When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 258 The Red Demon Falls, a Treacherous Hero Seizes Power, a Fierce General is Erected to Godhood on the Banks of the Tyne River

Manchester United suffered a humiliating 1-4 defeat at home to Chelsea, with chaos erupting at Old Trafford.

Disappointed fans left early, leading to riots and shouting in the stands.

Meanwhile, in the VIP box, Glazer coldly observed all of this.

Despite the ongoing chants of protests outside the stadium against the Glazers' attempt to acquire a stake in Manchester United, what Manchester United's two largest shareholders, Manil and McManus (formerly the club's largest shareholder), have agreed to sell their 28.7% stake.

By tomorrow morning, the Glazers' stake in Manchester United will have soared to 56.9%, giving them complete control of the club.

Manchester United fans' worst fears are about to become a reality: this illustrious banner of English football may well become an amateur's puppet.

Glazer is a complete novice when it comes to football.

He is completely different from Chelsea owner Abramovich, who is a self-made pragmatist who doesn't care about returns when spending money.

Glazer, however, was merely a businessman who inherited his family fortune and only cared about profits.

This outsider insists on getting involved in football, and he's eyeing Manchester United, a lucrative target.

Despite a decline in performance, Manchester United remains the world's most profitable club, with an increasing number of overseas fans.

In the words of the British media, Glazer was like "a fly attracted to blood."

This American has a history of ruining teams.

Ten years ago, he bought the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, and his first act upon taking office was to fire the decorated coach Sam Wechs, a decision that sparked widespread controversy.

More noteworthy is that during Glazer's tenure, this former Super Bowl champion team suffered persistent financial losses. He later attempted to acquire the Los Angeles Dodgers, but fortunately, the deal fell through.

As far as Manchester United is concerned, the potential risks brought about by the Glazers' takeover have begun to emerge.

According to multiple reliable sources, including The Times, Sir Alex Ferguson has begun considering leaving office.

This change in attitude from the accomplished manager actually reflects the distrust of the new management among professional football figures.

Once Ferguson leaves, the core members of the coaching team he nurtured (including Keane and Queiroz, who are seen as his successors) are very likely to leave as well, which will directly threaten the stable system that Manchester United has built up over the long term.

After Chelsea's away victory against Manchester United, Roy did not return to London with the team.

Shortly after the final whistle, he walked alone to the Old Trafford parking lot and got into a dark BMW 7 Series sedan.

The convoy of two BMWs quietly drove away, led by Roy's car, followed by an X5 with four bodyguards wearing sunglasses inside.

"Do you know how much trouble it will cause in Manchester to say something like 'not as good as Liverpool's owner'?"

She rubbed her temples: "We're opening a new store three miles from Old Trafford next week, and all the Manchester United fans in Manchester want to devour you alive."

Claire was indeed annoyed by Roy's remarks, but nothing compared to how he rejected Samsung's offer a couple of days ago.

That's 800 million pounds! That's a staggering amount. She still gets dizzy just thinking about it.

After successfully replacing Emirates as the shirt sponsor of Chelsea Football Club with a record sponsorship deal, Samsung Group immediately set its sights on the team's key player, Roy.

Based on Roy's immense commercial influence in recent years, including winning the Champions League, the European Championship, Ligue 1 and the Premier League, as well as the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards and setting numerous goal records, Samsung has decided to launch a groundbreaking endorsement partnership.

As an international brand with an annual marketing budget of up to $3 million, Samsung's offer is nothing short of revolutionary: an endorsement contract of at least three years with an average annual endorsement fee of £800 million.

This figure far exceeds the current market standard for football endorsements.

It's worth noting that during the 2006 World Cup, Motorola's annual sponsorship deal with Beckham was only £500 million.

The night before last, Samsung Electronics CEO and head of digital media Choi Gee-sung excitedly declared in a conference room at the Dorchester Hotel in London: "Samsung is reshaping the global mobile communications landscape. The 3G era is coming, and we need an iconic figure to define this revolution."

