Chapter 52: Is Three Hundred Million Enough?

Laughing heartily as he stepped outside, he thought to himself, "How could I be an ordinary nobody?"

At this moment, Mo Mo felt that this poem perfectly described his situation.

What does this even mean? Just because you’re rich and reckless, throwing money around, I have to drop everything and transfer to your club?

The most amusing part was how the media was so certain that I would definitely join Chelsea.

Is it simply because before me, a number of star players had already moved to Chelsea for the money?

Not everyone bows down for money, you know!

On the path of ideals, earning a little more money is fine. But betraying one’s ideals just to make more money?

That’s simply overthinking it.

Mo Mo publicly announced that he would not be going to Chelsea, and that should have settled the matter.

But Chelsea went ahead and declared they were willing to pay 36 million euros to buy Mo Mo!

Is Roman Abramovich, the mega-rich tycoon, running out of ways to spend money?

And that wasn’t all—they also claimed they were willing to offer Mo Mo a post-tax annual salary of one million euros.

That’s equivalent to eighty million yuan a year.

Now, it wasn’t just Mo Mo who was somewhat angered. Isn’t this just an insult with money?

Even Premier League clubs and those from other leagues were somewhat irritated.

This was classic meddling and disruption!

Over the years, clubs in various leagues have developed their own salary systems. Even in transfer negotiations, there’s an unspoken understanding of price limits.

(When Zlatan Ibrahimović transferred to Juventus, all clubs tacitly capped bids at 10 million euros to avoid a vicious cycle.)

But everything changed after Abramovich took over Chelsea!

Clubs that were once satisfied with their wages suddenly wanted to revolt!

What does this mean? Mo Mo has only just started his career, and his salary is about to surpass (or equal) mine?!

Some clubs that had already agreed on transfer fees were frustrated too!

What? Mo Mo’s transfer fee is so high, and mine is so low? Do they think I’m inferior to Mo Mo or what?!

(When Ibrahimović moved from Malmö to Ajax, he hoped to break the transfer record. While price doesn’t mean everything, it’s still a form of recognition.)

Under these circumstances, Chelsea, under Abramovich’s ownership, quickly made countless enemies without even trying.

And these hostilities only deepened with the onset of the winter transfer window.

“What?! You want 8 million euros for Xxx? You know Chelsea offered 10 million.”

“What?! Damn! He’s only worth 800,000 euros, and you want 9 million?! Chelsea wants him? Damn it! Then sell him to Chelsea!”

Such dialogues could be heard repeatedly during the transfer period.

Perhaps you raise the price for your player based on Chelsea’s offer, only to have others raise their price for the player you want, citing Chelsea’s bids.

In short, with Chelsea’s interference, even before the transfer window officially opened, Abramovich’s era had already stirred a financial storm.

After Chelsea’s 36 million euro bid, Mo Mo agreed to an interview with China Central Television.

With a valuation of three hundred million yuan, how could CCTV5’s sports channel possibly miss this?

“Hello, Mo Mo.”

“Hello.”

“I’d like to ask you about Chelsea’s 36 million euro bid, nearly 300 million yuan, to acquire you. How do you feel about this? You’re now the highest-valued player in domestic history.”

A faint, subtle smile appeared on Mo Mo’s face.

“My feelings are terrible.”

Pausing, he looked at the surprised host and said,

“I feel like someone who, when I refuse him, just keeps pestering me, asking if 300 million is enough.”

Ignoring the host’s astonished expression, Mo Mo continued,

“In fact, I want to join a club where I can develop better, not one that’s in chaos and rebuilding, but just rich.”

At this point, Mo Mo’s gaze was calm and resolute as he looked into the camera and said,

“Abramovich, I’m grateful for your appreciation, but I’m not considering Chelsea now. I already have a champion team in mind, but sadly, it’s not the current Chelsea.”

Here, the host finally found an opening to speak,

“Would you mind revealing which team you consider the champion team? Bayern Munich? Manchester United?”

Mo Mo shook his head and replied,

“Just wait and see! When I transfer next time, the team I join will be a champion club!”

The program ended here. Nothing in this world is unanimously praised.

Mo Mo was thoroughly and decisively criticized online.

Everyone was debating which club he might transfer to, or whether he was foolish for turning down so much money—“If it were me, I’d definitely go.”

But Mo Mo had no time to care about these things. Since his statement on CCTV, his club was nearly furious — 36 million euros! That’s 36 million euros! This damned Chinese player!

Meanwhile, the fans of Munich 1860 proudly held banners proclaiming, “Once blue, forever blue,” celebrating joyously.

Many club executives quietly applauded Mo Mo’s clear and firm refusal.

His rejection seemed to sound the charge for an offensive.

Abramovich’s acquisition plans repeatedly hit roadblocks.

Most players he hoped to sign clearly refused him, as if telling him money isn’t everything.

Many quoted Mo Mo’s words: they were still young and wanted to win more championships before thinking about retirement.

For example, Chelsea is a good club, and Abramovich is sincere, but their futures don’t lie at Chelsea, and so forth.

At this point, Abramovich was practically grinding his teeth over Mo Mo!

Yet despite this, he wanted Mo Mo even more.

It was somewhat like Cao Cao’s admiration for Zhao Yun of Changshan, or that strange feeling that the unattainable is the most precious.

Far away in Portugal’s Primeira Liga, José Mourinho also breathed a sigh of relief.

That was close! Almost lost Mo Mo to someone else.

If this had been Mourinho’s situation, he would have transferred without hesitation.

But Mo Mo—

That’s just like Mourinho’s temperament! It’s players like him that Mourinho wants to work with!

On the other hand, Mino was furious beyond words. Sigh! Abramovich had given me plenty of benefits in recent days! What’s the point of drawing out those benefits even longer?!