Chapter 162: The Bernabéu Showcase! I'm Gifting Florentino a Grand Present!
Beijing, China — a residential neighborhood.
As usual, Xia Anmin and his wife, Cao Wenhui, woke up early to exercise. After a session of tai chi, they picked up a few newspapers on their way home.
In addition to following national and financial news, Xia Anmin habitually flipped to the sports section.
Across all major domestic newspapers—even the authoritative ones—the headlines were dominated by Beisworth Chinese FC's stunning 4–1 comeback win over Manchester United in the rescheduled match. The team, dubbed "China's club," was receiving glowing praise.
Some experts were even boldly predicting that winning the Premier League this season was now a near certainty.
"Acheng's really amazing!" Xia Anmin, a long-time football fan, didn't have much time to watch games nowadays, but his passion remained.
"Well of course. Our little Qing has always had excellent taste," Cao Wenhui said with a satisfied smile.
She, too, had grown increasingly fond of their future son-in-law. Really, there was nothing to complain about.
"Hey, I heard that the UK and Europe have been cutting interest rates recently."
Xia Anmin was surprised. "Cao laoshi, since when did you start paying attention to financial news?"
He chuckled as he said it.
Cao Wenhui gave him a playful glare. "Our kids are out there building a business—we can't offer them much in terms of practical help, but the least we can do is care, right?"
Xia Anmin nodded slightly. "Since October 2008, the UK has cut rates six times in a row—totaling 450 basis points. The base interest rate is now down to 1%."
"So low?" Cao Wenhui was taken aback.
"Word is, at the March monetary policy meeting, both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank will cut again."
"Another 50 basis points?" Cao Wenhui wasn't an economics expert, but as the wife of a banker, she understood a fair bit.
"Probably. That would bring it to 0.5%," Xia Anmin replied, now looking rather serious.
From a basic rate perspective, lower is obviously better.
After all, Yang Cheng would soon be taking out loans.
But interest rates affect many aspects of the economy—
Take the recent sharp depreciation of the British pound, for example.
It had dropped to the point where it was even cheaper than the euro.
"Didn't Old Yang just come to Beijing for a business meeting? During dinner, he couldn't stop praising Xiao Qing—said she helped him out big time. He's now in talks with the country's largest real estate company and with hotel groups in Hong Kong."
"I think he's really planning to expand into London."
Old Yang, of course, was Yang Cheng's father—Yang Jianguo.
The two families were very close now. In fact, Xia Anmin and Yang Jianguo had become close friends.
"This is the plan about developing a shopping center next to the stadium, right?"
"Exactly—high-end hotels, luxury retail, outbound travel. A one-stop service. The potential is huge."
Cao Wenhui trusted her husband's judgment. "Old Xia, make sure to help Old Yang keep things in check. I feel like his business is expanding a bit too fast."
"Whether it's real estate or sports, both markets are growing rapidly. He has to expand quickly to gain a foothold and keep up with the wave. No need to worry too much."
"But Acheng was right about one thing—finances must be strictly controlled. Old Yang's been paying close attention to that too. You remember Lin Zhongqiu?"
"The old Lin that Old Yang brought over to our place last time?"
"Yes, that's the one. He's cautious—word is, Acheng specifically arranged for him to return to China."
"Acheng arranged it?"
"Yep. He even asked me to help look out for Old Yang. That kid has guts, but he's sharp underneath. And he's got an active mind. Xiao Qing's calm and steady nature complements him perfectly. They're a great match."
As Xia Anmin spoke, he couldn't help but sing the praises of his future son-in-law—so much so that Cao Wenhui burst out laughing.
She knew her own children best.
Neither Xia Qing nor Xia Xi were the type to strike out on their own and build empires.
But Yang Cheng?
He was exactly the kind of person Xia Anmin admired.
Right in the middle of this conversation, Cao Wenhui's phone rang.
Speak of the devil—
It was a call from Xia Qing.
She told her mother that Yang Cheng had managed to snag a case of wine from Ferguson and planned to have someone bring it back to China.
