Chapter 195 Key Battle
This winter is a historic winter for Britain, and at the same time, it is also a winter for Premier League clubs.
Half of the time has passed since the start of the winter transfer, but few of the 20 Premier League teams have actually transferred. The Premier League, which has no big deal, is a cold winter version of the transfer period.
In this winter transfer period, Chelsea dropped a heavyweight bomb.
The Sun broke this shocking news for the first time. Chelsea club owner Abu has used 50 million pounds of cash to win Manchester United's top scorer Li Yu in one fell swoop.
It's not groundless. Not long ago, after completing the match between Chelsea and Manchester United, the Chelsea boss who watched the game on the spot said something similar. Now it's time to take action.
What worries Manchester United fans more is the financial situation of Manchester United leaked by the media. Although Ferguson has resolutely refuted the comments about Li Yu's transfer before, will it be true this time?
The 322-page bond sales report and foreign debt with a total value of 777 million euros have pushed Manchester United's future back to an unknown crossroads. The Red Devils became the first rich family in modern football clubs to issue official bond refinancing. It is difficult for people to judge whether it is a blessing or a curse for Manchester United to take the lead in entering the "financing era".
For most fans who love Manchester United, as they did four years ago, the Grezelle family once again kept their beloved Manchester United away from their followers. In order to reduce the debt pressure, Manchester United tried to issue bonds with a total value of 550 million euros. The starting price of up to 55,000 euros keeps creditors of Manchester United bonds locked in investors, banks and even hedge funds. Obviously, the purpose of Americans' bond issuance this time is to try to reduce the current interest of up to 46 million euros per year at a bond rate of 8.5% per annum. At the same time, it also shows that Manchester United's current debt situation is overburdened.
Five years ago, when Abramovich bought Chelsea with real money, it was the Grezel family who introduced a typical American leveraged acquisition into the Premier League, making the Premier League truly enter the financial era. However, compared with Manchester United's growing turnover and ticket prices in the past four years, the heavy interest burden of up to 46 million euros per year has become the main obstacle to the sustainable development of the Red Devils in the future. In fact, Manchester United has paid as much as 290 million euros in interest alone since its acquisition - which is almost the total revenue of Manchester United for the whole season last season.
In August 2006, the Americans entrusted JP Morgan Bank and Deutsche Bank to restructure their debt for the first time. The latest restructuring is at the cost of increasing Manchester United's total debt to nearly 700 million euros, with a restructuring professional fee of up to 42 million euros. Before issuing bond restructuring debt, Manchester United had just received a new loan of 83 million euros from the trust bank, which is said to be invested in the ball market. But everyone knows that this money is more likely to be used to pay for Manchester United's upcoming early loan repayment.
According to the ideal development model, Manchester United's victory in the business field will help the Glazer family pay off their loans year by year. But the unprecedented financial crisis of 2008 has changed everything, and excessive debt is pushing Manchester United into the abyss. If they can't find a new loan or partner in the next nine years, Manchester United will pay up to 1.2 billion euros to pay off their debts. In 2013, Manchester United paid an annual interest of up to 83 million euros, and in 2014-2016, it was up to 165 million euros. In 2017, when the loan expired, Manchester United even had to pay off the debt of 660 million euros in a lump sum! It was because of the huge debt pressure that Grezel had to raise new debts to pay off old debts. But this can only solve the urgent need. Manchester United's total debt has not decreased, but has increased with two debt restructurings.
Although the Greyzel family acquired Manchester United, the Red Devils League has won three consecutive championships and won the Champions League again, the current high debt has shown a possible impact on the Red Devils lineup - after all, the 80 million sold C. Ronaldo, most of them have not been invested in the transfer market. It is used to repay interest. If Manchester United's record cannot remain stable, the weakening of brand effectiveness will directly lead to a decrease in book profits in the next few years, resulting in a vicious circle of high debt.
The media are worried that Manchester United is falling into a debt quagmire step by step and will be as doomed as Leeds. Even Manchester United executives revealed that in addition to the possible summer clearance sale, if the bond issue is unfavorable, the Grayzel family does not rule out the possibility of selling the Carlington training base.
Because Manchester United has a foreign debt of up to 700 million euros, new acquirers have to prepare at least 1 billion euros in capital to complete the acquisition. Obviously, it is very difficult in the current financial situation. Those fans who once thought that there would be a richer new owner after the fall of the Grezel family must be optimistic about such a huge foreign debt of the Red Devils.
Selling Li Yu at a high price is likely to become a reality, but all Manchester United fans also believe that no matter how stupid the Glazer family is, they will not complete the deal in the winter. Once the season is over, it is not easy to say!
Li Yu, who is now in Asia, also learned about the series of things around his transfer. The media repeatedly asked, and he also revealed his heart: "I don't plan to leave Manchester United!"
