Chapter 692: Volume 6: Crimson Goodbye, Herald

Shaheen showed off his skills in a meeting with fans and media, showing that injuries haven't really broken his body. However, doubts about him are still heard. Fortunately, he came out of the UK and cannot speak English. He could not read or hear what the media said about him. And Tang En also told him that as a professional player, the best way to refute doubts is definitely not to quarrel with the opponent in the media, but to slap them with their performance on the court.

At the same time, the psychiatrist that Tang En mentioned to Evan was also in place. Four female physicians, ranging from young to old, have extensive clinical experience in football club psychotherapy. Their first "patient" was the genius Nurisahin from Türkiye the day before yesterday.

Tang said to Tang En with a smile: "Actually, there is no need to hire them. You are the best psychiatrist for these people."

Tang En pouted: "I'm not the master key, I can do any job."

※ ※ ※

Barcelona's new coach Pep Guardiola is standing on the sidelines of the grassy training ground, being interviewed by TV. He talked a lot about the outlook for the new season, and now he is talking about the transformation of the defense: "...Gabriel is adapting, he is doing a good job. I think it will always be Carles (Puyol) playing central defenders. Not a good idea... I know where Barcelona's weakness is at the back and we need a centre-back with a good header, height, body and good jumping to make up for it..."

"It is rumored that Barcelona has contacted Nottingham Forest's Piqué, is this true?"

"I don't want to deceive you, the fact is that our people did offer to Nottingham Forest. But so far we haven't received any response from them." Guardiola shook his head.

Of course, they did not receive a response from Nottingham Forest, because Nottingham Forest is having a headache for this offer.

Barcelona offered £10 million for Piqué. For a central defender, this price is not low. The point is that Dunn is not willing to let Piqué go. In the past three seasons, his partner Pepe has long been the main configuration of Nottingham Forest. Both of them are tall, have excellent air defense capabilities, and are physically strong. With his outstanding performance in the Forest team, Piqué was also selected for the Spanish national team and won the European Cup with the team this summer. As a player, at the age of 21, he has already won the league championship, the Champions League championship and the European Cup championship. What extravagance do you want?

What Tang En is afraid of now is that he has no extravagance. Because that would mean that the reason he is best at attracting people is not convincing.

Barcelona's offer has been in hand for two days, and Piqué finally found him today.

"Boss, can I talk to you after training?" On the sidelines of the training ground, taking advantage of the gap between training, he walked up to Tang En and whispered.

Tang En, who was discussing plans for the new season with other coaches, glanced at everyone, then turned around and smiled at Piqué, "It's so strange, you never take the initiative to chat with me."

Piqué was a little embarrassed, he scratched his head: "It's good to have the first time, and there will be a second time in the future..."

Tang En laughed when he heard him say that, but nodded without saying anything.

※ ※ ※

Meanwhile, in another group of people.

"I bet that kid Herald is leaving." The person who said this was another Zhong Pepe.

Everyone was surprised. What is surprising is not the fact that Piqué is going to leave, but that the words came from his central defender partner. Shouldn't they be very affectionate, shouldn't they express their reluctance to leave their partners?

Peipei found that everyone was looking at her, and knowing what these people were thinking, she smiled on a somewhat honest face: "What are you doing? I didn't want him to leave."

"I don't think there is any reason to go. This place is good. Why do we have to go?" Bell, as a member of the back line, naturally hopes that everyone will be together next season. Stability is the first requirement of the back line.

"Little monkey, he came from Barcelona, ​​and now Barcelona is calling him. Do you think he can resist?" Pepe saw clearly.

"I still can't understand..." Bell murmured.

"Some people are crazy about money..." At this point, Pepe glanced at Ribery who was sitting outside the crowd, "Some people care more about fame; some people are loyal; some people dream of playing for their hometown team... It’s actually quite normal.” After saying this, everyone looked at Pepe differently, as if he was a profound philosopher.

"If he wants to leave, no one can stop him. I think the boss knows this too..."

Pepe stopped talking, because Piqué had finished talking with Tang En and was walking this way.

Franck Ribery, who was sitting outside, was lost in thought as he watched Piqué approaching him.

※ ※ ※

Seeing that Piqué was gone, the coaches gathered around again.

"It must be because of Barcelona?" someone asked.

"Sure." Dunn shrugged. "We beat them twice on the field, and now they finally have a chance to get one back..."

Everyone looked at Piqué's back and didn't know what to say for a while.

※ ※ ※

After training, everyone showered and changed in the locker room and went back. Piqué knocked on Dunn's office door.

Tang En sat alone in front of the computer and was bored playing minesweeper. Seeing Pikui push the door in, he stood up and closed the minesweeper game.

"I know what you came to see me for." Although he stood up, he didn't step out to greet him, but just pointed to the sofa next to him, signaling Pikui to sit by himself.

"What happened in Barcelona made you..." He wanted to say, "Maybe it makes you very distressed", but he felt that something was wrong when he said it. The matter is not that simple. Because whether it made Pikui "distressed" or not, Tang En didn't know at all now. So he coughed, "What do you think?"