"Your dad brought it out to impress his football buddies last time he hosted them," Cao Wenhui teased her husband.
Xia Anmin didn't mind. These days, many in his social circle—even higher-ups—knew about their family situation.
They knew his future son-in-law was Yang Cheng.
Some sports officials had even approached him, hoping to facilitate partnerships.
It made Xia Anmin feel quite proud.
"Xiao Qing, let me tell you something,"
he said as he took the phone from Cao Wenhui.
"I got word that in March, both the UK and the EU will be cutting rates again—another 50 basis points. You need to be ready."
"Got it, Dad. I've already prepared for it."
"And I've also been in touch with a few banker friends over there. They've hinted that if rates really go down to 0.5%, you should try to negotiate some policy support from the British government and London city council."
"Use those policies to negotiate with a few banks—you might be able to get a really favorable loan rate."
"They wouldn't confirm anything, but they dropped a number: around 1%, maybe just slightly higher."
"Really?" Xia Qing sounded excited. "I'll look into it more on my end."
"Remember—just hold on for another two or three months. Once the UK's industry policies roll out, push harder for government support."
"Okay, I understand. Thanks, Dad!"
Given the size of the loans Beisworth Chinese FC needed, even a fraction of a percent difference in interest could mean millions of pounds a year.
"No problem. And thank Acheng for the wine on my behalf."
After a short pause, Xia Anmin added,
"And don't forget to give your Uncle Yang a bottle too."
"I will. Thanks, Dad!"
After hanging up, Xia Anmin was in a great mood at the thought of another case of Ferguson's vintage wine on its way.
...
"Old Yang, what's got you smiling like that?"
It was lunchtime, and Yang Jianguo had just come home. From the moment he walked through the door, he'd been grinning nonstop. Li Hongying was puzzled.
"This morning I met with the team from the Hong Kong Peninsula Hotel Group. The meeting went really well."
"And just now, Xiao Qing called me—said that rascal managed to grab another case of wine from Ferguson. She's sending one to me; it should arrive soon."
Li Hongying lit up at the news.
"Xiao Qing is so thoughtful. Always checks in every few days. Not like that ungrateful son of ours—if you don't call him, he won't even remember to check in for months."
"That's different. Acheng's too busy."
"And Xiao Qing isn't? Didn't you say she helped you arrange some big, professional tourism market research in the UK? Gave you a huge leg up? Honestly, Acheng's just careless. Xiao Qing's the best."
Yang Jianguo chuckled, thinking of something Acheng had once said in mock frustration:
"I'm just a spilled bowl of water in this family!"
The sour jealousy in his voice had made Yang Jianguo burst out laughing.
"Xiao Qing really is steady, thoughtful, meticulous—just outstanding!"
"All that's missing now is a kid," Li Hongying said firmly.
"That's it. I'm calling Xiao Qing soon. Time to get that wedding done and get started on a baby!"
She realized that these days, she called Xia Qing far more often than her own precious son.
There was no helping it—Yang Cheng was simply too busy.
Especially during weeks with two matches, he was either playing or en route to a match.
In the Premier League, it was a constant grind throughout the season.
Yang Jianguo, however, didn't feel like his wife was playing favorites.
Truth was, the reason they adored Xia Qing so much was precisely because of Yang Cheng.
On the flip side, every time he met with Xia Anmin and Cao Wenhui, they couldn't stop praising Yang Cheng.
That's how in-laws should be.
They cherished Xia Qing like a daughter, and the Xia family treated Yang Cheng as if he were their own son.
The two families were gradually becoming one—and that's how it should be.
...
"Dad really said that?"
When Yang Cheng got home from training, back to his house just west of Holland Park, and heard what Xia Qing had relayed to him, he couldn't hide the joy on his face.
With Xia Anmin backing them behind the scenes, the benefits were endless.
"What do you mean Dad?" Xia Qing teased. "You only call him that when there's something in it for you, huh?"
In Yang Cheng's dictionary, when he said Dad and Mom, he meant Xia Anmin and Cao Wenhui.
When he referred to my dad and my mom, he meant Yang Jianguo and Li Hongying.