"The auction for European 3G licenses has been completed, and Samsung plans to capture 25% of the European 3G mobile phone market share by 2007. This requires your influence, especially in the UK, France, and Germany."

"In China, we expect to build more than 2000 3G base stations within five years. If you sign a contract, all Samsung advertising spaces at Beijing Airport and the Bund in Shanghai will be replaced with your image. Starting next year, your 3G mobile phone advertisements will appear in every corner of the Chinese market. All advertising spaces that Samsung can cover, including airports, high-speed rail stations, city landmarks, commercial centers, television and online platforms, will display your image."

"Regarding long-term planning, Samsung will create a comprehensive marketing campaign centered around you during the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany."

"First, we will set up Roy Interactive Zones in Samsung Fan Experience Zones in 12 major cities around the world. Each zone will be equipped with the latest 3G video calling equipment, allowing fans to connect with you in real time. We plan to schedule two live events every day, broadcast live by ESPN and Sky Sports."

"Secondly, all Samsung World Cup promotional products, including phones, TVs, and exclusive sponsor gifts, will be printed with your personal logo. We have prepared 50 limited edition phones worldwide, with your signature engraved on the back."

"Most importantly, no matter where the French team goes, Samsung is committed to reserving your advertising space. If the team reaches the semi-finals, we will place your advertisement at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, using the latest 3G video streaming technology for real-time interaction."

"Finally, we have already booked giant billboards at the airports of Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin for a month. Production of these billboards will begin immediately once you agree to sign the contract."

Surprisingly, Roy's side ultimately decided to decline this record-breaking business offer.

There was a key reason behind this decision: he was secretly buying large amounts of Apple stock and continuously increasing his holdings.

According to the strict terms of the Samsung contract, the spokesperson is not allowed to hold any shares of competing brands (including but not limited to Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, etc.) nor use these competitors' products in public.

Apple's position in Samsung's eyes is quite subtle.

Although Apple's main product at the time was only the iPod music player and it had not yet launched the iPhone, Samsung had already noticed this potential competitor.

In Samsung's internal competition analysis report, Apple was categorized under "digital music players," listed alongside companies like Sony and Creative Technology.

The iPod sold incredibly well, with over 2000 million units sold worldwide, practically monopolizing the MP3 market.

This put pressure on Samsung, the manufacturer of the Yepp player, forcing them to accelerate the development of new MP3 players in response.

Samsung had no idea how the value of the Apple stock Roy held would change in the future.

Over the next ten to twenty years, the value of these stocks will experience phenomenal growth.

From a financial perspective, even if Roy accepts Samsung's astronomical endorsement deal, he will never be able to realize his deepest dream through sponsorship revenue: to acquire a top Premier League club, such as Chelsea.

However, the capital appreciation from holding Apple stock makes this dream a reality.

Although Apple has historically shown little interest in signing sports stars as spokespeople, meaning Roy's future business opportunities with Apple may be very limited, this does not diminish the enormous financial returns he has gained through investing in Apple stock.

Ultimately, Roy rejected the lucrative contract with a reason that left the Samsung team both amused and bewildered: "I'm a die-hard iPod user. I have to keep using it to listen to music."

Cui Zhicheng immediately lost his composure and slammed his fist on the table in rebuttal: "The sound quality and design of our Yepp player are absolutely no less than that of the iPod! The latest YP-T8 will be delivered to your home tomorrow. This is a product that will not be available until August. It has a color screen, touch screen, and Bluetooth 2.0 functionality!"

"MP3s are MP3s and iPods are iPods."

After seeing Roy's team off, Choi Ji-sung's face turned ashen.

He abruptly loosened his tie and pulled the bow tie aside.

Upon seeing this, the assistant immediately understood, quickly signaled the others in the meeting room to leave, and gently closed the office door.

Just before the door closed completely, Cui Zhicheng's furious roar could be faintly heard: "Damn it! This arrogant bastard!"

The assistant strode towards the elevator, picked up his phone, and dialed a number: "Ms. Jin, please come to the president's room on the 21st floor immediately. Yes, come up now."

