The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 140: First Championship of the Season, Ambition of Winning the Triple Crown

"Zenit is really rich. Hulk, a name I've never heard of, actually spent 50 million euros, plus Witsel, who has 40 million euros. Isn't this money laundering?"

Sunset Cafe and Tavern is still bustling even on days when there are no games.

Bastia seems rather lazy in July.

In the hot weather, many people choose to go to the pub to drink and brag.

For a fan, waiting for the start of the new season is always so torturous, just like the feeling the night before a date.

So after the European Cup, talking about transfers in major leagues and major clubs became one of their few pleasures.

"Zenit is indeed generous, but the Russian Premier League has nothing to do with us. We have to look at Paris Saint-Germain. Damn, it's only July and they have already spent 100 million on the four players they have officially announced!"

"Paris Saint-Germain is trying to end the suspense of the French Ligue 1 championship. Alas, they have money."

"At the moment, Lille, who rank second in transfer spending, have only spent around €15 million. The key is that they sold Hazard and made €40 million, but they didn't make any major signings."

Many people couldn't help shaking their heads when talking about Paris Saint-Germain's lavish transfers.

Ligue 1 is too poor.

Paris Saint-Germain is simply an outlier.

Of course, the transfer window investment in other leagues is basically not large, usually tens of millions.

Very few have over 100 million.

Even the two La Liga giants, Real Madrid and Barcelona, ​​only spent around 30 million euros in the summer transfer window.

Media reports say Real Madrid will buy Modric, the Croatian midfielder who performed well in the European Cup, from Tottenham.

Barcelona spent 1400 million euros to buy full-back Alba from Valencia, who also performed well in the European Cup, and spent 1900 million euros to introduce Alexander Song from Arsenal.

In the Bundesliga, Bayern spent the most, mainly spending 4000 million euros to introduce Javi Martinez.

The signing broke Bayern's record transfer fee.

Last season, Heynckes won the unprecedented "Triple King". In the new season, Bayern is determined to regroup. At Heynckes's firm request, Bayern pushed forward this transaction.

According to media reports, in order to facilitate the deal, Martinez also made a major sacrifice, saving Bayern 200 million in expenses by taking 1000 million less in salary each year - this 1000 million is exactly the difference between his value and the transaction price.

Bayern also spent more than 10 million to introduce Mandzukic from Wolfsburg.

As for other Bundesliga teams, Dortmund, which successfully defended the title last season, spent a maximum of 1700 million euros to buy Reus from Borussia Mönchengladbach.

With this money, Borussia Mönchengladbach spent more than 1500 million to introduce center forward Rutte de Jong from Twente in the Dutch Eredivisie.

It is difficult for other Bundesliga teams to have transactions worth tens of millions. For example, Leverkusen spent a maximum of 500 million to introduce Carvajal from Real Madrid.

Of course.

The two most dramatic events of the entire summer transfer window are definitely Serie A and the Premier League.

The show was very effective.

Inter Milan and AC Milan contributed the most to Serie A, while the most eye-catching thing in the Premier League was Van Persie joining Manchester United from Arsenal.

It's actually surprising.

The money-driven football of the Premier League giants has also gradually become popular, with players being bought for a price of tens of millions or more.

Chelsea and Manchester City, the two major teams, just buy, buy, buy.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool have also spent tens of millions on buying players to keep up with the pace.

In addition,

A league that is very far away from Bastia also appears in their vision.

Chinese Super League.

Drogba, who led Chelsea to win the Champions League, transferred to Chinese Super League Shanghai Shenhua on a free transfer.

There is also the Dortmund player who is at his peak. Barrios joined Guangzhou Evergrande for 800 million euros.

It gave the fans something to talk about.

But no matter how we talk about these teams far away from Bastia, in the end the fans are still more concerned about Bastia's situation in the new season.

Jerónimo kept his promise.

He led Bastia on a path of no return - as a newly promoted team, they borrowed money to recruit players, and their net investment ranked among the top ten in Ligue 1.

But even so,
It is also far from the transfer amounts of those big teams in the news, basically only a fraction of it.

On the first day of the summer transfer window, Bastia officially announced that it had spent 350 million euros to introduce Sadio Mane from Metz.

Spending 40 euros to bring in N'Golo Kante from Bolegny.

