Chapter 3 Rome's Nemesis

When Lotito received a call from Chang Sheng hoping to have an interview, he was overjoyed.

Early the next morning, he went to Chang Sheng's apartment in person and had a four-hour interview with Chang Sheng.

During these four hours, Lotito explained to Chang Sheng his short-term, medium-term and long-term plans.

The short-term plan is to get the Lazio club out of the current crisis that may go bankrupt at any time. The medium-term plan is to restore Lazio to life and become a competitive team in Serie A. The long-term plan is naturally to regain the championship and become a European team. A championship-contested team.

Combining his prediction of the future, Chang Sheng thought that if all goes well, Lotito should be able to complete his short-term goal by the end of March next year.

Because at that time, Lotito will reach an agreement with the Italian tax authorities after difficult negotiations, and it will be approved by the Consultative Committee of the Import Administration. According to this agreement, the Italian treasury waived the sanctions on Lazio and only charged 2.5% interest, which is equivalent to reducing Lazio's debt by another 33 million euros from 157 million euros. It has become 124 million euros, and the 124 million euros will be repaid in the next 23 years, and only 6 million euros need to be paid each year. However, as a price, the Lazio club must mortgage their Formello training base, as well as part of their future income and sponsorship fees.

With 6 million a year, Chang Sheng feels that if Lazio can steadily enter the Champions League qualifiers every year, it can be done relatively easily.

As for mid-term and long-term plans, Chang Sheng believes that as long as he has himself, everything is possible.

Lotito seemed pleased with Chang Sheng's confidence.

Of course, what makes him most happy is the team building policy given by Chang Sheng.

Lazio has no money now, so the winning strategy is to buy those who are not yet famous first. But practical players, because they are cheap, and their salary requirements are often not too high, so that they will not increase the burden on Lazio.

Secondly, Chang Sheng also stated that Lazio can sell some players to cash out for the start-up funds of the event transfer.

Both were very much to Lotito's liking. Because Lotito's approach to managing Lazio is very consistent with Changsheng's ideas.

As for which players to sell, Chang Sheng didn't say, and Lotito didn't ask.

Of course, Chang Sheng also said to Lotito that when Lazio develops, it must have big stars to join, and you can't always buy those young players.

Just as he poached Ronaldinho at Valencia, who turned out to be crucial in the Champions League final.

Lotito nodded in agreement. no problem.

Lotito plans to have a long-term cooperation with Chang Sheng this time, and ask Chang Sheng to come up with a long-term plan.

Chang Sheng also really wants to have a long-term plan.

Because his ability to predict the future is most suitable for long-term planning, the players he has worked so hard to cultivate, he also hopes that he can use them for as long as possible...

The two sides talked for four hours, and finally finalized Changsheng's willingness to join Lazio.

Lotito said that the two parties can sign the contract tomorrow and hold a press conference the day after tomorrow.

Lotito is very aware of the grievances between Chang Sheng and Roma, out of the position that he is also the chairman of Roma's rival club. He said that this press conference can be used to disgust Rome.

Chang Sheng couldn't help laughing, never seen such an interesting club chairman!

He almost said yes, but suddenly he thought of someone. Lotito was prevented from doing so.

It was a name that popped into his head completely out of the blue, something he had never thought of before. But at this moment, it suddenly popped out.

That name was David Silva.

He remembered that David Silva was in the Valencia team.

In fact, when he was still coaching in Valencia, he had already observed David Silva.

It is indeed the David Silva of later generations.

But at that time, the wife was still too young and immature in all aspects. Compared with Reyes, there is still a big gap, and besides, there is no shortage of people on the wing. There are Ronaldinho, Vicente, Reyes, Angulo, and there is no David Silva. Location.

Therefore, Changsheng has never interfered with Silva's development, allowing him to develop freely in the Valencia youth team. It didn't exert any influence on him. Based on his understanding of Silva, he knows that even if he doesn't do anything, Silva can grow into the future Silva, so he is not in a hurry.

He hopes to promote Silva to the first team when he is more mature. At that time, Vicente should also become a glass man, and the wing position will be vacated.

But who would have thought that before he could realize this plan, he would leave because of the turmoil at the top of the club... This plan was naturally aborted.

But now he suddenly remembered this person, because he now thinks that if Lazio wants to pick up a bargain, David Silva is a very good bargain.

In fact, in the summer of 2004, Valencia planned to sell David Silva.

Sacchi, who was working in Parma at the time, hoped that Valencia would loan the young midfielder Albiol to Parma. At that time, Changsheng had left. Valencia’s technical director Macia told him that Albiol was participating in the European U19 in Switzerland. Youth Championship.

So Ji Ji went to Switzerland. Two weeks later, Sacchi called Macia: "I hope to get David Silva." Silva was one of the main players of the Spanish youth team that won the European Youth Football Championship at that time.

At that time, Valencia's head coach had been replaced by Ranieri. Ranieri didn't like Silva, so he agreed to Sacchi's request.

The two clubs have reached an agreement on the transfer intention, and Silva himself thinks that he will go to Parma. But in the end, the Italian side could not accept Valencia's repurchase price, which led to the breakdown of the final negotiations.

In the end, Silva was loaned by Valencia to the second division team Eibar this season.

