Thiago's transfer to Bayern Munich for a high price of 25 million euros opened the first shot of the European summer transfer market, making the originally dull transfer market suddenly become boiling.
Everyone was surprised by the transfer.
It's not that Thiago is not worthy of Bayern, but the price offered by the Bundesliga overlord.
According to reports from Catalan media, Thiago wants to defect to Bayern and his current release clause is 18 million euros.
Theoretically, as long as Thiago pays this money, he can buy out his contract with Barcelona and move to Bayern on a free transfer.
But Bayern did not do this. Instead, they paid an extra 7 million euros, bringing Thiago's transfer value to 25 million euros.
The reason is of course not that Bayern's conscience found out and did a good deed, but that Barcelona was unwilling to release him with the termination fee. If Bayern asked Thiago to forcibly activate the termination clause, he would have to pay a large amount of value-added tax, so the Bundesliga hegemon finally paid 25 million
Euro and Barcelona reach consensus.
This transfer fee is actually relatively cheap.
Real Madrid introduced Yinliarramendi, a local midfielder who was very popular last season, from Real Sociedad. The release fee was 30 million euros, but Real Sociedad was not willing to sell Yinlialamendi for 30 million euros.
In other words, even if Real Madrid offers 30 million euros and Real Sociedad does not agree, Real Madrid and the players will have to use the termination clause. Including VAT, the total investment is expected to be as high as 38.95 million euros.
This is really a huge price!
If Yinlia Ramendi was the core midfielder who won Real Sociedad fourth place in La Liga last season, and his performance was remarkable, then Thiago was not the main player in Barcelona. He started 15 games, came on the bench in 12 games, and played 1,412 minutes.
, 2 goals, 4 assists, this performance is not very eye-catching.
But everyone feels that this deal for Bayern is so worth it!
Bayern chairman Rummenigge even smiled from ear to ear, thinking this was one of the two most cost-effective transfers this summer.
The other deal was Bayern signing Gotze from Dortmund for 37 million euros.
Three major transfers, all midfielders, all young and talented.
But it also triggered a butterfly effect.
After Gotze moved to Bayern, Dortmund announced the signing of Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine for a sky-high price of 27.5 million euros.
The 24-year-old Armenian player played 42 times for Shakhtar Donetsk last season, scoring 29 goals and 12 assists. His performance was very eye-catching, and more importantly, his agent is the Italian fat man Rayinola.
37 million euros were spent to send away Gotze and 27.5 million euros were spent to sign Mkhitaryan. Dortmund's two operations were not considered a profit, but more of a stop loss.
It was at this time that the British media The Sun, which has always been known for its transfer secrets, released the news that Real Madrid had officially made an offer for Leeds United's talented midfielder Paul Pogba.
60 million euros!
Once the transaction is completed, this will be the highest price so far in this summer's transfer market.
When the news broke, Pogba was in Turkey, leading the French national youth team to advance all the way.
After entering the knockout rounds, the French team first defeated the host Turkey team 4:1, and then defeated Asia's Uzbekistan 4:0 in the quarterfinals.
In the semi-finals, with Pogba's pass and shot, the French team defeated its opponent 2-1.
The captain of the French national youth team showed his worth in this high-level competition.
In the final, Pogba's groundbreaking long-range shot penetrated Uruguay's goal, defeated Uruguay 1-0, and won the World Youth Championship!
Pogba also won the Golden Ball of the World Youth Championship with his outstanding performance throughout the tournament.
The whole of Europe began to report on Leeds United's young talented midfielder, especially in the face of Real Madrid's crazy offer of up to 60 million euros, which shocked the whole world.
But only a handful of people knew that Real Madrid's offer was actually 50 million euros, and they came with the final word in mind, but Leeds United's transfer asking price was 60 million euros.
The reason why I reported it to The Sun was mainly to put pressure on Real Madrid.
Real Madrid are also very calm. They insist on holding on to the pressure and don't let go. They are just playing a game with Leeds United.
As long as Pogba does not perform better in the World Youth Championship, Real Madrid will definitely be able to negotiate the price and even close the deal for 50 million euros, because so far, no other team has made a formal offer.
Fortunately, Pogba is also very motivated and shined in the last two rounds of the World Youth Championship, especially winning the Golden Ball.
On the day that the French team won the World Youth Championship, Real Madrid general manager Jose Sanchez called Fernando Lucas, and Real Madrid officially compromised and agreed to sign Pogba for 60 million euros.
At this moment, Ancelotti, who was on vacation in Italy, also called Leonardo from PSG's football director.
…
"What did you say?"
Leonardo was in Brazil when he received a call from Ancelotti.