Then on July 15, it was officially announced that two players, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, were loaned from Chelsea.

The total loan fee for the two players is approximately 250 million euros.

On the same day, it was officially announced that left-back Sidibé was brought in from Troyes at a cost of approximately 170 million euros.

The investment in summer transfers alone exceeded 800 million euros.

Not to mention salary input.

Fortunately, the team sold young striker Diallo to Rennes for 200 million euros.

And Thauvin, who performed well in the first half of last season, lost his position due to the rise of Gaio.

Chatham intends to have Towan as Gaio's replacement.

However, Thauvin has good abilities and was unwilling to be a substitute, so he chose to go to Lille.

Brought Bastia 180 million euros in revenue.

Bastia's net investment this summer was nearly 430 million euros.

The remaining players are basically free transfers.

For example, the free transfer right back Jonathan, Ilan who came from the arch-rival Ajaccio, Mark Hall who came on a free transfer from Saint-Etienne, etc.

Chatham worked tirelessly and managed to put the team's overall structure in place before the start of the new season in August.

of course.

All Bastia fans know that Jerónimi dared to invest so heavily, on the one hand because he wanted to completely revive Bastia and improve its performance; on the other hand because he had Gaio.

Gaio has no shortage of next home.

In other words, Gaio took the initiative to stay with the team this season. Once Gaio is put on the market, there will definitely be no shortage of offers with sufficient sincerity.

The day when Gaio was about to transfer.

Bastia’s expenses for the next ten years are all covered!

The pub was bustling and noisy.

Bertrand listened to the fans' expectations for the new season and also listened to all kinds of news flying around.

A smile appeared.

"Jacques, Bastia is back to health. You've finished your aniseed wine, so there's no chance of a next champion being given away."

As Bertrand was thinking, someone came in at the door of the tavern and waved to him.

"Hey! Bertrand!"

Many people saw this scene.

Bertrand saw the smile on the face of the person who called him grow wider, and quickly asked, "Merck, are you done?"

Merck smiled and replied, "Of course, you can trust my cooking skills. Come on, have a glass of anise wine."

Bertrand couldn't wait to see the finished product and said, "Send it to the back quickly. You'll need some wine later."

Merck waved to the door.

Soon workers carried several large wooden barrels into the tavern.

As the large wooden barrels came in, the fans who were still drinking began to wonder, "Is Bertrand going to make wine again?"

Bertrand didn't hide it from anyone and said with a smile, "Jacques made a barrel of wine to celebrate Bastia's victory. I want to follow Jacques's example and celebrate Bastia's double championship season!"

"Wrong, it's the Triple Crown!"

Doorway.

A voice interrupted Bertrand. Modosso walked in from outside the tavern with a smile on his face. "Don't forget, we're going to play in the French Super Cup next week! Do you, Bertrand, think we're going to lose? Hahahaha."

Bertrand laughed. "I hope Bastia wins them all. My whole family is pure Bastia fans, full of loyalists."

Modoso followed up by asking, "Are you going to the United States with me next week?"

Bertrand shook his head. "No, I have to stay in the pub. I could go, but I have to watch the game with more old friends here, right? Not everyone can go to the United States."

Modoso nodded.

He then turned and shouted to the guys in the tavern, "Hey, listen up, guys! The team has been given 300 more tickets for the French Super Cup final. Anyone willing to join Ultras Bastia as an expeditionary force to the United States? Find Bertrand and sign up. We're going to support Bastia live! We need more people to show Bastia's strength!"

Wow!

Many people in the bar were surprised. Many people wanted to go to the United States with Ultras Bastia, but there were no extra tickets.

Now that’s a good thing!

"I'm going!"

"Add me one!"

When the team becomes stronger, everyone is willing to go to the scene to support the team whenever they have time.

Missed it now.

They don't know how long Bastia will have to wait before the team reaches its second peak.

Last time, they waited thirty or forty years.

How many thirty or forty years do we have in our life?
They can't afford to wait.

"Let's go." Modosso finished speaking and patted Bertrand on the shoulder. "Please help me register. You'll pay for your own travel, food, and lodging. Entrance is free. I'll come find you tomorrow. I'm going to the next place now to inform everyone."

Bertrand nodded and watched Modoso turn around and leave in a hurry.

