Chapter 100 Developing Taylor Swift? Weekly Salary Beyond Ronaldo?

The 2015 Champions League final turned out exactly as Su Luo had expected. Juventus couldn't withstand Barcelona's unstoppable offensive combination. Barcelona eliminated Premier League champions Manchester City, Ligue 1 champions Paris, last season's Bundesliga champions Bayern, and finally defeated Serie A champions Juventus, clinching the treble and achieving ultimate glory!

To be honest, the gap in strength between Juventus and Barcelona wasn't huge. After conceding a goal in the first half, Juventus made a comeback in the second half. Morata's goal boosted Juve's morale, and Barça struggled through the next 15 minutes. Pirlo's shot, Tevez's effort, Pogba's strike from outside the penalty area, and suspected fouls in the penalty area gave Juventus three consecutive opportunities to overtake.

Fortunately for Barcelona, Pique had the brightest moment of his career, helping the team withstand Juventus' attacks at the most critical times. At crucial moments, superstars make the difference. Messi, the hot man, stepped up! He tore apart Juventus' steel defenses with his personal skills. Buffon tried his best and saved Messi's shot, but Suárez's follow-up shot left Buffon desperate. The balance of victory began to tilt.

In the last minute, Pique fought for the top point, passing to Messi, who gave the ball to Neymar. Neymar and Suárez played a one-two, and Neymar's low shot sealed the victory! The former king of Europe once again ruled the world! Messi, Suárez, and Neymar showed their worth. Stars dominate regular games, but superstars play the most critical roles in decisive battles!

The atmosphere at the Berlin Olympic Stadium was electric, with everyone cheering for Barcelona, ​​who had clinched the treble. Su Luo watched Messi holding the championship trophy on the field, feeling a mix of emotions.

"Su, what's the matter?" Taylor asked, concerned, holding his hand.

"It's nothing. I just want to stand there too," Su Luo admitted.

"You can do it for sure!" Taylor cheered him on. Although she didn't know much about football, she believed in Su Luo's talent. She thought he was better than Curry, Duncan, Anthony, Irving, and other stars, and almost equal to Kobe and James. Taylor firmly believed that within five years, Su Luo's status in the football world would be comparable to Michael Jordan, maybe even better!

"Su, let's go back to the hotel," Taylor said, suddenly excited.

"Eh? Why the hurry?"

"Tomorrow is your birthday. I want to give you a birthday present that will ensure your satisfaction."

Before Su Luo could react, Taylor pulled him along. Barcelona's championship award ceremony meant nothing compared to spending time with Taylor. Su Luo was curious about her so-called birthday present.

"Luo, did you stay up late watching the game last night? You look tired," Josephine said the next day, pushing aside all her plans to spend Su Luo's 18th birthday with him in Berlin.

"It's nothing. Watching Barcelona win the championship kept me up," Su Luo lied, the real reason being Taylor Swift's "birthday gift." As a professional player, Su Luo had almost been overwhelmed by it. Compared to Taylor, Josephine was indeed simpler and more conservative, but Su Luo could sense the passion hidden beneath her calm exterior. Maybe in the future, there would be more surprises from her.

"What are you thinking about? There's something odd in your eyes," Josephine teased.

"Let's go home," Su Luo said, suddenly energized.

"Eh? Aren't you tired?" Josephine was surprised at Su Luo's sudden revival.

While Su Luo enjoyed his vacation, Union Berlin wasn't idle. They had won the Bundesliga double, making them a target for many clubs. Whether it was Porto, 2012 Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, or 2016 Premier League champions Leicester City, non-rich teams always faced the fate of having their players poached.

Even before the season ended, Union Berlin's fax machine was already busy with offers. Liverpool made a £45 million bid for Naby Keita, Bayern offered €15 million for Sabitzer, Tottenham bid £20 million for Terry Peel, Leverkusen offered €18 million for Forsberg, and Borussia Mönchengladbach bid €10 million for Quinin. Glarish, besides Su Luo, was also highly sought after by Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris, and Milan. Paris even bid €55 million!

With so many transfer applications, coach Neuhaus was in a difficult position. The team was starting to gel, and breaking it up now would be a shame. The club didn't want the players to leave, but other clubs might contact the players privately, tempting them with high-priced contracts. Union Berlin's salary level was low compared to other Bundesliga teams, and raising wages would strain their finances. With the Champions League broadcast share next season, they could give the players a slight raise.

