Ferguson Clenches His Fist
In a house in Manchester, former Manchester United manager Ferguson saw Lin holding up the No. 10 jersey, symbolizing the team's core, on TV.
Ferguson clenched his fist slightly:
Manchester City got rid of Džeko so quickly?
It wasn't just to give this kid the No. 10 jersey but also to show the club's attitude—Manchester City will spare no effort to support him as the team's leader!
This is not good news for Manchester United.
Manchester City's poor performance in the past was mainly due to buying too many players with similar strengths, lacking a clear team core.
Offensively, David Silva, Tevez, Džeko, Agüero, and Nasri had similar abilities.
It was hard to establish any one of them as the core of the attack.
Two seasons ago, Tevez had a chance, but his transfer drama ruined his future at Manchester City.
None of the remaining players could outshine their teammates.
But with Lin, everything is different.
With him leading the attack, his teammates have to step aside.
From Ferguson's perspective, Lin's ability was clearly above the rest of Manchester City's forwards.
However, being talented doesn't guarantee becoming the core—Lin is too young!
A seventeen-and-a-half-year-old, not yet eighteen, who hasn't achieved anything in the Premier League.
Can he really lead the team's attack? Will his teammates accept this?
Of course not!
But now, Manchester City publicly supports him, even sending away their top scorer to promote him.
With the club's backing, it will be easy for Lin to become the core at Manchester City.
Even if teammates are unhappy, they'll keep quiet, fearing to end up like Džeko.
If Manchester City quickly establishes Lin as their attack leader, reducing internal conflicts, their star players' abilities will shine on the field.
And this is bad news for other Premier League teams, especially Manchester United.
From Ferguson's professional perspective, without Lin, Manchester City's best candidate for core would be their midfielder Yaya Touré.
Touré is a versatile box-to-box midfielder with great stamina, defensive skills, and offensive ability. He's a strong individual player.
But Manchester City hasn't utilized him well, wasting his talent.
If Ferguson coached Manchester City, Touré's role would be as crucial as Lampard's at Chelsea.
With Touré and Kompany in defense, Manchester City's defensive strength shouldn't be this weak.
Ferguson couldn't help but admire, despite Manchester City's poor performance, how wealthy they were!
They bought many players, wasting money on some but acquiring some excellent ones.
Agüero, Silva, Touré, Kompany.
These were players Ferguson envied.
And now, they have Lin...
Ferguson felt too envious to speak.
Thinking about how Manchester United's owner focused only on profit, keeping the team in debt, and contrasting it with Manchester City's lavish spending, Ferguson could only sigh.
...
Ferguson's longtime rival, Wenger, was also watching the broadcast at home.
Seeing Lin holding the No. 10 Manchester City jersey, Wenger sighed repeatedly:
Such a talented young player!
So young, with so much potential, and already so strong.
The best part is, signing him cost no transfer fee!
No transfer fee!
No transfer fee!
Important things need to be emphasized three times!
Getting a player for free has always been Wenger's dream, given Arsenal's financial constraints.
But why didn't such a good player come to Arsenal?
What's worse, the richest club, a Middle Eastern tycoon, signed him.
Thinking about how Manchester City, the wealthiest club, got such a talented player for free, Wenger felt incredibly frustrated:
It's really a case of drought for some and flooding for others!
...
In front of 50,000 fans and hundreds of reporters at Etihad Stadium, Mansour spoke happily:
"Thank you, fans and journalists, for coming.
"Manchester City is a club with over 100 years of history.
"Although we don't have many trophies, we have the ambition to improve and become stronger.
"Next year marks Manchester City's 120th anniversary. I am honored to announce that, after relentless efforts by our staff, we have successfully signed last season's Bundesliga best player and the 2013 Confederations Cup best player, Lin.
"From today, Lin is part of our team."
After speaking, Mansour turned to Lin:
"Lin, from today, Manchester City is your home. Welcome to Manchester!"
The audience erupted in applause, the fans demonstrating their agreement with the club owner's words.
After hearing Mansour's speech and seeing the enthusiastic applause, Lin smiled, feeling the warmth of Manchester City's fans.
Mansour raised his hand to quiet the audience.
Then he stepped aside, signaling Lin to come forward and speak.
Lin nodded and walked up to the podium.
Before he even spoke, the audience burst into applause again.
Moved by the fans' enthusiasm, Lin waved his right hand in greeting.
When the applause and cheers subsided, Lin carefully chose his words and spoke:
"Some say I came to Manchester City for the money. I admit the salary is attractive."
The fans laughed knowingly, some proudly puffing out their chests.
Manchester City has money, and they won't treat you badly if you come.
"When I passed the trophy room earlier, Mr. Mansour told me it's empty, with only a few trophies.
"I hope my arrival will help fill that room with more trophies.
"I want to tell you that I, like other Manchester City players, am not just here for the money!
"We will give everything to win more honors for the club, like a second Premier League title and our first Champions League trophy!"
Lin's words excited the fans. They didn't know how much was bravado, but his bold words gave them hope and showed his determination.
They erupted into applause again.
Mansour, standing nearby, also smiled at Lin's words.
