Chapter 220 Contract Renewal

In the end, Dortmund defeated Hamburg 3:1 at home without too much effort. It gave the impression that Dortmund had always had the advantage. Even if Hamburg pulled a goal back, it could not shake the foundation of Dortmund's victory.

After the game, Zhou Yi became the focus of reporters' interviews. This was certainly not because he had two assists in the game and helped the team defeat the opponent 3:1. Perhaps it was not just because of this.

Everyone wants to hear what he thinks of those transfer rumors.

"...I understand that some media want to make a big news, so there are those transfer rumors. But what I want to say is, none of those things about me are true. I don't Will leave Dortmund."

Zhou Yi said it categorically.

Other players have also expressed their desire for Zhou Yi to stay.

Shinji Kagawa, who scored a goal after his comeback after the game, once again thanked Zhou Yi when being interviewed by reporters.

"... If there is anyone in Dortmund who is indispensable, it is Zhou Sang. He is the focus and source of strength for all of us. I know that many teams in Europe want him now, but I believe in him Will stay in Dortmund."

Mark Wagner, who is also a beneficiary of Zhou Yi, said even more exaggeratedly: "Unless the club goes crazy, they will not let Zhou Yi leave! All of us are very happy to play with Zhou Yi."

Lewandowski said: "I don't know what the future will be like, but now I really don't see any sign that Zhou Yi is leaving the team..."

Grosskreutz said: "Zhou Yi is a kid from the South Stand. How could he leave Westphalia so easily?"

※※※

After the game, Zhou Yi called his agent Schulze: "Tino, what's going on in the media?"

"Uh, Zhou Yi, I promise it wasn't me..." Schulze quickly proved his innocence.

"I know this is not your fault. I have almost negotiated a new contract with the club, and there is no need to play like this. But why are there so many rumors in the media about me leaving Dortmund?"

"Maybe... those foreign media really think you will leave Dortmund and go to a wealthy club?" Schulze guessed.

"What's the basis?"

"I think Dortmund can't retain talent.

Dortmund does have a record in this regard. Didn't Shaheen just leave for one season? "

"Then I can't make the mistake of playing in Dortmund for more than one season and then transfer and leave... I haven't learned my German driver's license yet!"

"The point is wrong, Zhou Yi. You can go to the UK or other countries with a driver's license recognized by the EU."

"Oh, that's it. Then should I go to another country to get a driver's license?"

"If you take the driving license test in the UK, I believe the media will really believe that you are going to transfer to an English club, Zhou Yi."

"Tsk, why do the media love to think so wildly?"

“The media wouldn’t be the media if they didn’t make wild guesses.”

"Well, it looks like I still have to find time to take the driver's license test..."

The topic just turned from transfer to driver's license... The two of them didn't feel anything was wrong. Where did the digression begin? never mind.

※※※

The second round of the league will be held a week later, with Dortmund challenging Hoffenheim away from home.

This time Dortmund lost 0:1 to Hoffenheim in an away game, which seemed to confirm the media's analysis of the difficulty of Dortmund's defense of the championship.

Although losing is an unpleasant thing, Dortmund fans are not losing because they have something to make them happy - just two days after the game against Hoffenheim, Borussia Dortmund officially announced that Zhou Yi has signed a new contract with the club.

A photo of Zhou Yi and club general manager Zorc posing with the contract text was distributed on the official website.

As soon as this news came out, all the rumors that Zhou Yi would transfer and leave Dortmund disappeared, as if they had never appeared.

Everyone has renewed his contract with the club, so it is definitely impossible to leave this summer. What else is there to spread? No one would believe it if I spread it, it would only make people laugh.

Not much official information has been revealed about this contract. Everyone currently only knows that the contract ends at the same time as the previous contract. In other words, the previous contract was six years, and the new contract is five years.

When the contract length is shortened by one year, the salary will definitely increase, otherwise there will be no need to renew the contract.

In fact, this contract renewal was not proposed by the players, but by the Dortmund club. It is the same as the contract renewal last season.

Why is Dortmund starting contract renewal negotiations again?

related to liquidated damages.

They felt that 10 million liquidated damages was too low.

A year ago, Dortmund thought that 10 million in liquidated damages was enough. Dortmund and Schulze had to fight for this 10 million for a long time.