The thought came to him, and he said to Merck, who was directing the workers to move the barrels, "Hey, Merck, make me five more barrels like this. I want to make aniseed liquor for the Triple Crown celebration!"

Merck smiled and said, "Okay! I'll add some extra work to it and make sure it's ready for you before the French Super Cup final. I'm the best carpenter in Bastia!"

Merck finished.

Someone in the pub crowd called out, "Merck! No wonder the pigeons in St. Nicholas Square have been saying this lately—if they want the sturdiest perch, they have to give their name!"

"I suggest you engrave the anti-counterfeiting mark 'Fattu in Bastia' on your work to prevent carpenters in Ajaccio from stealing your work." Made in Bastia.

When Merck heard others teasing Ajaccio, he laughed and joined in, "Those southerners in Ajaccio are not only not as good as us at carpentry, they're not as good as us at football either!"

"Correct!"

"We are going to teach Ajaccio a lesson in Ligue 1 this new season! They have mocked us, a low-level team, for so many years, and this season we must avenge them!"

Apart from the championship, what Bastia fans are most looking forward to is the Corsica derby.

Just like the fans said, they want revenge!

---

Clairefontaine.

Gaio has been recuperating here during this period, cooperating with Montel in gradual recovery training.

Some low-intensity activities, combined with physical therapy such as hot compresses and manual release, etc.

Montel was also constantly amazed during the daily tests, "Your recovery is really fast!"

Gaio started with low-intensity exercise and gradually began to incorporate ball training.

Clairefontaine gave him plenty of opportunities to train.

For example, Mbappé has come to Gaio more than once, wanting to learn some dribbling skills from him.

only,
Sometimes when Mbappé asks Gaio for advice on how to handle certain situations, he would hear Gaio say, "In this situation, there are only three people on the other side at most. What's there to be afraid of? Just dribble past them. It's such a good opportunity."

Mbappé was stunned and pointed at himself, "Me?"

As Gaio gradually recovered.

Mbappé also increasingly feels the gap between people.

If football is a game of genius, then Gaio is the brightest one in this game.

Mbappé feels he has opened up a gap between himself and the others.

But when I saw Gaio.

Mbappé finally understood his own talent, but that was only the threshold to understanding how strong Gaio's talent was.

"I'm leaving tomorrow, going to the United States, for the French Super Cup final." Gaio said to Mbappé.

During this period, Mbappé accompanied him, so that he would not be so lonely in Clairefontaine.

"Yeah, come on, Gaio! Win the first championship of the new season!"

Mbappe smiled and clenched his fist to cheer for Gaio.

The two said goodbye.

Gaio had just taken a few steps when he suddenly remembered something and turned to Mbappé and said, "Kylian."

"Huh?" Mbappe turned his head.

"You're graduating from Clairefontaine in a few months, right? I went to your house the other day, and your father told me that you guys signed a contract with Caen?"

Mbappé didn't know why Gaio asked this, but nodded and said, "Yes, they are very sincere. Our whole family has decided to go to Caen to start our professional career."

Mbappé shook his head again. "We haven't signed a contract, just a verbal agreement. I'll sign a youth training contract with Caen next year. As soon as I come of age, it will automatically become a professional contract, and they'll give us a signing bonus of around 15 euros."

Gaio nodded and said, "Good luck Killian. If you have any questions, please be sure to contact me and I will help you."

Mbappé said embarrassedly, “This is not good.”

"Hey, Killian, we're friends! Don't you consider me a friend?"

Mbappé quickly shook his head, "Of course not. Okay, I'll definitely ask you for help if I have any problems. When I grow up, I'll help you too!"

Gaio walked over and high-fived Mbappé, "Goodbye Kylian."

"Goodbye Gaio!"

Gaio left satisfied. He didn't know what happened between Mbappe and Caen that caused Caen to miss Mbappe.

Because he knew that Mbappé was a rising star from Monaco.

So something must have happened in between.

By the time,
This is his chance to intercept!

the next day.

Gaio said goodbye to the doctors in Clairefontaine, went to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport, and boarded a plane to New Jersey, USA.

The French Super Cup was born in 1995, but since 2009, it has been moved overseas to expand Ligue 1's international influence.

Make money, not shabby.

The main reason is that the Italian Super Cup has been held in China several times since 2009.