His endless little tricks often left Xia Qing at her wits' end.
"Well, it's only a matter of time anyway," Yang Cheng said shamelessly, grinning from ear to ear.
Xia Qing blushed but was pleased, unable to argue with him.
"At the moment, construction on the new stadium is progressing well. As soon as we got the permit, we immediately began pile foundation work. But this is where the real spending starts," Xia Qing said, keeping a close eye on the project's progress.
Yang Cheng was beginning to truly understand how difficult it was to build a new stadium in London.
Take just the demolition of an abandoned stadium with a 10,000-person capacity and excavating the underground area—it had already taken over six months.
Don't complain it's slow—that was actually quite fast.
For example, all that demolition debris? It had to go somewhere.
And in the UK, you can't just dump construction waste wherever you please.
Plus, heavy haul trucks can't exactly drive in and out of a city center during the day.
In short, every aspect had to be coordinated—and all of it cost money.
That's where the benefit of working with the London city government on the Queen's Avenue Renovation Project came in.
Back when Arsenal built their new stadium, they didn't do it at Highbury.
They found a separate piece of land and rebuilt from scratch after clearing it.
The current site of the Emirates Stadium used to be full of warehouses and industrial facilities, with complex ownership rights that had to be negotiated one by one.
And the biggest headache?
There used to be a large community waste recycling and processing center there.
To build the Emirates, Arsenal had to demolish that facility and construct a new one to the southwest—
At their own expense.
That alone cost them £60 million.
And it wasn't just Arsenal.
When Wembley Stadium was rebuilt in the west, another new waste facility was constructed.
The trees they planted, now we enjoy the shade.
Thanks to Beisworth Chinese FC's collaboration with the city government, both waste facilities were activated to process construction debris from the new stadium and the Queen's Avenue project.
Without that?
Just dealing with the waste would have taken forever.
This was exactly why Yang Cheng always believed Chelsea would struggle to build a new stadium.
Even if they started construction, the investment would be astronomical.
Tearing down Stamford Bridge alone would eat up an incredible amount of time and money.
"Let Adam Crozier handle the government coordination—he's clever. He knows how to work things."
Xia Qing nodded.
In that area, she was indeed not as adept as Adam Crozier.
"How are the club's finances holding up?" Yang Cheng asked with concern.
"We can last a few more months."
If Xia Qing said a few months, that meant they were good for at least half a year.
Yang Cheng knew her all too well.
Plus, the remainder of the transfer payments from last summer would start arriving.
Annual sponsorships were also due.
And once the Premier League season wrapped, they'd receive a large settlement.
Doing the math, Yang Cheng figured they were financially stable at least until the end of the year.
That was more than enough.
"Then follow Dad's suggestion—wait for the industry policies to come out, push for more support from the UK and London governments, and then negotiate with the banks."
Xia Qing nodded. "I've already been keeping in close contact with Goldman Sachs, HSBC, and a few others."
She used to work at Goldman and had plenty of well-connected contacts there.
"Florentino wants to have dinner with me."
"Who?" Xia Qing was thrown off by the sudden change of topic.
"Florentino Pérez. Former president of Real Madrid."
Now she remembered. "He's really coming back?"
"Pretty much guaranteed."
If he wasn't planning a comeback—or lacked confidence—why would he be asking Yang Cheng to dinner?
"It's set for February 25th, when the team travels to Madrid for the Champions League. But I don't plan to go—I'll send Adam Crozier instead. I don't want to be seen."
At that time, Beisworth Chinese FC would be away at Real Madrid for the first leg of the Round of 16.
Yang Cheng would be in the spotlight.
Getting caught meeting with Florentino would be a PR nightmare.
"What does he want?" Xia Qing asked.
"Poaching, of course. The former Real president is eager for a comeback and full of ambition. He's talking about signing all the biggest stars across the top four leagues in one summer."
Judging by the situation, Cristiano Ronaldo from the Premier League was probably his main target.
Last year, Ferguson had promised Ronaldo that if a good offer came in after one more year, United would let him go.
