Chapter 410: Ronaldo's Talks with Real Madrid Fail, Real Madrid Pursues Lin Quan, Manchester City Gets Anxious
Mendes wasn't very supportive of Ronaldo's desire to leave Real Madrid. He knew that staying at Real Madrid, with its influence and powerful publicity machinery, was crucial for maintaining Ronaldo's status and impact in the football world. If Ronaldo fell out with Real Madrid and left, his influence would significantly diminish. Without Real Madrid's backing, winning the Ballon d'Or would become much harder.
Moreover, for a superstar like Ronaldo, there weren't many suitable clubs. Moving to a new team at his age and having to adapt was highly risky. If the gamble failed, the consequences could be disastrous. Thus, Mendes tried to calm Ronaldo down and discourage him from making impulsive decisions. However, the more Mendes advised caution, the more agitated Ronaldo became. He felt that Mendes was only concerned about his business empire and not about Ronaldo's interests, which made Ronaldo very unhappy.
"Enough, I don't want to hear this anymore. Either find me a suitable club or make Real Madrid accept my terms. Don't talk about anything else!" Ronaldo commanded, showing no respect for Mendes.
Mendes was taken aback and looked at Ronaldo with a complex expression. Their partnership had lasted 13 years. When Mendes discovered Ronaldo, he wasn't nearly as famous as he is now. Mendes used his business acumen and connections in football to recommend Ronaldo to Ferguson, helping him join Manchester United, and then used United as a springboard for a world-record transfer to Real Madrid. Ronaldo's success owed a lot to Mendes' efforts.
But now, their relationship had deteriorated to this extent, leaving Mendes feeling bitter. Indeed, the wings have grown strong, and it's time to fly solo.
"Alright, I'll go talk to Florentino," Mendes said with a bitter smile, leaving Ronaldo's residence and booking the next flight to Madrid.
In Florentino Perez's office, the Real Madrid president wasn't surprised by Mendes' visit. News from the club indicated that Ronaldo was again demanding a pay raise, which made Florentino quite displeased. Ronaldo's salary was already high, at 17 million euros after tax, second only to Manchester City's Lin Quan. Although there were rumors about Barcelona planning to raise Messi's salary, these were just speculations for now. Real Madrid could act once Barcelona officially increased Messi's wages.
Florentino refused Mendes' request for a salary increase for Ronaldo. "Jorge, Ronaldo has contributed greatly to Real Madrid, helping us win a La Liga title. But you understand our salary structure. If we raise Ronaldo's salary, do we also raise Modric's, Benzema's, and Bale's?"
Mendes couldn't help but smile bitterly. Ronaldo had only helped Real Madrid win one La Liga title in six years. Did that count as significant contributions? It felt more like a subtle mockery. The salary structure was indeed a problem, but with Casillas leaving, there were few players in the team with more seniority than Ronaldo. Modric and Benzema weren't as strong as Ronaldo and couldn't be compared to him. Bale, although talented, didn't have Ronaldo's seniority. So, this was just an excuse; Florentino clearly didn't want to give Ronaldo a raise.
"President, Cristiano is highly competitive, and like Real Madrid, he yearns for honors. However, the club's repeated failures in the Champions League are frustrating. Since he joined, the team has had three different coaches, yet the Champions League remains elusive. Cristiano is already 30 and hopes to fulfill his dream before retiring. I hope you can give him that opportunity," Mendes said politely. He had many players at Real Madrid and couldn't afford to offend the president over Ronaldo's issue.
Mendes implied that keeping Ronaldo was simple: either give him a raise or strengthen the squad to show Ronaldo that staying could lead to winning the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or. If Florentino could do either, Mendes could persuade Ronaldo. Otherwise, he'd be in a tough spot, as Ronaldo wasn't someone who could be easily manipulated. If Mendes failed to meet Ronaldo's demands, he might replace him, even though Mendes was the top agent in football.
"Well, if he wants to leave, we won't stand in his way. As long as the buyer can pay the buyout clause," Florentino said with a smile, unfazed by Mendes' implied threat. Ronaldo was indeed talented and crucial for Real Madrid, but the club's strength wouldn't be severely impacted if he left. If they could sign a certain someone, Real Madrid might even become stronger. This confidence allowed Florentino to remain indifferent.
This summer, Real Madrid planned to join the race to sign Lin Quan. Considering the high transfer fee required and the need to make room for him, Florentino was prepared for significant changes.