Li Yu's expression undoubtedly gave Manchester United clubs and fans a dose of strength. As long as the players do not shout about the transfer, Chelsea Club is hot and can't make such a big transfer.
On the contrary, agent Wiltz is quite dissatisfied with Li Yu's quick response to the transfer. It is the wisest choice to take advantage of this opportunity to add more benefits to himself. There is no need to stand up so quickly to express his attitude. Not to mention ambiguity, as long as there is no response, it is enough.
But Li Yu clarified all this early. Now Wiltz has no chance to do anything. The players signed by others are all listen to the agent and concentrate on playing his own football, and Wiltz is simply a handyman. Who is greedy and let Li Yu grasp the handle? I can only blame myself for being too greedy at the beginning.
However, this is also unexpected, 3 years! In just three years, a Chinese player has grown to such a height. Not to mention Wiltz's short-sightedness, it was completely unimaginable for him at that time. What future can a Chinese player have? It's too evil to be able to get more money. It's so evil. Well, Wiltz is still regretting the cheap contract at the beginning!
Clarifying the transfer, Li Yu focused all her experience on the next top ten Asian matches. Not counting the flight time back and forth, Li Yu will complete 2 games in 5 days and play the Premier League when she goes back.
Such overloaded operation makes all Manchester United fans worry about whether Li Yu's body can survive. There are injuries, which is a huge loss for Manchester United and China Hong Kong.
Of course, Ferguson is also worried that Manchester United is full of bad news now, especially after financial problems are leaked by the media again. The old man seems to have no confidence to speak, and there will be no action at all in the winter transfer. Even if there are, it is to sell players, rather than introducing players to fill the shortcomings of the team.
I know that this is the result in my heart. In the face of the media's questioning, the old man can't be tough. This is not Ferguson's usual style. In the recent interview with the old man, he can also say it without saying anything. He has to say it as little as possible, especially about Li Yu's transfer. There is only one standard answer to the question: "Not for sale!"
After Li Yu met the team at the airport, she immediately took the flight and flew directly to South Korea.
The group stage is related to the key game of qualifying. As long as the away draw with South Korea, Huaxia Hong Kong team can ensure the second place in the group and defeat South Korea, then Huaxia Hong Kong team can celebrate the historic entry into the World Cup final stage in advance.
Fans have high expectations for this game. A chartered plane for Chinese Hong Kong fans arrived on the same plane, which is unheard of in the history of Chinese Hong Kong football. Fans spontaneously organized charter flights to cheer for the team away.
Such a thing may happen in the world's football power. It is really the first time in history in Hong Kong, China. Fans wearing national flags and regional flags walk down the ladder excitedly one by one. Many people have painted oil paints on their faces. It can be seen that they have made sufficient preparations in advance to watch the game.
South Korean fans are also famous in Asia. The most impressive thing is that during the World Cup in South Korea and Japan, crazy South Korean fans are definitely not weaker or even more fanatical than the fans of those football powers. In the red-based stands, there is a roar and rhythmic cheering. It can be said that South Korea has achieved In the book of historical achievements, the heaviest sum should be given to South Korea's enthusiastic fans.
Now it's a game that is about qualifying, and South Korean fans have organized it. The day before the game, there was already a red ocean around the venue. The fans of China and Hong Kong seem so insignificant in this ocean!
In order to wait for Li Yu to return to the team, the Chinese Hong Kong team actually arrived in South Korea on the first day of the game. They slept that night, adapted to the venue in the morning, and the official game in the afternoon.
However, in addition to Li Yu, other players are well prepared, especially several foreign aids from the Chinese Super League, who came to the team early to prepare for the game. At this time, during the official winter break of the Chinese Super League, several super-large foreign aids just happened to do some training to maintain the standard.
This time, Eriksson did not recall other players who played in the Football League Championship, but chose the cheaper players from those countries in South America. They have no national team experience, but there is no problem with their level, especially the newly introduced Brazilian foreign players, who are obviously better than the previous Champions League players. Force.
The most important thing is that the cost is much less. As soon as these players saw that Hong Kong had the hope of entering the World Cup, they did not make a too high price.
The Huo family's strategy of changing the foreign legion this time has won the support of the citizens of Hong Kong Island. Brazilian players are better than the previous Championship players in terms of skills and health.
On the contrary, the head coach Erickson felt that he did not take advantage of the next game. After all, the time was too short, and the players' level was good, but the running-in time together was almost zero, and the first game was the strongest opponent in the group. Erikson didn't seem as happy as the fans. View.
Everyone knows that it is to prepare for the next World Cup, but the head coach and the fans have two completely different reactions. Regardless of these, Li Yu's arrival, everyone's attitude is surprisingly consistent.