Since then, the pound had plummeted and the UK had raised taxes—
For someone at Ronaldo's level, the losses were massive.
And there was no way Manchester United could make up for them.
As for Benzema and Kaká, forget it.
Arsenal and City both had deep pockets now—
Especially Manchester City.
They had just brought in Ancelotti and were eyeing Pirlo.
Their squad would be massively improved.
Kaká wasn't likely to leave.
Some said the top name in Serie A was Ibrahimović, and in the Bundesliga, it was Bayern's Ribéry.
Other media speculated that Florentino wanted to recreate the Figo saga—wreck Barça and snatch Messi.
The landscape had changed completely, and even Yang Cheng couldn't predict how Florentino would play it.
But one thing was certain—
This summer's transfer window would be on fire.
"So he might really be after Maicon," Xia Qing said, her tone tinged with worry.
The media had been speculating about it nonstop.
And it wasn't just Real Madrid—Manchester City, United, Chelsea, and Arsenal were all reportedly interested.
There was a massive shortage of top-tier full-backs in European football right now.
Actually, it wasn't just full-backs—
There was a shortage of quality defenders in general.
And Maicon had delivered world-class performances for two straight seasons.
"Don't worry. I'm ready for it. It's under control."
After a pause, Yang Cheng added,
"Maicon turns 28 at the end of July."
And they still hadn't finalized his contract renewal.
To put it plainly, at this age, Maicon was clearly aiming for a final, long-term contract.
He wanted top-tier wages—no question about it.
But that was something Beisworth Chinese FC couldn't currently agree to.
So the moment the news got out, clubs from all over started paying attention.
Maicon's contract was far from expiry, and Beisworth Chinese FC still held all the leverage in any potential sale.
But if they couldn't meet his contract demands, then selling him might be the best course of action.
Maicon was already the oldest player on the squad, with Lambert being the second-oldest.
But the two were different.
At 27, Lambert hadn't played much this season, but whether in training or when coming on as a sub, he always showed great professionalism.
As a veteran who had followed the team from League Two all the way to the Premier League, Lambert was the embodiment of loyalty and hard work.
Another contract still under negotiation was Yaya Touré's—also stuck on salary issues.
Interestingly enough, Yaya Touré was also reportedly on Florentino's transfer wish list.
Yang Cheng figured Florentino's request to meet might be about transfers too.
Say what you will about Florentino Pérez—he had his critics.
But one thing was undisputed: when it came to signings, the former Real Madrid president was bold, ambitious, and generous.
His usual method was simple: once he had his eye on someone, if the club was willing to sell, price was negotiable.
Yang Cheng's biggest headache now was this:
If Yaya Touré really did leave, Matić could fill his position, but that would leave a hole in the number 4 role.
Finding a player who fit Yang Cheng's system, met Beisworth Chinese FC's standards, and was also actually available? That was rare.
In a way, this match at the Bernabéu really was starting to feel like a player showcase for Beisworth Chinese FC.
...
Evening of February 21st – Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain.
La Liga, Round 24: Real Madrid vs. Real Betis.
As referee Marenco blew the whistle to signal halftime, Juande Ramos, who had taken over Real Madrid in December, could hardly believe what he was seeing.
He was ecstatic.
Standing in front of the home bench, he clenched both fists and cheered with unrestrained joy.
The entire Bernabéu, 72,000 fans strong, erupted in celebration.
6–1!
That was the shocking score displayed on the stadium scoreboard.
And remember—this was just halftime.
"Wow!"
There was still another 45 minutes to play, but Juande Ramos couldn't contain himself.
He welcomed his players off the pitch with passionate hugs—these were the heroes of the night.
It had been a magnificent first half.
Ramos had gone with a 4-4-2 formation.
Just 7 minutes in, Raúl assisted Higuaín to open the scoring.
Then Huntelaar scored a brace, Raúl followed with a brace of his own, and finally Sergio Ramos found the net just before halftime.
Six goals in 45 minutes—seven if you count Betis's consolation.
"I have a strong feeling about this, Marcos,"
Juande Ramos said, turning to his trusted assistant and fitness coach, Marcos Álvarez.