"I..." Piqué was silent for a while, and finally made up his mind. He raised his head and said, "I don't want to deceive the boss. Barcelona's invitation is very attractive to me."

"It's bigger than staying in Nottingham Forest and continuing to win the championship?" Dunn asked back.

Piquet was silent again. He knows the temper of the head coach of this team, and it is not acceptable to tell lies. To be honest... I don't know if the boss will be more angry if he stops?

In the end he decided to tell the truth. After all, the boss who tells the truth is only likely to be angry, and he will definitely be angry when he tells lies. As for why he knows that Piqué is telling lies, the truth has already been exposed by the media...Damn the media!

"Honestly, boss. It's hard for me to refuse an invitation from Barcelona."

Tang En nodded. The same is said in the media. Piqué still has a lot of affection for Barcelona. After he made a name for himself in the Forest team, there was news that Real Madrid wanted to buy him. At that time, he expressed his loyalty to the team. He said, "I will not leave Nottingham Forest, I am fine here." Finally, when the media took the trouble to ask him hypothetical sentences, he said: "If I must leave, I will only go back to Barcelona."

Now, it's a prophecy.

"Keep talking." Seeing that Pikui fell silent after saying this, Tang En could only motion for him to continue, "Tell me what you think, I'm not unreasonable."

So Piqué spoke up. The general idea is that he was trained by La Masia anyway. Although Barcelona didn't give him a chance, he was forced to leave England. But his heart will always belong to Catalonia. As long as Barcelona needs him, he can abandon everything and go through fire and water to die—well, although he didn’t say that, Tang En thinks that’s what he meant—and , Now I have taken what I should have for personal honors. He is still young, and he is more likely to meet new challenges in Barcelona. In addition, the pressure on the family is also great. His family is a loyal Barcelona fan. His grandfather was once the vice chairman of the Barcelona club. Can he not be loyal? The whole family wanted Piqué to return to his hometown.

"That is to say... your dream is to play for Barcelona and play there until you retire?" Tang En asked.

"If possible, this is it."

Tang En sighed: "So, I'm helping Barcelona put in a lot of effort to train an excellent central defender, and solve their defensive problems at critical moments?"

Piqué didn't know what to say, he felt that the boss was angry.

Of course Tang En would be angry. The player he had worked so hard to train, his old club said "need to strengthen the defense", and this star of hope was "called by the Lord"... If you are not angry, you are not an ordinary person. He was not generous enough to wave his hand and say, "Brother Pikui, please be free to pursue your dreams."

"I don't want you to go, Gerard. You are very important in our team. You and Pepe are very good partners. Do you know what defense means to me?"

"Champion. Boss." Piqué responded quickly.

"So, I hope you can stay here." Tang En sat in the boss chair, covered his lower abdomen with his hands, and raised his legs.

Piqué was silent for a while, then shook his head: "Boss, this is difficult."

He didn't wait for Tang En's sudden storm, Tang En just watched him silently.

In fact, Tang En knew in his heart that Pi Kui would definitely not be able to keep him. Piqué is completely different from Ribery. Ribery simply pursues money, which is easy to achieve. What Piqué pursues is ten million times more illusory than money—loyalty. Not to Nottingham Forest, but to Barcelona.

He came out of La Masia. He was trained in La Masia since he was a child. His family has been the most loyal fans of Barcelona for generations. He has received such education since he was sensible: Barcelona is the world's most A good club, Barcelona is the only team he loves to follow, it is a great honor to play for such a great team, even if you don't win a championship, you won't have any complaints. Even if Barcelona is relegated one day and is on the verge of bankruptcy, he will not change his love for this team...

This was what gave Tang En the most headache. To deal with Franck Ribery, you can use both kindness and strength, increase your salary, and then inspire him with a sense of honor and loyalty. These are completely useless against Piqué. His loyalty is dedicated to Barcelona, ​​for which he can even accept a reduction in his annual salary. In another place, people would say that this is cheap, but in the football world, this is loyalty, which can be touched by the sun and the moon!

Tang En frowned. It was true that he didn't want to let Piqué go—it's not that the team couldn't lack Piqué. Doesn't the head coach hope that there will be more and more awesome players under his hands instead of fewer and fewer?

To be honest, there is one person in the team who can replace Piqué. Belgian hopeful Vincent Kompany. But just letting Pikui go for nothing made Tang En feel a little bit pained.

After thinking for a long time, Tang En chose to accept his fate. He has also been persuaded to retain him. The so-called doing everything possible, this is what An Tianming means. Some things are not guaranteed to be accomplished if you work hard. In Pikui's case, "destiny" obviously overwhelmed "personnel", and it was still an overwhelming advantage.

Tang En finally nodded, very slowly and lightly. "Okay, I understand your thoughts. I don't think it's appropriate to forcibly retain you, and I don't want to destroy the relationship between me and you. So... so be it." He spread his hands and said helplessly.

Piqué didn't smile, he straightened his back, sat on the soft sofa, and said to Tang En: "Boss, I like you and your teammates, I also like this team and those fans. Marcia went out, but I also know that without you and Nottingham Forest, there would never be Gerald Piqué."

