When Barcelona chairman Sandro Rosell walked into the high-level conference hall, he found that several core senior officials were there.
Executive Vice President Bartomeu and Vice President for Finance Javier Foss, as well as Sports Director Anthony Zubizarreta, are all already waiting in the conference hall.
"What's going on?" Russell asked anxiously.
Bartomeu and Foss both looked at Zubizarreta, who was the initiator of this high-level meeting.
"I just received a fax from Valencia."
With that said, Zubizarreta stood up and passed the copy of the fax in his hand to the colleagues around him.
"Valencia's technical director Braulio Vazquez said Real Madrid has officially made an offer for Jordi Alba, worth 15 million euros."
The content of the fax was probably to inform Barcelona. This was because Barcelona had already made an offer to Valencia before, and the two parties had entered the negotiation stage. Valencia needed to communicate with Barcelona about someone else's new offer.
"Damn it!" Russell cursed angrily, "Is the news reliable?"
"It's been confirmed, it's true," Zubizarreta replied.
"Didn't they go to England? Who sent the fax to Valencia? Also, they already have Marcelo, Coentrao, and Arbeloa who can also play this position. Why do they need a left back?" Rosse
I'm a little anxious.
"Based on the intelligence I gathered from many aspects, I guess it was Gao Shen who suggested that he didn't want Coentrao."
Although Zubizarreta was just guessing, he felt that it should be close to the truth.
"You know, in fact, Real Madrid spent too much money in 2009, and they have also spent a lot of money in the past two years. As a result, their finances are now a bit under pressure, so there is not much room for transfer operations left for Gao Shen."
"Since the smoking incident was exposed, Real Madrid fans have been very disgusted with Coentrao. If he sells him now, he can get back a transfer fee of about 20 million euros. Spending 15 million euros to buy Alba is quite worthwhile."
That's what he said, but Russell sounded very uncomfortable.
What is value?
That was a player trained by our Barcelona youth academy. After he became a talent in Valencia, he was also the one we focused on first.
What does it mean if Real Madrid comes to interfere now?
Russell gritted his teeth, thought about it, and then looked at Zubizarretta, "Have you talked to Alba's agent?"
"Made a phone call."
"How to say?"
"It's still the same attitude as before. He feels that we shouldn't waste time on the price difference of about three million euros."
Ever since Abidal underwent a liver transplant, Barcelona have been looking for a left back to fill the void.
Juan Vargas's form has begun to decline in the past two years, and the team also felt that he should be given some stimulation, so they chose Alba.
This Barcelona youth player performed very well in Valencia and was selected for the Spanish national team and will soon participate in the European Cup.
Barcelona had talked with Valencia before, and the Bats asked for 15 million euros, but Barcelona insisted on 12 million euros because they expected that Valencia was in financial trouble and needed money.
At the same time, Barcelona also hopes that Alba and his agent can create more pressure on Valencia, such as making some remarks or even submitting a written transfer request.
But so far, there has been no response from Alba.
In contrast, Arsenal's Alexander Song is much more positive.
The Arsenal captain told Barcelona very clearly that as long as the annual salary is enough, he will immediately have a showdown with Arsenal.
Barcelona's offer for Alexander Song is only about 15 million euros, which is simply too worth it for the Arsenal captain whose valuation in the German transfer market is as high as 27 million euros!
But there was nothing Wenger could do.
If a player is determined to leave, it will be difficult for Arsenal to force him to stay.
Both transfers used the same set of operating methods, but what people didn't expect was that Real Madrid would suddenly take action.
"His agent also reminded us that Alba's buyout clause is 40 million euros. If Valencia insists on not selling and the player performs well in the European Cup, it may not be this price by then.
Already."
Zubizarreta's words made Russell think.
"What do you think?" asked the Barcelona president.
"I think we still have to compete with Real Madrid, because we have already released the news before that we are going to buy Alba, but now we regret it, I'm afraid it won't work," Bartomeu said.
"But our funds are a bit tight right now. It's not easy to compete with Real Madrid for people!" Fosse frowned.
He is the vice chairman in charge of finance. He has been worried about money and debt since he accompanied Russell to take office in 2010.
It can even be said that he never had a comfortable life.
"How about waiting a little longer?" Foss suggested.
Zubizarreta immediately objected, "I think it would be very disadvantageous for us to either buy now or give up and wait, because Alba is now the main left back of our national team, and there will definitely be something different in the European Cup."
Performance, when the time comes..."
After a pause, Zubizarreta added: "What's more, Real Madrid is also chasing me now, and I'm afraid I'll get there first."
Both sides are justified, which makes Rosell and Bartomeu even more difficult.
It's all because of that damned profundity.