As soon as the phone call came through, Ancelotti started complaining, especially about the slowness of his transfer operations.
Finally, it was revealed that Real Madrid signed Paul Pogba for a sky-high price of 60 million euros.
"This is impossible, Carlo." Leonardo shook his head and laughed, "I have already understood before that Real Madrid is only willing to give 50 million euros at most, but Leeds United's asking price is 60 million euros.
There is a difference of 10 million euros between the two parties."
"The reason why The Sun came out is to put pressure on Real Madrid. The price difference between the two sides is still very large. Real Madrid will not compromise easily. What you hear is just smoke and mirrors. Don't take it seriously."
With that said, Leonardo comforted Ancelotti.
The transfer market is full of treacherous things, real and fake, fake and real, and sometimes it’s really confusing.
In other words, I was completely led by others.
At this time, an experienced and wise manager becomes extremely important.
"Don't worry, Carlo, I am planning to find an opportunity to meet with David Luiz and discuss the possibility of his transfer. You know, we need a top central defender like him."
He told more about his intention to go to Brazil.
If David Luiz is willing to transfer, Paris can talk to Manchester City.
Nowadays, Manchester City has four outstanding central defenders, and there is nothing wrong with selling David Luiz.
But Ancelotti is very sure.
"I must remind you, come to Leonardo, this is true. Both parties have reached a consensus. Real Madrid's general manager Jose Sanchez is probably at Leeds United now. He flew over overnight to sign."
"What?" Leonardo panicked, "Really?"
"It's absolutely true that Real Madrid compromised and agreed to Leeds United's asking price. They were very anxious because they were afraid of our reaction."
When Ancelotti said this, Leonardo also reacted.
is not that right?
His original plan was to sit on the sidelines for a while, watching Real Madrid and Leeds United lower the price, and then Paris would choose the right time to make a move.
He had previously called Fernando Lucas and revealed Paris' interest in Pogba.
But Real Madrid directly raised the price.
It jumped directly from 50 million euros to 60 million euros, with no intention of involving Paris Saint-Germain.
This kind of operation is very courageous.
Obviously, Real Madrid knows very well that once Paris intervenes, Pogba will be worth more than this.
As for Leeds United, they just accept it as soon as possible, get the price they want, and are not greedy.
"Damn it." Leonardo cursed angrily.
"I would like to remind you again that after Bayern completed the operation of Thiago, they have already begun to inquire about the price of Koulibaly. Naples also wants to sign Jorginho and Alan. Chelsea is also interested in Koulibaly and Koulibaly.
Erzava is very interested."
Later Leonardo began to realize the seriousness of the problem.
One step is slow, each step is slow.
"I know, I'll go back right away."
After hanging up the phone with Ancelotti, Leonardo immediately booked a flight back to Europe. Instead of going to Paris, he flew directly to London and then transferred from London to Leeds.
After booking the tickets, Leonardo called his assistant in Paris to learn about the latest transfer information.
Monaco has signed Falcao. This is no secret. The news came out before the end of the season.
The transfer fee is 60 million euros, which is also a sky-high price.
But Falcao's scoring efficiency in La Liga is very high.
"There is news that Monaco has reached an agreement with Porto. The transfer fee for Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez is 50 million euros."
"who?"
"James Rodriguez."
When Leonardo heard the news, he was surprised, "How is this possible?"
Although this player is not unknown, he is not that outrageous, right?
Fifty million euros?
Is Monaco crazy?
"This upstart... is really going to disrupt the market!" Leonardo couldn't sit still anymore and was pacing back and forth.
"In this case, you contact Fernando Lucas of Leeds United immediately and tell him that I will arrive in Leeds tomorrow night. I hope to have an interview with him and ask him not to agree..."
"Forget it, I'll call him myself."
After Leonardo hung up the phone, he tried to calm down. He had to calm down his tone.
Fernando Lucas is like a shrewd fox. As long as he detects clues, the negotiations in Paris will become very passive, and he may even be severely tricked.
When he thought of this, Leonardo's call to Fernando Lucas suddenly stopped and he chose Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser instead.
At this time, it is best to communicate with Nasser first, tell him the situation, and at the same time find out whether the financial backer behind Paris is willing to pay the money.
If the big boss doesn't care, then Leonardo can just rush in and kill him. There is no need to negotiate the price, it is more serious to snatch the person away.
If the big boss is unwilling to pay the money, then even if Leonardo negotiates the price, it will be of no use.
Thinking of this, Leonardo took a long breath, took another deep breath, and then called Nasser.
"Nasser, there are some things I need to report to you. The situation has changed..."