If Real Madrid manages to sign Lin Quan, it's almost certain that Ronaldo will have to leave. A few years ago, Florentino Pérez entertained the idea of having Lin Quan play as Ronaldo's assistant, but now, after Lin Quan has proven his abilities on various stages, Pérez has completely abandoned that notion. While it won't be stated publicly, Pérez believes Lin Quan is far superior to Ronaldo. If Manchester City were willing to trade, Pérez would have sent Ronaldo their way long ago.
Although Ronaldo isn't as strong as Lin Quan, he is still one of the top three players in the world. At 30 years old, he's not too old to transfer, and selling him now could fetch over 150 million euros. With that money, Real Madrid would have plenty of funds to purchase Lin Quan.
Pérez had also considered the possibility of Lin Quan not joining and Ronaldo leaving. In that case, Real Madrid's performance might not change much, as they haven't won major titles recently even with Ronaldo. The team is undergoing a rebuild after sacking Ancelotti and promoting Zidane, so there won't be high expectations for immediate success.
This assurance allows Pérez to dismiss Mendes' threats. Hearing Pérez's words, Mendes sighed. The negotiations had clearly failed. With Messi and Lin Quan each having at least two Champions League titles, Ronaldo's single title makes his departure from Real Madrid almost certain in pursuit of more championships.
Meanwhile, at Manchester City, rumors about Lin Quan's potential transfer were causing some anxiety. "Our contract with Lin Quan only has three years left. Isn't that too short?" someone pointed out. "It is a bit short. Three years will fly by. We should renew for five more years, extending it to 2020."
Lin Quan's contract, signed in summer 2013, is a five-year deal expiring in summer 2018. Clubs typically renew key players' contracts well before they expire, sometimes a year or two in advance. But wanting to start negotiations three years early was unusual.
The club leadership supported the idea of renewing Lin Quan's contract early, but there was a concern. "Wouldn't renewing early mean we have to give him a raise?" The room fell silent. Lin Quan already had the highest salary in the Premier League and all of football, at £20 million annually, or £400,000 per week.
Normally, when a club initiates a contract renewal, it includes a raise. Even a 10% raise for Lin Quan would be a significant financial commitment. Moreover, just a 10% increase might seem insincere, and the player might reject it or become unhappy, which would be counterproductive.
After several days of discussions, the club's higher-ups were still undecided. Eventually, Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak went to Abu Dhabi to discuss the matter with the owner, Sheikh Mansour. Following this meeting, a decision was made.
Manchester City planned to offer Lin Quan a new contract worth £250 million over five years, extending to June 30, 2020. The new contract would raise Lin Quan's annual salary to £25 million. Additionally, he would receive a £125 million loyalty bonus, distributed over the contract period as £15 million, £20 million, £25 million, £30 million, and £35 million each year.
If Lin Quan signed this contract, he would maintain his position as the highest-paid player in football. Even if Barcelona offered Messi a record-breaking contract, Messi's salary would still be £5 million less than Lin Quan's. Lin Quan would set a new record, becoming the first football player with an annual salary in the €30 million range. Including loyalty bonuses, his earnings would surpass the total salaries of many entire teams in major leagues.
Confident after securing the owner's approval, Manchester City approached Lin Quan's agent, Pere, to start negotiations. Pere was stunned by the club's offer. The Premier League's top spender was indeed living up to its reputation. If he were Lin Quan, he would sign the contract immediately. However, as an agent, Pere had to discuss it with Lin Quan first.
"Why are they in such a hurry? The contract still has three years left," Lin Quan remarked, almost blinded by the string of digits on the contract. But now, unlike a few years ago when he had to rely on bonuses from Barcelona, Lin Quan was wealthy, having amassed over €300 million from his Manchester City signing bonus, high salary, and sponsorship deals. Including his investments in internet ventures and Bitcoin, his net worth could exceed €1 billion.
For him, money was now just numbers. He was more interested in understanding the reason behind Manchester City's urgency. "It's likely the transfer rumors have made them anxious. They want to secure your commitment early to prevent any possibility of you leaving," Pere speculated.
Lin Quan agreed this was the most likely explanation. However, he wasn't keen on committing to such a long contract with Manchester City. He didn't like Manchester's weather, just like other Spanish players who had left. Moreover, he found British food unappealing, growing more disdainful the longer he stayed.
Staying with one team for too long, after winning all possible honors, could lead to complacency and boredom. Lin Quan instructed Pere to stall Manchester City's renewal discussions, giving him time to think things over. In the meantime, he didn't want his vacation disturbed. With the European Championship coming next year, he wanted to enjoy a rare period of relaxation.
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