The man had followed him from Sevilla to Spurs, and now to Real Madrid.
"Our form is peaking, the squad is clicking!"
Ramos was visibly emotional.
This season had been a rollercoaster for him.
His time at Tottenham had started disastrously—by October, they were bottom of the Premier League.
Under pressure, he resigned.
But in an unexpected turn of events, he took over Real Madrid in December.
His first game in charge was the final match of the Champions League group stage—a 3–0 home win.
Then came the away trip to Camp Nou, where they lost 0–2 to Guardiola's Barcelona.
Since then, Real Madrid had been unstoppable.
Tonight's 6–1 win marked their ninth straight victory.
Even more impressively, they had scored 22 goals and conceded just 2 in those nine games.
It was a run that had made all of Europe take notice.
"We're ready to take on any team in Europe—including Beisworth Chinese FC!"
Juande Ramos was full of fighting spirit.
He wanted to prove, once and for all, that Tottenham's collapse hadn't been his fault.
He, Juande Ramos, was still one of the top managers in Europe!
"So what's the plan now?" asked Marcos Álvarez.
"We've used all three subs—rest the starters, focus on Beisworth Chinese FC next Wednesday."
"Who's coming off?"
"Cannavaro, Raúl, and Robben."
"Got it."
...
At halftime, Real Madrid made three substitutions.
And in the second half, the Galácticos played at a relaxed pace.
Final score: 6–1.
Real Madrid had annihilated Real Betis at home.
After the match, Juande Ramos's side was showered with praise.
From President Ramón Calderón to General Manager Pedja Mijatović, to the fans—everyone agreed:
The real Real Madrid was back.
The Spanish media boldly declared that Beisworth Chinese FC would face an unprecedented challenge at the Bernabéu.
"This time, we swear to avenge our humiliation!"
Meanwhile, Beisworth Chinese FC had quietly secured a 2–0 home win over West Bromwich Albion.
Yang Cheng also rotated heavily, saving energy for the midweek Champions League clash.
Lewandowski scored in the first half, and substitute Džeko found the net in the second.
It was the Bosnian striker's first match back from injury—
And in the 72nd minute, he marked it with a goal.
Yang Cheng and his coaching staff were closely monitoring his fitness, evaluating whether Džeko could play a part at the Bernabéu.
With that win over West Brom, Beisworth Chinese FC also extended their winning streak to nine—
Including seven league matches and two rescheduled fixtures.
In those nine games, they scored 28 goals and conceded just 6.
British media began drumming up hype for Beisworth Chinese FC.
On goal difference alone, they held a slight edge over Real Madrid.
Though in terms of defense, Madrid looked a bit stronger.
This matchup was generating intense global interest.
The most decorated team in Champions League history facing the defending champions—
Both on nine-game winning streaks and in top form.
Everyone agreed:
The Bernabéu would witness an unforgettable clash.
After the West Brom game, Yang Cheng was asked about Real Madrid during a press interview.
"Since Juande Ramos took over, their defense has left a deep impression on me," he said.
"But we've never been afraid of teams with strong defenses."
He revealed that the team's top priority in the first leg of the Round of 16 was defense.
"This will be a very tough game," he said.
"In the Champions League, keeping a clean sheet is extremely important—especially at the Bernabéu. I know they've been scoring a lot lately."
"Our attack is very strong too. So for us, if we don't concede, we'll definitely be able to find the net against Real Madrid."
One Spanish journalist asked Yang Cheng what score he hoped for.
"1–0.
An away win."
"I Think This Is the Best Possible Result!"
The gathered reporters all burst into laughter.
Clearly, Yang Cheng still had a healthy respect for Real Madrid.
When speaking about La Liga this season, Yang Cheng noted that it was becoming the strongest league in Europe.
"Guardiola's Barcelona left a very deep impression on me. They're the best team in La Liga right now—without question!"
"I really don't want to face such a terrifying team too early."
Yang Cheng kept smiling throughout, never letting anyone see his true thoughts.
...