Although he performed very well in Eibar, Ranieri still doesn't like him.

So Chang Sheng can poach Silva from Valencia without even spending too much money.

But the premise is that Lazio cannot reveal that Chang Sheng will become Lazio's head coach. Otherwise, based on the personal grievances between Sorel and Chang Sheng, Valencia would never sell David Silva to Chang Sheng.

Chang Sheng told Lotito his thoughts.

Lotito also felt that this was a problem, so he agreed to Chang Sheng's request.

Both parties can sign a contract first. But don't publicize it with much fanfare, and wait until the right time to hold a press conference. At that time, at least David Silva was sure to come to Lazio.

※※※

The two sides had a long talk for four hours, discussing everything and all the details.

Then Lotito took his leave.

Tomorrow he will come with a contract, and then he will sign the contract directly.

Because Italy has regulations. The same head coach cannot coach two Serie A teams in one season, so if Chang Sheng wants to coach Lazio, he has to wait until the 2005-2006 season.

Does that mean that Chang Sheng has nothing to do during this time?

Not really, Lotito said that Chang Sheng can give him a cleaning list, and the club will help him clean up these players.

At the same time, Chang Sheng can now prepare for Lazio's signings in the new season, such as going to a certain place to find a certain player, personally convincing him to join Lazio... and so on.

certainly. He will also get a long vacation.

After working continuously for four and a half years, he finally had time to spend with his parents and... Avril.

※※※

The next day, Lotito came to Chang Sheng's apartment alone and brought the contract.

Chang Sheng's agent, Kate Gracie, checked it and confirmed that there was no problem. Chang Sheng signed his name on the five-year contract.

Within five years, if there are no accidents, he will stay in Lazio.

There were no microphones held out by reporters. No camera flashes, no beautiful hostesses and cheering fans...

Chang Sheng and Lotito signed the contract quietly.

Although very simple. Even a little crude.

But the necessary rituals still have to be there.

After signing the contract, Lotito took out from his bag a bottle of champagne wrapped in a towel, and... two very carefully wrapped glasses.

"I think we should have a drink here to celebrate the moment of implementation here." Lotito shook the glass to Chang Sheng.

Chang Sheng smiled: "This is a good idea, Mr. Chairman."

Kate Gracie volunteered to take the bottle and open the wine for them.

Golden champagne was poured into a glass goblet. The wine is rippling and exudes a charming fragrance.

Lotito raised his glass: "I sincerely hope that we can cooperate happily, Mr. Chang."

Chang Sheng also raised his glass: "This is my wish too, Mr. Chairman."

The two lightly clinked their wine glasses together, then looked at each other and smiled. Drank it down.

※※※

After Lotito left contentedly with the contract, Chang Sheng and Kate Gracie were in the apartment room, looking at the bustling streets of Rome and the looming ancient Roman Colosseum in the distance.

"I made a decision in a day, wouldn't it be too hasty?"

It was not Kate Gracie who asked this question, but Chang Sheng himself.

I was very decisive before signing, but I didn't expect to have doubts about the path I chose to take at this time.

This victorious general who is always full of confidence in front of others may not be like the image he created for himself...

Kate Gracie smiled.

"If you analyze rationally from many angles, Lazio is definitely not a good choice, not even a good choice... No, it should be said that it is not even a good choice..."

When Kate Gracie saw Chang Sheng staring at him, she smiled and said, "For all of us, Lazio is not a good choice, but you are different, Chang. I believe that for you, Lazio is the best choice." Fit. Because you are special, you are unique, if you can turn Getafe into a 'strong team' that can beat Mallorca in the Copa del Rey final, why can't you revive Lazio? The most important thing The most important thing is that you have the motivation and fighting spirit to change Lazio, that is to conquer Italy and make those who mocked you regret it. From this perspective, Lazio is the most suitable. So for those who are timid and hesitant, Lazio was a terrible choice. But there is no better stage for you than Lazio."

Chang Sheng stopped staring at him.

"Thank you." He smiled.

"You're welcome, your salary income and bonus income are reduced now, I have to work harder to make money for you, Chang."

"Being an advertising star? That's not bad."

"No, remember that utube?"

Chang Sheng was stunned for a moment, he almost forgot...

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Their website is going to be launched. The exact date is not clear yet, but it should be launched in April next year. I think we can look forward to it. I believe this project will earn us a huge return. So... Actually In the future, maybe you will no longer need to live on the annual salary given to you by the club, Chang."

Even if Chang Sheng is a time traveler, he doesn't know the specific launch time of the utube website.

This is undoubtedly good news.

Because he knows how great the influence and future of utube is.

The more popular utube is, the higher the rate of return on your investment.

"Thank you for that, Kate."

"Don't tell me it's hard work. If it wasn't for you, I would have lost my life. And now I'm doing a job I like very much. Even if it's hard work, it's worth it. Just like you, Chang. Coach Isn’t it hard work for a bad team like Lazio to challenge the whole of Italy?”

Chang Sheng nodded: "It's been hard work."

"Yes, did you enjoy the process?"

"I love this process!" Chang Sheng looked at the distant Colosseum outside the window, and opened his arms, as if to embrace the entire city of Rome.

Kate Gracie saw Chang Sheng like this, and said with a smile: "So don't talk about hard work." (To be continued)