Wu Di looked at Han Songlin in surprise: 'Mr. Han, do you know about European football clubs?'
'I know a bit!'
Han Songlin was quite into football for a few years, but because the national team wasn't doing well, he lost much of his enthusiasm and ended up preferring to watch e-sports competitions.
Moreover, there is so much information on the internet that we take for granted; in this day and age, that is absolutely advanced technology and experience.
It is fashionable these days to go abroad for study trips.
In the eyes of many people, going abroad for a study trip is just a paid vacation. That's not the case anymore. Nowadays, people really go abroad for study trips.
'Can you tell us more about it? To be honest, we are also feeling our way across the river when it comes to professional football!'
Han Songlin talking about professional football?
This is not Han Songlin talking nonsense.
He knows nothing about professional football.
But at this time, he cannot say no, so he has to pluck up his courage and say a few words.
Han Songlin clears his throat twice and says, 'I will talk about what I understand about football clubs, and I hope it will be of some benefit to the development of football in China.'
Everyone looked at Han Songlin seriously. In those years, when cultural and entertainment life was lacking, going to watch a football match was something that many people were interested in.
CCTV began broadcasting Serie A matches in 1987, and football officially entered people's lives.
Countless people had been waiting with bated breath for China's own professional league to be officially established.
As for whether it could be done well?
People nowadays don't really have a strong concept of it.
They just feel that they should get it started first and then cross the river by feeling for the stones.
I have to say that people in this era are braver than people in the future.
The saying, 'naked feet are not afraid of shoes,' is the best commentary on the whole era!
'European football clubs generally have first teams, reserve teams, youth teams, and echelons of various ages, such as U19, U18, and all the way to U14. The training of football players there is not done by the state, but by the football clubs. They have special youth training, special youth training coaches, and so on.'
'Small and medium-sized clubs generally aim to train football players and then balance the club's books by selling the players.'
'Small teams definitely can't keep good players because the big teams, like AC Milan and Inter Milan, are the big teams. They have money and fame, and all the players want to join them. Because joining a big team means not only financial gains for the players, but also glory. Because the big teams are strong, they are strong contenders for the championship.'
'Basically, football clubs around the world are not profitable. It's already pretty impressive if they can keep the club from losing money. But why do they still want to do football in Europe even if they lose money?'
'It's very simple: the influence of football! Football is the world's number one sport, and no other sport can match its influence. If I invest in football, I won't expect too much from the team's performance. First, I must ensure that the team stays in the top league. Because only by staying in the top league can I get my company huge exposure across the country.'
'To put it bluntly, I use football as a platform for advertising. In the future, if I need more exposure, then I will invest more money to make the team champions. In this world, only champions are remembered.'
Han Songlin is in a better frame of mind now. If he can invest, he will give it a try; he will see if he can influence the trajectory of Chinese football since its professionalisation.
If he can't invest, Han Songlin is not going to invest in football in the future.
Anyway, Han Songlin has been reborn for more than a year, and he hasn't watched a single football match. How much does he love football? Not really.
'Chairman Wu, President Wang, if you really want me to run a football club, I hope that from the very beginning, we will do it according to the rules of real professional football.'
'First of all, regarding the players, I hope that we can buy them out directly from the academy. I can pay a buyout fee as a training fee for the academy.'
'In the future, the players will have no connection with the academy. Of course, the players will have no connection with the academy, but the club will continue to cooperate with the academy. This cooperation is mainly about sports science research. How can athletes run faster, what food should athletes eat to maintain their condition, and how should athletes train in the most scientific way. Every year, the club can sponsor a fee to the academy to conduct research in this area.'
Wang Qing was quite interested when he heard Han Songlin talk about cooperation. These studies are not only useful for football, but also for other sports.
'I also hope to cooperate with the Football Association to establish football youth training bases in cities and counties in Shuchuan. We can also organise amateur football competitions in the province and so on. For example, organise a city cup football competition.'
Wu Di was also very interested when he heard Han Songlin's words. To be honest, Wu Di is an official, and what he needs is political achievements.
Zhou Youwei sat there without saying a word, thinking to himself that it seemed like the city cup football tournament could be organised.
'In addition, we can also organise football tournaments represented by schools. Players who perform well in the tournament can be absorbed by the team and try their luck as professional players. This is a way of selecting football reserves.'
Wang Qing came back to his senses and had to ask, 'If you buy the athletes, how much will you pay?'
'I'll give the academy 20 million in cash!'
20 million in cash!
That's a big move!
It was enough to leave them dumbfounded.
Are players really worth that much? Obviously not, but why did Han Songlin do it?
This was no longer a matter for Wang Qing and Wu Di to decide.
They had to report back to their superiors.
'Mr Han, we will let you know as soon as we hear anything. To be honest, we think what you said is pretty good,'
Han Songlin and Wu Di, Wang Qing and the others shook hands and said goodbye: 'Then, I'll wait for your news.'
Zhou Youwei looked at Han Songlin with an inexplicable expression on his face: "You've really decided to get into football?'
Han Songlin wore a characteristic smile on his face: "Not yet. Congratulations to Zhou County, you've removed the word "vice"!'
Zhou Youwei waved his hand, subconsciously looked around to make sure no one had heard Han Songlin's words; then he whispered, 'Don't speak so loudly, it's not good if someone hears you.'
The matter had been settled, and Zhou Youwei had been made permanent.
As for Chen Yinghua?
He's gone to Yanghe.
Sometimes, to be honest, it's really hard to tell if a misfortune is a blessing in disguise.
Han Songlin hadn't met Chen Yinghua, but he felt that Chen Yinghua was really lucky.
Yanghe was going to be upgraded to a city, and once that happened, it would be a great opportunity for the current leaders.
'Oh, it's been announced already!' Han Songlin doesn't seem to mind. The news has now become public.
The information from the street organisation department is always quite accurate.
If there is any wind blowing or grass moving, some people really know about it before anyone else.
Zhou Youwei wants to keep a low profile: "The organisation hasn't announced it yet, anything could happen!'
Han Songlin: "Let's have dinner tonight?'
'I can't tonight, I promised the kids I'd be home for dinner!'
Han Songlin looked at Zhou Youwei in surprise. People who can focus on their families are generally not bad.
'Family is most important, so let's meet again when we have time.'
After saying that, Han Songlin was about to leave.
'You haven't said whether you really want to invest in football or not.'
'See, if you can agree to my conditions, it's not impossible. If you really invest, the team will be called Shuchuan Fule in the future.'
'Shu Chuan Fu Le!' Zhou Youwei repeated, and it was quite a catchy name.