"Our new press officer isn't bad at all,"
Yang Cheng remarked as he walked out of the press conference hall at Wembley.
"Of course. He's worked for several newspapers—he knows these media people like the back of his hand," said the CEO of Beisworth Chinese FC, looking rather pleased.
This was a high-priced hire they had poached.
"Next, we need to guide public opinion carefully. I really don't want Real Madrid playing overly defensive at home."
What Yang Cheng dreaded most weren't teams that came out aggressively—
It was the ultra-defensive ones, especially when those were elite teams.
"Then why did you bring up Barcelona just now?" Adam Crozier asked in confusion.
He had guessed the intent behind most of Yang Cheng's earlier comments, but the mention of Barça puzzled him.
"Real Madrid's momentum is off the charts right now. We need to use the media to boost them even higher, so Juande Ramos won't dare to park the bus even if he wants to."
Yang Cheng chuckled.
That's always been Real Madrid's way—
Not just to win, but to win beautifully.
In recent years, their performances in the Champions League had been lackluster.
Now that they were on the rise again, they were desperate to make a splash.
Especially Calderón and Mijatović.
Unless they brought home the Champions League this season, the Real Madrid presidency would likely change hands come summer.
In that situation, they would try everything to please the fans.
Yang Cheng's praise of Barcelona was a calculated move—
To stir Real Madrid's sense of rivalry and provoke a strong reaction.
"Guess how the entire Real Madrid camp will feel when they hear me complimenting Barça like that?"
Yang Cheng grinned.
Adam Crozier burst out laughing.
Watching Yang Cheng stroll away happily, the Englishman shook his head in disbelief.
Our young boss is devilishly sly.
He was playing mind games at such a level that Real Madrid might very well want to kill him.
Well—maybe not Lass Diarra and Skrtel.
But Skrtel likely wouldn't start this match anyway—he had a knock.
The expected center-back pairing was Cannavaro and Metzelder.
...
Sure enough.
After two days of rest in London, Beisworth Chinese FC flew to Madrid the night before the match.
And the moment they stepped out of the airport, they were "warmly welcomed" by Real Madrid fans.
Smashed windows, shouted insults, even some racist abuse...
UEFA only prohibits racism inside stadiums—
Outside? No one enforces anything.
Even after Beisworth Chinese FC checked into their hotel, the harassment continued.
Yang Cheng was unimpressed.
"The same old tricks. Nothing new."
That night, he slept soundly until morning.
The players looked rested and in good spirits as well.
They were staying at a five-star hotel this time—top-tier facilities.
After breakfast, Yang Cheng flipped through the day's newspapers.
Just as expected, the Spanish press was almost unanimously cheering for Real Madrid, calling on them to take down Beisworth Chinese FC.
Especially Marca and AS, long seen as Real Madrid's mouthpieces, were particularly outraged that Yang Cheng had praised Barça and "disrespected" Real Madrid.
They were calling on Juande Ramos to teach Yang Cheng and his team a brutal lesson at the Bernabéu.
That very morning, there was even an incident where a Real Madrid fan disguised himself as hotel staff and tried to sneak into the team's floor, only to be caught by hotel security.
With all this buzz, the media's eyes were glued to Yang Cheng.
Which made things perfect—
Adam Crozier and Florentino Pérez's lunch went entirely unnoticed.
That afternoon, before the team departed for the stadium, Adam returned to the hotel and went to Yang Cheng's room.
"Over lunch, I met with Florentino, Valdano, and Zidane."
Yang Cheng wasn't surprised.
Reports had long linked Valdano and Zidane to Florentino's presidential comeback campaign.
"What did they say?" Yang Cheng asked, smiling.
"They first asked about the progress on our new stadium—and whether we plan to sell any more players."
Adam Crozier smiled too.
"Florentino said that if he wins the presidency, he'll have a €400 million transfer budget. Bit of an exaggeration, I'd say."
Yang Cheng remained noncommittal.
He wasn't about to give anything away.
But the truth was, Florentino did have a huge war chest—
Not just from within Real Madrid, but also through bank loans.
Back in his previous life, Yang Cheng had been just a coach. He never paid attention to politics or macroeconomics.