Tang En was dazed by his inexplicable words. He froze, not knowing what happened. Could it be that Pikui suddenly "discovered his conscience" and changed his mind and didn't want to leave? Where is this?

"I know that the current financial situation of the club is not good... In fact, I really like playing here with the boss. I don't know why, but I feel very relaxed. I want to give you a parting gift, don't you want it?"

Tang En opened his mouth wide, he was getting more and more confused.

"With my cooperation, Barcelona may need to raise the offer again." Speaking of this, Piqué finally smiled. But he smiled a little wickedly, and he was a little embarrassed.

Tang En didn't smile, he stared straight at the central defender who would soon be out of his subordinates and could no longer call him "Boss".

※ ※ ※

A day later, Nottingham Forest officially responded to Barcelona's 10 million offer - they rejected it!

In an interview, Dunn said angrily: "Winning two Champions League titles and one Premier League title, the absolute main force and core defender in my team is only worth 10 million? I don't believe that Barcelona won't win it." Show enough sincerity." Everyone in the circle knew that Tang En used to call "money" "sincerity". "You know, they have spent almost 100 million euros this summer." In fact, it is still a little far from 100 million euros, and Barcelona has spent 73 million euros so far.

Then I don't know how Piqué asked his agent to tell Barcelona. In fact, the general meaning can be guessed-Pique hopes to return to Barcelona, ​​​​that is for sure! but! Nottingham Forest is absolutely unwilling to let go of their main central defender so easily, let alone who is Tony Twain? Everyone in European football knows that it is simply not enough to use all the negative words created by all mankind to describe him... And if you analyze it rationally, how can you be reluctant to let go of the main central defender? It is clear that Nottingham Forest thinks they are short of money. Didn't you hear that they are building a new stadium now? It is said that a stadium that can accommodate 60,000 people must cost a lot of money...

Barcelona's second offer is coming soon, £16 million! That's about 20 million euros!

Bidding a central defender for this job is not only because Piqué is really a defender who has proven his ability, but also because he is a Catalan. Guardiola is an authentic Barcelona product, and he cares more about maintaining the purity of Barcelona than his predecessor Frank Rijkaard. Therefore, he purged a large number of meritorious officials from the previous dynasty. One reason was that he believed that as long as they were not real Catalan Barcelona people, they would not be able to really devote 100% of their efforts and loyalty to this team. In fact, it is unreliable. Look what Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o have done in these two seasons...

Nottingham Forest didn't care what Guardiola thought, anyway, the price made them feel very good, and they nodded in agreement.

In this way, Gerald Piqué, a teenager who was abducted out of La Masia by Tony Twain, went through hardships and finally became famous. When he was tired, he wanted to return to his roots, so he returned to his original hometown of Barcelona. How is it, very touching?

What a cliche adventure and inspirational story...

There was no ceremony at the time of farewell. The whole Nottingham Forest team was training at Wilford. For these professional players, it was as simple as leaving alone. This kind of drama will be repeated every summer, and some people will feel sad at first, but now they are used to it after the experience of professional football.

After packing up the small things he put in his locker in the locker room, Piqué came to the training ground with his bag on his back to bid farewell to Tang En.

"I didn't expect you to come specially..." Tang En was a little surprised.

"Just want to take another look. Boss." Piqué stood beside him, looking at the grassy training ground. His former teammates are training hard on it, and the voice of assistant coach David Chris Lack is always full of energy, reminding these people not to be lazy.

"When I came here from La Masia, I never thought it would be today. I thought I wouldn't have that same feeling about the second training ground, apart from La Masia and Barcelona. Thank you, boss .”

"I am no longer your coach. We will be enemies when we meet next time. Everyone here is..." Tang En pointed to the training ground. "You have to know that Nottingham Forest has always been to the enemy..."

"You're welcome." Piqué helped him complete the sentence.

"As long as you know."

"Then I'm going, sir."

Only then did Tang En turn his head to look at him, and he opened his mouth: "I mean if, just in case, if, maybe... if, if, maybe, maybe you can't stay in Barcelona, ​​you can come here."

"By then I must be too old to play football."

"Didn't you hear what people say? 'Nottingham Forest is a nursing home'!" Tang En laughed.

"I'm Catalan."

"That fact really annoys me."

"If I wasn't from Cataloa, I would have retired in the Forest team. Boss."

"There is no if in reality..." This reality made him very helpless. Demi had said similar things to him in the same tone.

"Goodbye, Gerald, good luck." He turned his face away and continued to look at the court.

"Goodbye, boss." Piqué turned and strode away from the sunny Wilford. His agent is already waiting for him in the car park, from here they will go directly to Heathrow Airport, and then fly back home.

The wanderer who left his hometown and wandered, finally returned to his roots. In this dense Nottingham forest, after more than 100 years of precipitation and accumulation, the true face of the soil below has long been invisible. The ground is covered with layers of thick fallen leaves, but there is no one called "Herby". Rade Piquet".