In the corridor, several marketing department employees who hadn't gone far exchanged glances and quickly left the area.

From inside the heavy wooden office door, the sound of documents being swept to the floor could be heard, along with a string of curses in heavily Busan-accented Korean.

In his office, Choi Ji-sung angrily muttered to himself, "Who does he think he is? Maradona? A French player in his early twenties with Chinese heritage who has never even played in a World Cup. Last year, he publicly insulted us Koreans on the radio, calling us robbers and saying we stole Italy's qualification. This kind of person would have been listed as a disgraced star in our country long ago, and many people are boycotting him. It's Samsung that put aside past grievances and offered him such generous terms."

"And he actually rejected it with such a ridiculous reason as 'an iPod is an iPod'? Is South Korea's technology inferior to that of the United States? In what way is the Yepp player inferior to that little white box? We prepared global advertising resources and a dedicated product line for him—such generous treatment!"

“A player of this caliber wouldn’t even qualify to be a spokesperson for elementary school students in South Korea. Immediately notify the marketing department to halt all collaborations involving him. Since he chose to insult South Korea, he can forget about ever working with Samsung again. Let him fend for himself in America with his iPod.”

At that moment, the office door opened gently.

The popular actress, who often plays independent women in TV dramas, walked in wearing high heels, her black short skirt tightly hugging her curves, her chest faintly visible.

She locked the door behind her back, knelt at Cui Zhicheng's feet, and placed her slender fingers on his knees.

The room was filled with the rustling sound of clothes rubbing together.

Cui Zhicheng's breathing gradually calmed down, his tense shoulders finally relaxed, and the tension in the office seemed to dissipate as well.

The news that Roy rejected a Samsung endorsement deal was first reported by The Daily Telegraph and immediately caused a stir in the Premier League.

Chelsea CEO Peter Kenyon called Roy directly that afternoon.

"This is simply unbelievable."

Kenyon's voice was tinged with suppressed anxiety. "Samsung's offer is £2400 million for three years and £4800 million for five years, not including commercial revenue sharing in the Asian market. That's practically the top salary for a footballer's commercial contract!"

The sound of papers turning over came from the other end of the phone; Kenyon was clearly reviewing the club's financial report: "Do you know we're talking to Abramovich about the new stadium plan? Samsung's sponsorship is the core budget for developing the Asian market over the next three years. Their mobile advertising covers every subway station and airport in Asia, including giant LED screens in Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo."

"Not to mention, they promised to buy all the sideline advertising space at Stamford Bridge if we signed the contract, which alone could solve 40% of our annual operating deficit. The CFO is going crazy in my office right now because this expected revenue has already been factored into our latest loan agreement."

"At least tell me, is there a company offering a higher price? Sony? Nokia? Any remedy will do."

Clearly, Roy's decision completely disrupted everyone's plans.

Samsung had placed all its hopes on him; as the most sought-after football star in the world at the time, Roy's commercial value was simply astonishing.

Although Roy owns 100% of his image rights, the club will always profit as long as he plays for Chelsea.

Compared to players who have to give half of their image rights revenue to the club, Roy alone can bring Chelsea much more real money: jersey sales have skyrocketed to over a million pieces in a single season, Stamford Bridge is always packed, Chelsea's Premier League broadcast share has also increased, and even the advertising billboards next to the training ground have increased in price.

More importantly, Samsung had already designed its global advertising plan for the next three years, intending to partner with Roy and Chelsea to open up the entire Asian market. Now the whole strategy has collapsed.

All the pre-arranged TV time slots, shopping mall promotions, and even data plans bundled with Korea Telecom all had to be scrapped and started over.

Just the fact that Chelsea became the most beloved team among South Koreans made this deal incredibly lucrative.

This isn't developing an overseas market; it's practically installing a money-printing machine for the club.

Kenyon's voice was almost in despair: "Just for a damn MP3 player?"

“Peter, my contract with the club doesn’t say I have to be a spokesperson for the Koreans.”

"Not even the pound?"

Kenyon practically spat out the words, "Even money can't sway you?"