But now, he had a feeling—
Florentino's coming summer spree, his all-out pursuit of superstars—
There was definitely someone backing him.
Was it really just about reviving Real Madrid?
Or was there also a desire to boost Spanish football as a whole?
Spain's economy was in shambles, but tourism was booming.
And football, without question, was one of Spain's most dazzling tourism assets.
Especially considering what would later become the legendary rivalry of La Liga's "Super Duo"—Real Madrid and Barcelona, Ronaldo vs. Messi—
All of it was inseparable from hype, marketing, and media strategy.
At some level, someone was definitely pushing all this behind the scenes.
This was the big picture.
Zooming in to this summer—
With the European Central Bank slashing interest rates again and again, loan rates kept dropping.
And really—who better to lend to than member-owned giants like Real Madrid and Barcelona?
No wonder banks like Santander were happy to give Florentino money to go shopping for stars.
In the end, football is often not just football—
Especially during times of economic recession.
Why else did French President Macron personally step in to keep Mbappé in Ligue 1?
"Did they say who they want to buy?" Yang Cheng asked.
Adam Crozier chuckled.
"Džeko, Yaya Touré, Pepe, and Maicon. They're all on his radar. But they didn't say much else."
Yang Cheng understood.
It was far too early for Florentino to tip his hand.
"So what did you say?"
"I told them—'We'll talk when the time comes.'"
Yang Cheng laughed out loud.
Good answer.
If Florentino didn't want to show his cards early, then there was no reason for Beisworth Chinese FC to be too eager either.
Out of those four names, the one Yang Cheng was considering selling was Maicon.
Partly because of his age—
If they renewed his contract now, it would essentially be a lifetime deal.
And the club likely couldn't meet his wage demands.
So why not sell while his value was still high?
The one Yang Cheng least wanted to sell was Pepe.
Given Beisworth Chinese FC's current strength and ambitions, having three top-level center-backs was non-negotiable.
José Fonte could only be a backup.
Plus, Pepe's leadership in the dressing room was invaluable.
Pepe, Thiago Silva, and Kompany—
They were Yang Cheng's dream defensive trio.
So, Yang Cheng Was Never Going to Back Down Easily
It was no secret that Beisworth Chinese FC needed to sell players to help finance the construction of their new stadium.
Plenty of Premier League clubs had their eyes on Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, but those two were completely off-limits for Yang Cheng.
Modrić, too, was untouchable.
In his mind, Yang Cheng had already evaluated the squad thoroughly and considered future signings.
He knew exactly how to keep the team competitive.
"Did they mention the upcoming match at all?" Yang Cheng asked.
Adam Crozier shook his head. "Florentino said he and his friends will be watching the game from a private box at the Bernabéu."
Yang Cheng burst out laughing.
"Alright then, let's play a great game and show Real Madrid's future president what we're made of!"
"He invites you to dinner—we'll return the favor with a grand gift!"
Adam Crozier understood immediately and laughed along. "Then what about the dinner Calderón and Mijatović invited me to tonight? Should I give them a little something too?"
In Europe, it was customary for the home team's executives to host the visiting team's management for dinner ahead of a big match. It was a football tradition.
...
February 25th, Evening — Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid
Champions League Round of 16, First Leg: Beisworth Chinese FC away to Real Madrid.
Before kickoff, both teams announced their starting lineups.
Real Madrid, unsurprisingly, stuck with Juande Ramos's preferred 4-4-2 formation:
Goalkeeper: Casillas
Defense: Heinze, Cannavaro, Metzelder, Sergio Ramos
Midfield: Robben, Gago, Lass Diarra, Higuaín
Forwards: Raúl and Huntelaar
Apart from the injured Skrtel, who was unavailable, this was the same core lineup that had powered Madrid's nine-game winning streak.
The players' positions hadn't changed much either.
The only real question was Robben and Higuaín's roles—
The Dutch winger sometimes played on the left, sometimes the right.
Higuaín occasionally pushed up front, allowing Raúl to drift wide.