Now look at Zhou Yi's performance in the Champions League and the league. There is no so-called "rookie wall" at all. Looking at other giants coveting Zhou Yi, Dortmund feels the pressure.

Although the liquidated damages can only be activated when there is only one year left in the contract, if Zhou Yi never re-signs with the club, this ten million will not be considered money at all in a few years. By then, based on Zhou Yi's performance, one If you sell it for tens of millions, you will lose a lot!

So Dortmund hopes to increase the figure of the liquidated damages clause.

Since the Dortmund club has something to ask for, Zhou Yi can naturally make their request boldly.

The request is actually very simple. It is okay to increase the liquidated damages, but accordingly, Zhou Yi must be given an increase in annual salary.

As Dortmund's financial situation gradually improves, the annual pre-tax salary of 1.5 million euros is too low for Zhou Yi.

According to Schulze, if Zhou Yi is willing to change jobs, he can go to any wealthy team and earn more than two or three times his current salary. But Zhou Yi is still willing to sit down and negotiate with the club, which shows that he has feelings for Dortmund. If there are no special circumstances, he is still willing to stay in this team.

So considering Zhou Yi's loyalty, should the club also express something?

In an interview, Klopp said that the player's contract renewal with the club went smoothly, but in fact it was not the case. Klopp knew the inside story, but he couldn't directly tell the media that "we have a little trouble renewing the contract with the player," right? Wouldn't that just add fuel to Zhouyi's transfer rumors?

Klopp knows what the trouble is, Zhouyi knows it, and the club knows it too.

The trouble is just one word - "money".

Schulze believes that based on Zhou Yi's performance and contribution to the team, he should receive the club's maximum salary, which is 4.5 million euros before tax.

But the Dortmund club disagrees. They feel that Zhou Yi has received the maximum salary at such a young age. What will happen next? You must know that he just renewed his contract with the club last season, and his salary increased tenfold, but at least the salary base of his first contract was very low, so it was okay. If you sign another contract after one season and your salary triples, what about next season? Even if the base number of 4.5 million is doubled, it will still be 9 million!

How could Dortmund possibly get it?

And after Zhou Yi made this move, what did the other players think?

They may think that Zhou Yi's top salary of 4.5 million is normal, and it is normal for them to have a salary of 4 million, right?

What Dortmund is most worried about is this overall effect.

Everyone is rushing to ask for a salary increase. I am afraid that the club's financial situation will soon be in crisis again.

For this reason, the club did not agree to Schulze's maximum salary request.

In fact, Schulze also knew that the club would definitely not agree. He made this request just to pay back the exorbitant price.

The two sides bargained bit by bit.

Schulze once again proved his talent and ability in this area. Zorc also didn't expect to have to face this damn agent again less than a year after renewing his contract, but he had no choice. Who said that their liquidated damages were set too low in the first place?

So this time Dortmund wanted to set a high liquidated damages, but they also made a big announcement when they came up and wanted to set a liquidated damages of 50 million. Schulze directly asked Zorc at the negotiation table: "Are you crazy? "

If Schulze really agrees to the 50 million liquidated damages, Zhou Yi will probably fire him when he comes back...

The two sides just kept grinding and grinding. Grind the amount of liquidated damages and grind the annual salary.

It's all about money.

After months of grinding, the two sides finally reached an agreement.

In terms of liquidated damages, Schulze agreed to a cap of 30 million euros, and this clause can only be activated in the last year.

As for the annual salary, Dortmund also gave in and agreed to Schulze's annual salary request of three million euros.

Because it was before tax, the money actually received from Zhou Yi was only 1.6 million.

Zorc believes that after signing this contract, at least in the next two years, he should not have to see Schulze's disgusting face again.

"I don't want to see Zorc's face anymore. Negotiating with him is too painful. He is simply the real-life version of Grandet!" Schulze complained to Zhou Yi. "Borussia Dortmund won the league championship last season and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League. It stands to reason that they made a lot of money. Why are they still so stingy?"

"You're used to being stingy." Zhou Yi didn't really care. It would be nice if the contract renewal could be negotiated.

After renewing his contract with the club, all transfer rumors about him disappeared. He can finally focus on football without interference from the outside world.