He understood the implication:
Lin won't leave Manchester City until they win the Champions League!
With this promise, Mansour was reassured!
...
"Hmph, do you think you can win the Champions League with just one player and a bunch of mercenaries?"
In Chelsea's coach office, Mourinho sneered after hearing Lin's declaration.
The Premier League isn't the Bundesliga. Its competition is fierce, only understood by those who have experienced it.
In such intense competition, Premier League teams struggle to perform in the Champions League, explaining their poor European performance recently.
To win the Champions League, become a true Premier League powerhouse first!
Currently, Manchester City is just a nouveau riche.
Their league performance isn't stable, so how can they talk about the Champions League?
Isn't it laughable?
Although Lin's arrival will significantly strengthen Manchester City, it's not enough to win the league.
Especially since they've been knocked out of the Champions League group stage twice, they haven't faced any strong teams. How can they win?
Mourinho indeed had the right to look down on Manchester City, holding two Champions League titles.
He was also the first manager in the new century to win the Champions League with a non-top-five league team.
However, even Mourinho hadn't won the Champions League for three years, with his team not even reaching the finals.
Winning the Champions League is tough. If Manchester City's mercenaries succeed easily, how would Mourinho feel?
...
In a Manchester mansion, Argentine forward Agüero was also watching the broadcast.
Lin's arrival put significant pressure on Manchester City's forwards.
Fortunately, Lin wasn't a center forward. With Džeko traded, Agüero's position seemed secure.
Hearing Lin's words, "We are not just mercenaries here for the money," Agüero felt touched.
Playing at Manchester City meant earning a lot but also facing great pressure.
If they didn't perform well, outsiders would label them as mercenaries without honor or effort.
These criticisms felt unfair.
But their rebuttals and protests were ignored, only inviting more ridicule:
"You earn so much and perform so poorly. Have some shame!"
Eventually, players stopped protesting, silently bearing the insults.
But today, the new guy made such bold statements!
He aimed for the Champions League trophy!
Agüero admired his courage. He wouldn't dare say such things, fearing ridicule if he failed!
But without dreams, what's the point of living?
If you don't even dare to dream, what's the point of being alive?
Thinking this, Agüero leaped off the couch.
I can't stay depressed. If I continue like this, am I not even as good as a seventeen-year-old kid?
If he has the ambition to win the Champions League, why can't I?
Agüero turned off the TV, put on his training clothes, and grabbed his soccer ball to train!
Lin's speech inspired many Manchester City players. David Silva messaged him:
"Lin, your speech was great! Let's strive for the Champions League this season!"
...
Of course, not everyone was moved by Lin's speech.
Some weren't impressed, like Manchester City's troublemaker, Tevez.
After watching Lin's ceremony, Tevez decided he had no future at Manchester City and had his agent request a transfer.
Tevez was once Manchester City's top player, with more skill and fame than Džeko.
But his repeated transfer requests and even strikes against the club exhausted Manchester City's patience.
Over the past two seasons, Tevez's appearances drastically decreased.
His goals dropped from 20+ a season, a Golden Boot level, to just four in a season, a terrible performance.
This worsened his relationship with Manchester City, and his heart was no longer with the club.
If Lin hadn't joined, Tevez might have performed well for next year's World Cup, aiming for national team selection.
But with Lin's arrival and his troublemaking nature,
Tevez had no chance at Manchester City.
Next year's World Cup is crucial, and Argentina's forward competition is fierce.
If Tevez stayed, he'd likely miss the World Cup.
He hoped to find a club guaranteeing him playing time while still at his peak.
Given his skill and fame, he wouldn't struggle to find a team, as long as Manchester City didn't set high transfer barriers.
Al Mubarak wasn't as kind to Tevez as he was to Džeko.
Manchester City wasn't a top club, just a nouveau riche.
But even so, they had their dignity.
Tevez earned the highest salary at Manchester City yet repeatedly wanted to leave, belittling the club and even striking against them.
This was a slap in the face. Could Manchester City tolerate it?
No way!
Previously, Manchester City consistently refused Tevez's transfer requests.
They'd rather forgo the transfer fee and continue paying Tevez's high salary than let him leave.
But now, Al Mubarak didn't want a troublemaker in the dressing room.
Keeping Tevez did no good for Manchester City; he didn't want anyone destabilizing the team.
So, he told Tevez's agent that if someone offered €15 million, Manchester City would let Tevez go.
Given Tevez's skill and fame, this wasn't a high transfer fee.
But with only a year left on his contract, €15 million was steep.
"If you don't accept, stay at Manchester City. We can still afford Tevez's salary."
Seeing their firm stance, Tevez's agent had to discuss with him.
They had already contacted Juventus, who offered €12 million. They wouldn't go higher.
Desperate to leave, Tevez had to pay €3 million out of pocket to cover the transfer gap.
Once the money was settled, Manchester City didn't make things difficult and let him go.
With Džeko and Tevez's transfers, Manchester City wasn't just buying but also recovering €35 million.
After Lin joined, Manchester City quickly cleared out two forwards.
Both were skilled players who could easily find new clubs in top leagues.
After establishing Lin as the team's new core, Manchester City's intention to pave the way for him was clear.