As the conversation ended and Kenyon hung up the phone, a "click" sounded beside him as Abu lit a cigar.

The silence lasted for nearly a minute, then a deep voice came through the swirling smoke:

"Never mind. He has special value."

5月12日，英超第33轮补赛中，阿森纳在海布里球场8-0血洗埃弗顿。

Van Persie, Vieira, Edu, Bergkamp, ​​Flamini, and Nonda each scored a goal, while Pires netted two.

Henry, returning from injury in the second half, came on as a substitute and won a penalty. This crushing defeat set a new record for Everton's biggest loss in club history.

Just days ago, Everton manager David Moyes was basking in praise after leading his team to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, directly helping Chelsea secure the league title. Jose Mourinho even wrote an article in The Sun praising him for "possessing unique tactical wisdom."

However, at this moment, the Scottish manager is experiencing the darkest moment of his coaching career.

From the very first minute, Arsenal were like a sophisticated attacking machine, tearing Everton's defense to shreds and unleashing a suffocating offensive onslaught over Everton's penalty area.

The area in front of the away team's penalty area became Arsenal's training ground, where the Gunners could organize attacks at will, while Everton players were as harmless as training plastic stakes.

莫耶斯在场边不断变换阵型，从4-5-1到5-4-1，但无论怎样调整都无济于事。

His players couldn't keep up with Arsenal's pace at all, and seemed completely lost after each goal conceded.

The Everton fans in the stands had already fallen silent, and some had even left early, unwilling to continue witnessing this one-sided humiliation.

When the final whistle blew, the Arsenal players gave each other a high five, as if they had just finished a regular training session.

Everton's players walked off the field quickly with their heads down, some even too afraid to look up at the scoreboard.

The numbers displayed there will forever be a mark of shame on their careers.

At the post-match press conference, Wenger could not hide his pride.

The Frenchman, with typical British humor, said: "You all saw it. This game was complicated. When Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 to help Chelsea win the title, we were inexplicably the victims. Today we've redeemed some face. Maybe one day we'll get revenge on Chelsea, but at least the standings don't lie right now. Chelsea is indeed strong, and right behind them is us, Arsenal."

"Today, we proved to everyone that Arsenal's football philosophy is still alive and well. 8-0 is not just a victory, it's a declaration that we are back and we will be stronger."

"Some say we'll fade into obscurity in Chelsea's shadow, some say this team needs rebuilding. But I want to tell you, the Gunners have an indomitable spirit flowing in their veins. We will not stop, we will not be content with second place, we will continue to fight, continue to improve, until we reclaim the Premier League title, until we stand atop Europe!"

“This team has the fire of youth and the wisdom of experience. Van Persie, Fabregas, Pedretti, Henry—they are not just playing football; they are writing the future of Arsenal. We will integrate, we will adjust, we will become stronger. Next season, you will see a more insane Arsenal, a team that always attacks and never backs down!”

"Yes, Chelsea is strong, Manchester United is strong, but football isn't decided by roster strength alone, but by belief, fighting spirit, and an inextinguishable desire! We will keep chasing the championship, and keep and keep and keep, until we once again make all of England and all of Europe remember us. The glory of Highbury will never fade, and the Arsenal legend continues!"

On May 15, the 2004-2005 Premier League season came to a close.

Chelsea had already secured the title, but the final ten matches still determined their European qualification and relegation fate.

At St. James' Park, the scoreboard's "0:0" was particularly glaring.

Having already secured the title, Chelsea's full-strength squad travels to Newcastle, where Mourinho's warriors will fight for one last epic record.

In 2005, they were just 3 points away from rewriting the unprecedented 110-point record in the 117-year history of the English top flight.

Roy stood in the center circle wearing the captain's armband.

这支蓝军已经创造了太多奇迹：37轮35胜2平，95个进球如同95记重锤，铸就的铜墙铁壁下是仅有的14个丢球。

Behind them lies Manchester United's record of 92 points in a single season, which has long been crushed, while ahead lies a sacred place that no one has ever reached before.

"Three more points!"