Especially last year's Italian Super Cup, the 276th Milan derby in the history of AC Milan and Inter Milan was held at the Bird's Nest in Beijing, China, and made a lot of money.

This year's Italian Super Cup is held in China again.

Seats are full.

This made the top executives of the French Professional Football League extremely envious, and they are also starting to consider holding the event in China after the cooperation with the United States ends.

And this time.

The French Super Cup final between Montpellier and Bastia will be held at the New York Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

The Red Bull Arena, which was just completed and put into use two years ago, is currently the home stadium of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

It can accommodate 25,000 spectators.

Gaio will join his teammates in Bastia in Harrison, New Jersey.

This is the first championship that Bastia can compete for in the new season.
This is also the first time in Bastia's history that they have the opportunity to compete for the annual triple crown title.

After more than eight hours of flight.

Gaio arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, USA, and as soon as he walked out of the terminal, he saw Chatham.

"Geo!"

Chatham waved excitedly to Gaio.

As soon as they met, Chatham gave Gaio a hug and said, "Let's go. We'll be waiting for you to arrive. We can't win the first championship of the new season without you."

During Gaio's recovery, Chatham visited him in Clairefontaine and told Gaio about the team's details for the new season.

During Gaio's recovery period, he has not trained with the team.

Because Chatham said, "Geo doesn't need to train together. What he needs is a good rest and recovery."

After Bastia arrived in New Jersey, the hotel arranged by the French Professional Football League was next to Newark Liberty International Airport.

It is a ten-minute drive from the airport.

The New York Red Bull Arena is a 15-minute drive away.

Along the way, Chatham was very excited and kept talking to Gaio, "Your advice is great! Gaio, I have to thank you. The two Chelsea guys performed very well in the warm-up match, especially Kevin. My God, his vision is so broad and his passing level is very high. I believe you will enjoy playing with him."

"Romelu is very strong, very fast, and has a strong impact, but..."

When it comes to Lukaku, Chatham has the word "but".

"But he doesn't like to confront people or play behind the central defenders. He prefers to play wide or find space to sprint. Even in the penalty area, he always doesn't know where to stand, which affects his teammates' movement."

Gaio said nothing.

How could he not be clear about the characteristics of "Mr. Lu"?
But Lukaku has not gained weight yet and his impact is very strong, so Bastia does not need him to be a standing center forward.

With De Bruyne passing the ball, Lukaku could rush as he pleased.

As long as Lukaku can break up the opponent's formation.

Then it was his chance to come out and reap the rewards.

On the way to the hotel, Gaio took a look at his attributes.

Although it didn't rise.

But it didn’t drop either.

He has returned to his peak form!

at the same time.

In the training ground rented by Bastia near the hotel, the old players of Bastia are all looking forward to Gaio's return.

Fan Shang said, "With Gaio, our winning rate will increase by at least 50%."

Rothen laughed, "Fifty percent? You underestimate Gaio!"

They were chattering about it.

De Bruyne and Lukaku in the corner listened but did not participate in the discussion.

They are from Belgium and speak fluent French.

Listening to the discussion of Bastia teammates.

De Bruyne also really wants to meet Gaio now.

During the time he was in Bastia, the name he heard most often was Gaio.

When formulating tactical strategies, head coach Hajibegic would ignore the problem of attacking on the right side. "Here we have the strongest right-wing breakthrough player in France, there is no need to worry at all", "Just wait for Gaio to return to the team", "Gio knows what to do."

Even Bastia's sporting director Chatham said to him when persuading him to choose Bastia: "We have Gaio, we are good enough to win the Europa League", "If you cooperate with him, no one can stop you", "You will win the championship in Bastia and return to Chelsea."

When I went out for a stroll in Bastia.

You can always hear Gaio's name from the fans, and they talk about Gaio's glorious deeds in the club and national team.

De Bruyne also saw the graffiti on the Terra-Vecchia center building.

De Bruyne was shocked!
Shocked that Bastia fans would give such treatment to a player who is less than 18 years old.

What kind of player makes this city so deeply bound to the name Gaio?

Therefore,
He really wanted to see what level this guy, whom the people of Bastia called the future of France, was capable of.

De Bruyne's thoughts were churning.

Fan Shang suddenly cried out in surprise.

"Geo!"

(End of this chapter)