There are obviously left backs like Marcelo and Coentrao, so why are we still trying to grab Alba?
He is from La Masia, would he want to go to your Real Madrid?
"Find a way to get Alba to show his stance and reject Real Madrid. We will raise the offer here and raise more funds. The finance department will overcome it and think of a way." Russell decided.
The chairman has made the final decision, so this is the only way to handle the matter.
Everyone has also realized that a word from Gao Shen and a fax from Real Madrid will cost Barcelona at least several million euros.
So irritating!
…
Lass Diarra finally moved to Anzhi in the Russian Premier League.
At the age of 27, the French international midfielder chose to leave the four major leagues and go to the Russian Super League, which attracted widespread attention and even many French media expressed their confusion.
Although Las Diarra has repeatedly emphasized that he did not come to Anzhi for money.
But apart from money, it's really hard to believe why he chose to leave Manchester United, and why he left Manchester United after falling out with Ferguson. This was tantamount to jeopardizing his development in the four major leagues.
With such a precedent, who would dare to use him in the future?
After sending away Lass Diarra, Ferguson once again made an offer to Leeds United, still wanting to sign French defensive midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin for a transfer fee of 15 million pounds.
.
But Leeds United once again rejected Manchester United's offer.
Ferguson immediately accepted an interview with the media and expressed his interest in Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembe.
The Belgian midfielder has only one year left on his contract with Fulham and has also attracted attention from teams including Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and others, but Fulham's asking price is as high as 25 million pounds.
In contrast, Schneiderlin is qualified for the British youth training because he has been in the English league for three years before the age of 21.
This is why teams including Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United are all interested in Schneiderlin.
These days, every young player with local youth training qualifications, strength and potential is a hot commodity.
At the end of May, Mourinho returned to the Premier League and Chelsea.
In the list of transfer signings he made to Chelsea management, Schneiderlin's name was clearly visible. Chelsea also officially made an offer to Leeds United, and Schneiderlin's transfer fee was increased to 1,700.
million pounds.
For a young player who has only played in the English Championship, this is already a very high price.
But considering Schneiderlin's outstanding performance in the League Cup last season and his age of only 22 years old, his potential is undoubtedly quite promising, so the price is still acceptable.
Just when Leeds United was hesitating whether to accept Chelsea's offer, they offered Moussa Dembe 20 million pounds. Manchester United, which was rejected by Fulham, turned around and rushed to Leeds United before Chelsea.
An offer of £20 million was made.
This made Leeds United unable to refuse and immediately agreed to Manchester United's offer.
It can be seen that Ferguson wanted to win a heavyweight championship before he retired. To this end, he fought to the end with the management of Manchester United and obtained a huge transfer fee.
In addition to the midfielder, Manchester United also wants to introduce a center, focusing on Real Madrid's Benzema.
…
After Schneiderlin successfully transferred to Manchester United for 20 million pounds, another Leeds winger, Bolasie, transferred to newly promoted West Ham United for 10 million pounds.
The reason is quite simple. Under the protection of the parachute policy, the wealthy West Ham United can offer a higher salary than Leeds United. Bolasie is not young and wants to make more money, so Leeds United can only make it happen.
Entering June, the European Cup is about to start here, but the Premier League transfer market is already in full swing.
After Liverpool took over as head coach Rodgers, they were determined to reorganize the team.
In the competition with Chelsea, the Red Army successfully signed Adam Lallana from Leeds United for a high price of 25 million pounds, and then successively signed Adam Lallana for 20 million pounds and 15 million pounds.
Belgium center Benteke, and England Olympic team player Klein who is about to participate in the local Olympics.
The three transfers cost Liverpool a total of 60 million pounds, which is a huge sum.
The American boss was more generous this time.
Being able to snatch Adam Lallana and Benteke from many competitors, Liverpool's transfer operation can be considered a success.
A few days later, Leeds United announced that Paulinho, the team's main midfielder, would transfer to Chelsea for 20 million pounds.
This is another shocking transfer.
As a midfielder, he became the winner of the Bronze Boot Award in the British Championship last season. Paulinho's performance was amazing, attracting competition from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. After missing out on Schneiderlin
, Chelsea increased their offensive efforts and successfully signed Paulinho.
Tottenham signed Moussa Dembe from Fulham for a high price of 22 million pounds.
Just before the start of the European Cup, Leeds United once again announced that it would sell main goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid for a high price of 20 million pounds.
This is already the seventh player sold by Leeds United this summer.
But so far, the White Rose has only signed one Jose Fonte, which makes the media very worried.
Selling players wholesale is not what a newly promoted team should do.
Could it be said that Leeds United just want to go to the Premier League to gain votes?