Chelsea fans who traveled with the team on the road roared from the stands.

As the Newcastle players lined up, they were all stealing glances at their opponents; what they were about to witness might be the greatest single-season performance in English football history.

When the referee blew his whistle, even the Magpies' die-hard fans temporarily forgot their stance. This century-old stadium was witnessing the birth of a legend that might never be surpassed.

Mourinho stood in the away team's coaching area, his black trench coat fluttering in the wind along the River Tyne.

The Portuguese knew that if they could take three points today, their iron-willed team would be forever etched on the dome of the football temple.

The entire Manchester United team arrived at St. Mary's Stadium on the south coast.

Ferguson's face remained somber. They were two points behind Arsenal, and to secure second place in the league, they had to beat Southampton away from home today.

The entire Arsenal team arrived at St Andrews Stadium in Birmingham by bus.

Although it was just an ordinary away game, there was a special atmosphere in the air. This was Bergkamp's last Premier League match for Arsenal.

As the 36-year-old Dutchman slowly stepped off the bus, the away team's stands were already covered with banners that read "Thank you, Dennis."

Even at the opponent's home ground, Birmingham fans stood up and applauded in respect.

Wenger deliberately included Bergkamp in the starting lineup, even though it was a hard pitch for a relegation-threatened team, everyone was looking forward to the farewell performance of the artistic football master.

The relegation battle was even more brutal.

Southampton, Crystal Palace, and Norwich have 34, 33, and 33 points respectively. Who will avoid relegation depends entirely on the last 90 minutes.

Crystal Palace will travel to Charlton, Norwich will host Fulham, and West Bromwich Albion will face Portsmouth in a tough match.

The broadcasters had already adjusted their global live broadcast plans, with Sky Sports even temporarily adding two commentary channels.

That afternoon, 20 teams played simultaneously, and while some laughed, others shed tears.

"Roy launched himself like a whirlwind! This final roar from France has once again torn apart the Premier League defense!"

In the 87th minute, Chelsea intercepted the ball in midfield and quickly launched a counter-attack.

Makelele calmly passed the ball to the left wing, and Abidal, without hesitation, delivered a powerful through ball that pierced through Newcastle's defense.

Roy made a high-speed start on the left flank, overtaking Newcastle's right-back Carr like a bolt of lightning.

He dribbled into the penalty area and displayed superb skills against the onrushing goalkeeper, Shay Given.

He gently flicked the ball to the right with his right foot, while suddenly accelerating and changing direction, cleanly and neatly getting past the goalkeeper.

In the instant he almost lost his balance, Roy pushed the ball into the empty net with his left foot, breaking the deadlock for Chelsea.

"GOOOOOOOOAL!!! Roy—!! 40 Premier League goals!! This historic shot sent shivers down the spines of all of England! Look, he's running towards the corner flag with his arms outstretched, as if embracing the glory of the entire season! 40 goals, 40 times he's made opponents tremble, this Frenchman, in the most Chelsea way! Swift as lightning, precise as a scalpel! He's left his unique mark on this legendary season!"

"Let's admire this epic 40th goal once more: a lightning-fast change of direction, an effortless tap-in, and that killer instinct that never fades! The scoreboard at St. James' Stadium is not just showing the score, but also etching an unprecedented number: 40!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, you are witnessing one of the greatest individual performances in Premier League history. Years from now, when we look back on the 2004-05 season, the first thing that will come to mind is undoubtedly the final dance of this French storm."

Mourinho loosened his tie and roared at the camera: "This is the greatest of all time!"

Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler's voice choked with emotion: "Please remember these coordinates: 54°58′32″N, 1°37′18″W, 5:27 PM on May 15, 2005, in the heart of Newcastle, on the banks of the River Tyne. The Premier League was redefined at that moment. When we grow old, we can proudly say: We witnessed Roy's 17-goal miracle."

When the final whistle blew, the 2004-2005 Premier League season officially came to an end.

Staff had already set up a podium on the Stamford Bridge lawn, where a miniature golden Premier League trophy awaited the coronation of the new king.

