be so huge that ordinary people can hardly imagine. With such a professional management team and an excellent head coach, I believe your future will definitely be bright!”

……

On the Internet, the arguments are even louder, ten thousand times more intense than the remarks made by public figures on those shows.

"I would also like to draw everyone's attention to a detail: Why does Liam Adeyemo always jump around like a clown on Wang's affairs? Because Wang refused his request to write a biography, so he went from being a bootlicker to a 'Wang hater'. But in fact, Wang refused him only because he has not retired yet. He has said more than once that it is meaningless to write a biography of his career before he retires..."

"Why did BBC5 invite Marvin Bullock to this show? It fully exposed their ass! Everyone knows that Bullock once scolded Wang for not taking the club to heart after Wang published a farewell letter to Sofia fans... Everything he said on BBC5 today was his old opinion... He did not analyze this matter from a neutral and objective standpoint at all!"

"Excuse me, what did Brock say wrong? After leaving the team, Wang wrote a letter to curse the club's management and head coach. Doesn't he care about the club? Before he terminated his contract with Sofia United, he actively contacted other Premier League teams. Has he made up his mind to become the enemy of his old club that has given him countless honors and support?"

"Sofolian treated him like that, why can't he be the enemy of Sofolian?! The club is clearly using him as a stepping stone for the new head coach to establish his authority, so shouldn't Wang be allowed to fight back?!"

"Well said. If that's the case, how could Wang have the nerve to express his feelings towards Sofulian in that open letter? Now when I look back at that letter, I can only feel disgusted by every word he said in it!"

"If you feel sick, go to the hospital and check. Are you three months pregnant, idiot? The whole thing is that Kofi Rossiter, that bastard, criticized the players of other teams without grace. Wang Lie is a victim, but now he is being put on the table to be publicly executed by everyone... You racists just hate Wang Lie for being a yellow man who once defeated you!"

"A little-known fact: labeling someone won't convince them, it will only cause more people to resent them. Is this the quality of the 'Wang Weibing'? They can't reason, they can only label people, it's really pathetic, just like their idols!"

"How pathetic! Stop being so pretentious here. The whole world knows that identity politics is the specialty of you white pigs!"

"Although more than a decade has passed, I still remember how those racists insulted and discriminated against Wang Lie. Do you want me to list the despicable deeds of you racists?"

"Why are there suddenly so many Chinese IPs posting hate speech on Twitter? What about China's Internet firewall? Is it working properly? Why can't we also build a wall on the Internet to keep these Chinese IPs out? They have made a good Internet ecology a mess. I really miss the Internet environment 20 years ago when Wang was not yet famous..."

“Ha! You can’t handle this little bit of strength? You bastards! This is just the beginning! @WangisKing hasn’t even made a move yet!”

"What the hell is wrong with Kofi Rost? He actually took the initiative to provoke Wang? And there are so many idiots on the Internet cheering for Rost... It seems that I need to explain to everyone the consequences of angering Wang... #Video link: "Why did you provoke him? - Top 10 moments of Wang's slap in the face"#"

※※※

After reading the full text of the statement sent by Clement on his phone, Wang Lie replied: "If I had written it, I wouldn't have added that last paragraph... But forget it, since you guys are the ones to handle it, I won't interrupt..."

Clement replied: “Then how about deleting the last paragraph?”

Wang Lie: "No, I won't delete it. Just keep it. Everyone will know that this is a statement written by my PR team and has nothing to do with me."

Clement: “[laughing and crying][laughing and crying][laughing and crying]”

Wang Lie: "I have no problem here, just send it."

Clement: “[OK]”

※※※

At 9:38 p.m., Wang Lie posted an identical statement on his verified accounts on multiple social media platforms:

“After I was driven to the Sofia United youth team by Mr. Sven Heldon and was not even allowed to use the first-team restaurant, Hurlingham FC contacted my agent and hoped that I could transfer to the club.

"Mr Kofi Rossiter did express his opposition to my joining his team, but Hurlingham FC showed great sincerity and tried its best to promote this matter.

"I am very grateful to have been recognized and respected by Hurlingham FC under such circumstances. It is a great comfort and honor for me.

“The reason why I didn’t join Hlingham FC was not because of money, tactical position or even the head coach. It was just because Tyne was the first team to reach out to me and the head coach Sam McNeil was the first person to believe in me. I chose Tyne to repay this precious trust.

“Finally, I have never had a problem with Mr Kofi Rossiter and I have great respect for his achievements in leading Hurlingham FC back to the Premier League from the Championship. I wish him and his team all the best in the future.

"Wang Lie (handwritten signature) January 2037, 1"

※※※

PS, two updates today! The second update will be at the usual time - 6pm!
(End of this chapter)