This is the tragedy of a small team. Wealthy clubs can offer high salaries to retain players, while small teams can only watch their stars leave.

Transfer applications for Su Luo never stopped coming. Media rumors about his transfer continued to circulate.

"Real Madrid bid for Su Luo for the third time; the rising star's value increases 53 times in one year!"

"German transfer market: Su Luo's worth exceeds 100 million euros."

"Manchester City offers 120 million! Determined to poach the Chinese forward!"

"Barcelona joins the battle for Su Luo; will he succeed Messi?"

"PSG promises to build a team around Su Luo with a free salary."

"Buffon: I hope to become teammates with Su Luo next season and aim for the Champions League again!"

Rooney claims Su Luo is Manchester United's hope for revival.

The amazing striker, who scored 60 goals in a single Bundesliga season, has gained fame across Europe and become the star many giants compete for.

Raiola couldn't help but ask Su Luo again, "Are you sure you don't want to consider it? Real Madrid is offering a weekly salary of 700,000 euros, the same as Ronaldo."

Su Luo knew Raiola was referring to Cristiano Ronaldo. If Su Luo hadn't made his millions in Brazil, he might still be struggling now. But at this point, money wasn't his primary concern. Transferring to Real Madrid would mean playing in Ronaldo's shadow.

"No, you can handle it," Su Luo replied.

"Alright, I won't ask you again this year. Next year, we can discuss transfers... Oh, by the way," Raiola added, just before hanging up, "I wanted to sign you an endorsement deal with Adidas, but a national brand from your country offered 15 million dollars a year, which is more than Adidas' 12 million. Plus, there are bonuses for winning major championships."

After some discussion, Su Luo clearly felt the sincerity of the national brand. While Adidas and Nike were the most popular sports brands worldwide, a series of events had tarnished their reputation. National brands like Li Ning, Erke, and the one Raiola mentioned had become popular among young people, partly due to how foreign brands handled issues related to China.

Su Luo decided, "Just go ahead with the national brand. I'll leave it to you."

"Got it. You've been tired for the whole season, so I won't arrange any work for you. Enjoy your vacation," Raiola said. As a top agent, Raiola knew how to care for his players.

Just after hanging up with Raiola, Grealish called.

"Su, I need your advice. I don't know who else to talk to about this."

"What's wrong?" Su Luo asked, feeling a bit uneasy.

"Scouts from Manchester City approached my agent. They plan to poach me."

"And what do you think?" Su Luo inquired.

"I... I still prefer playing in England. Germany is great, but it always feels a bit out of place for me," Grealish admitted, somewhat embarrassed. Su Luo had previously hoped they could fight side by side in the Champions League. This "nightclub duo" was Union Berlin's sharpest weapon this season. But Grealish had his own considerations. In the first half of the season, his flashy playing style wasn't appreciated by the head coach, and he spent a lot of time on the bench. If Su Luo hadn't taken him out to nightclubs, it might have been hard for Grealish to integrate into the team and he might have left dejectedly.

Now, besides Su Luo, Grealish had become the most dazzling new star in the Bundesliga. He was grateful to the team and to Su Luo, but his heart was set on playing for an English giant. Last season's Premier League champion, Manchester City, definitely had the potential to achieve great things. The most important factor was the starting salary: 200,000 pounds, ten times what he was earning now! Manchester City also promised a main rotation position. After clearing out Negredo, Dzeko, and Jovetic, Grealish's status would only be second to David Silva and Aguero.

"Have you made up your mind?" Su Luo asked.

"Yes, I'm... sorry," Grealish's tone dropped.

"It's okay," Su Luo smiled lightly. "Professional players go through this; you haven't betrayed the club."

"Thank you, Su, for understanding," Grealish said gratefully. He had felt guilty, thinking he was betraying Su Luo and the team. Now, his burden was lifted.

"Hey, don't thank me yet. If we meet in the Champions League next season, I won't show mercy," Su Luo warned playfully.

"Ah, you..." Grealish felt a bit anxious, knowing how terrifying Su Luo could be when serious.

"Well, I hope we can have a good match as opponents!" Grealish said.

After hanging up, Su Luo couldn't help but smile wryly. Before the new season even started, the team had lost a key player. With fights on three fronts next season, it was time for the team to bring in some new blood.

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