这个比原版微小不少的复制品，承载着切尔西整个赛季35胜2平的神级战绩：38轮狂揽110分，仅丢14球的钢铁防线，还有罗伊单赛季40球的史诗表演。

As Mourinho took off his watch and straightened his suit, Desailly was repeatedly wiping the base of the trophy with his cuff.

The newly engraved "CHELSEA 2004-05" lettering there still had metal shavings on it.

Abu stood at the entrance of the passageway, not in a hurry to enter. He looked at the surging blue flags in the stands and his eyes suddenly reddened.

There was no champagne rain or confetti cannons this afternoon, but every Chelsea fan knew: they had just completed the greatest title run in Premier League history.

Everyone in the locker room was laughing, but deep down everyone knew that in some years, even fate was on your side.

A season like this might only happen once in a lifetime.

The acquisition of Manchester United has been officially confirmed.

American businessman Glazer's stake in Manchester United surpassed 75% when the London Stock Exchange opened on Monday.

This means that the long-established club, founded in 1878, is no longer a publicly traded company and has become the private property of Glazer.

Under UK stock market rules, the Glazers have the right to delist Manchester United from the London Stock Exchange once they own more than 75% of the shares.

More importantly, he can now make all the decisions about the club on his own without having to consult with other shareholders.

If Glazer is interested in continuing his takeover bid, he could increase his stake from 75% to 90%, which would mean he could oust other minority shareholders from the Manchester United board.

Last Thursday, Glazer announced that he had acquired a 28.7% stake in Manchester United from its two largest shareholders, two Irish horse racing tycoons, bringing his total stake to 56.9%. Glazer then pressed his advantage, continuing to acquire shares through the stock market and other means, eventually reaching 75% by Monday.

The Evening Standard described Monday as a day of judgment for Manchester United.

Now that the Glazers have finally arrived, Manchester United fans need to face the reality that a man they consider an outsider who doesn't understand football, a "Yankee" who bought Manchester United with 300 million euros in debt, is sitting in the owner's office.

Some Manchester United fans called for a boycott of Glazer by buying his shares at a price higher than the Glazers' offer of 300 pence per share, but their capital was no match for that of the Americans.

Analysts believe that with Glazer successfully holding 75% of the shares, there is nothing anyone else can do.

The flag bearer of English football, the glorious Red Devils empire, finally "fell" under the Glazers' relentless onslaught.

Despite Glazer's statement that he wants to retain Ferguson and maintain the integrity of Manchester United.

He stated that he would allocate £2000 million annually to help Ferguson purchase players, while also generating revenue for the club through initiatives such as transferring the naming rights to Old Trafford and selling television broadcasting rights separately.

However, how to make up for the £3 million he owed from the acquisition of Manchester United will be the first problem he needs to face.

The Glazers' acquisition of Manchester United was completely different from Abramovich's purchase of Chelsea.

The most astonishing change was that, in just a few days, Manchester United went from being "the world's richest club" to "the most indebted club" because the Americans had placed the huge debts from the acquisition on Manchester United.

The total acquisition price was £8.12 million, but Glazer only paid £2.72 million himself.

Even more outrageous is that 2.22 million of that was converted from his original Manchester United shares, meaning he only actually took out 5000 million in cash.

The remaining 5.4 million was all borrowed:

The $2.75 million was a bond issued by Glazer using its own assets as collateral.

The £2.65 million was a high-interest loan secured by Manchester United's stadium and training ground.

In total, Manchester United has to pay £1855 million in interest for the Glazers every year.

It almost wiped out the club's entire year's profit of £1940 million.

What angers fans the most is this: the Americans used Manchester United's own assets to borrow money to buy Manchester United.

On Friday, Glazer issued a statement to reassure fans, saying he was both an investor and a Manchester United supporter, and pledged to retain Ferguson and the current management.

On the same day, club CEO Gil also assured employees that there would be no large-scale layoffs for the time being.

But everyone knows that this heavy debt has forever changed Manchester United's future.

What awaits Manchester United is an unknown fate.

(End of this chapter)