Madrid's 4-4-2 wasn't a flat line—
It was more of a shallow dish shape, with wide players like Heinze, Ramos, Higuaín, and Robben positioned slightly ahead of the rest.
Raúl often dropped back to link up with the midfield, operating as more of a second striker.
With Huntelaar leading the line, Raúl had rediscovered his shadow striker role—
And with it, a career resurgence.
The downside? Madrid's central midfield looked a bit thin.
Still, in their last nine matches—against the likes of Valencia, Villarreal, and Deportivo—Madrid's midfield had held up fine.
Lass Diarra remained a rock in the middle.
But Yang Cheng had his reservations—
He felt Diarra held onto the ball a bit too long.
As the Frenchman grew into his role and earned more trust from teammates, that shift became apparent in his passing stats and dribbling habits.
Then again, this was a structural necessity in Ramos's 4-4-2.
With just two central midfielders, there was no room to divide into attacking and defensive roles unless using a diamond setup.
In a flat midfield pair, both needed to contribute in attack and defense—
Which meant Lass Diarra naturally got more touches and responsibilities.
Beisworth Chinese FC, on the other hand, stuck with their trusted 4-3-3:
Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defense: Leighton Baines, Thiago Silva, Pepe, Maicon
Midfield: Yaya Touré (deep), Matuidi, Modrić
Attack: Gareth Bale, Džeko, Walcott
Di María had played the full 90 minutes in the previous match and was rotated out.
Rakitić was fit, but Yang Cheng opted for Matuidi to bring extra stability to midfield.
After all, this was the Champions League knockout stage—
And in Yang Cheng's view, Matuidi would help the midfield stay compact and composed.
The French midfielder was also a solid passer, boasting a 90% completion rate.
Tactically, Yang Cheng expected Real Madrid to come out swinging.
So Beisworth Chinese FC's approach was to stabilize first and let Madrid come at them.
...
And sure enough, Madrid launched their attack immediately.
Just 24 seconds in, Higuaín cut inside from the left and fired a powerful right-footed shot—
It sailed just over the bar.
The first shot of the game.
As Yang Cheng had anticipated, Robben started on the right flank.
Beisworth Chinese FC restarted with a goal kick and tried to build an attack.
A minute later, Lass Diarra intercepted the ball near midfield, carried it forward, and quickly switched it to the right for Robben.
The Dutchman hugged the touchline, received the ball, and faced off against Leighton Baines.
With a quick feint, Robben deceived Baines and suddenly burst forward along the right wing.
He was clearly faster than Baines, especially while dribbling.
Cutting diagonally into the box from the right, Robben charged in.
Because his run didn't start from a dangerous position, Baines didn't foul.
But inside the box, Thiago Silva stepped up in time to defend.
Robben tried to beat him with a stop-and-go move and then curved a left-footed cross with the outside of his boot.
But Thiago Silva had read it perfectly—he blocked the cross.
Still, Robben had clearly tried to force a corner with that power—
And despite the block, the ball went out of bounds.
Corner kick.
To everyone's surprise, it was Robben himself who jogged over to take it from the right side.
All four of Madrid's defenders entered the box.
From the touchline, Yang Cheng shouted instructions, raising four fingers—
Telling his players to watch number 4—Sergio Ramos.
This guy was a goal-scoring defender, a "knife-wielding bodyguard" as they called him.
Truth be told, Ramos, Cannavaro, Metzelder, and Heinze all had solid heading ability.
And with Huntelaar, Higuaín, and Raúl added in, Madrid's set-piece threat was very real.
Just after Yang Cheng's warning, the Italian referee Roberto Rosetti blew his whistle.
Robben took a fast run-up and curled in a left-footed cross.
The ball spun through the air and dropped near the far edge of the six-yard box.
Amid the chaos, somehow—
No one picked up Ramos.
Number 4 sprinted into the left side of the six-yard box, leapt high, and met Robben's cross with a thunderous header.
Goal. 1–0.
The entire Bernabéu exploded.
72,000 Real Madrid fans erupted with deafening roars.
At that moment, the match clock had just ticked past the 2-minute mark.
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