Big name, the absolute big name in the team. Even the Korean fans are chasing Li Yu crazily. As soon as they appear with their teammates, the crazy Korean female fans begin to shout. A lady can't see it. They are all crazy female fans. Why don't they say that they are fans? Because they are South Korean fans. At this time, they are single It's purely for Li Yu, but it's not a welcome for the Chinese Hong Kong football team.
The media also focused on the two absolute big names, Li Yu and Erickson, and the flash and lens all greeted the old and young.
Soon, two encirclements were formed naturally. A circle surrounded the old man in the middle and began to bombard him. Of course, a circle was Li Yu.
"Sir, what do you think that most of the players in your team are foreign Legions?"
"LI, can you be more specific about Chelsea's acquisition?"
......
Finally arriving at the hotel, Li Yu thought of only one thing. She quickly had a good sleep. The continuous journey and the reporter's encirclement had exhausted Manchester United No. 9. She told the team leader not to go to dinner, and Li Yu went upstairs with her room card to bed.
In order to allow Li Yu to have a better rest, this time Huaxia Hong Kong has changed the configuration of the previous double room, one room per person.
In this way, it not only makes Li Yu look special in the team, but also allows the players to have a better rest. They only stay for one night, and this little money can still afford.
The two main focus figures, one is sleeping, and the other is not so good. It will be the pre-match press conference soon. Only a lot of the media reporters at the airport came to the press conference of the hotel again.
South Korean media reporters always ask questions about foreign legions. They are saying that it is not appropriate for China Hong Kong to play in Asia with such a lineup. If there is a United Nations game, the current China Hong Kong is very suitable.
For the unfriendly attitude of the South Korean media, Erikson still smiled warmly, threw the question to the Hong Kong Football Federation, and said the truth jokingly: "There is almost no player of the Huaxia Hong Kong team who is selected by himself. You ask me, who am I going to ask?"
Absolutely the truth, after Erickson came, if he can choose, he can only choose from the previous national team of China and Hong Kong. The rest of the players really don't have the final say. The only one Li Yu is what he asked for, and the rest of the players is not selected by him.
The Chinese media's questions were answered a lot, and Erickson was asked to predict the final result of the game.
The old man didn't want to offend him. "It's unpredictable on the field. All I can do is to prepare. As for the result, I can only watch it after the game!"
I didn't say anything. If you want the old fried dough sticks to give you some hot news, don't even think about it, and don't think that Erikson is a leader who has been honed by the British media. It's still not a good idea to deal with these reporters.
The adaptation field training of the Huaxia Hong Kong team is completely based on recovery. Li Yu only carried out jogging training, and there was no ball training for Manchester United No. 9.
After only one hour of playing, the Huaxia Hong Kong team completed the pre-match adaptation training and returned to the hotel.
Li Yu also took a nap before going out in the afternoon. This habit is very popular in today's football circle. Conditional teams will arrange players to take a nap in the afternoon before the game. It is said that this unwritten rule was first adopted and carried forward by Mourinho.
At 3:00 p.m., the team took a bus to the stadium. What impressed Li Yu most along the way was that as soon as the bus drove out, almost all the people were dressed in red. It was really crazy. It was very similar to when they were in the UK, but British hotels were generally not too far away from the players. It's acceptable, but in the race in South Korea, you have to drive for nearly 15 minutes, and what you see is a red ocean.
There is only one destination of a stream, the gathering place of the red ocean, and the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the venue for the game that day.
During the warm-up training before the start of the game, Li Yu felt the enthusiasm of South Korean fans on the field, and there were no banners or posters supporting him.
The stadium is full of fans who support the South Korean team, and the small group of Chinese fans who came by chartered plane seemed so small.
With rhythmic drum beats, the fans at the scene have begun their performance.
However, Huaxia Hong Kong fans don't know who came up with a way to ring the erhu in their stands. When Li Yu warmed up, she could always hear the faint erhu sound in the cheering in unison.
Are you shocked and complete?
Let's play an erhu. It can't be compared with the momentum. Can't it be disgusting to you?
Especially during the gap period of cheering, the erhu sound seems so abrupt. Li Yu really admires these Chinese Hong Kong fans. You are so talented that you make the atmosphere that South Korean fans are trying to create is extraordinary.
At the end of the warm-up, all the players of the two teams returned to their respective locker rooms to make the final pre-match preparations.
In the player channel where he went back, Li Yu saw an acquaintance, Park Ji-sung, a teammate of Manchester United. Originally, when they were in Manchester United, they rarely communicated. Especially after the party time, Park Ji-sung and Li Yu usually nodded after they met and signaled. Unexpectedly, Park Zhixing took the initiative to leave today. Come here, "LI, it won't be you who took away the victory today!"