Godfather Of Champions

Half a year had passed since Nottingham Forest\'s dark days, and the situation had changed dramatically. Tony Twain of today was very confident about going up against Ferguson and Wenger.

"It\'s clear that you think highly of him too. Let\'s head back, Dunn. Let\'s talk to his agent first... I\'ve asked him to have dinner together tonight."

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Obviously, when Tang En was in Portugal, he had already arranged everything for Spain. No matter when or whom he was to meet, he had made the reservations for the restaurants.

At five o\'clock in the afternoon, Tang En and Dunn ate some bread to tide them over; otherwise they would be hungry. Even when Tang En was still in China, he had already known that the Spaniards were famous for lateness in their daily schedules—when he spoke to Piqué\'s agent, Arturo Canales, over the phone, he had said that dinner time was eight o\'clock in the evening!

It was hard to imagine the manager of a Premier League football club drinking mineral water and eating bread in a hotel room. But when the Forest team was just getting started, what else could he do? Besides, Piqué was a player that Tang En thought highly of. It would seem more sincere if he appeared in person, and he also hoped to impress Piqué in this way, and be more persuasive.

But first, they had to go through the agent. The relationship between a manager and an agent was complex. Sometimes, the manager needed to curry favor with the agent, and sometimes the agent needed to please the manager. Now, it was Tony Twain\'s turn to make Piqué\'s agent happy.

At 8:15, a little later than the appointed time, Tony Twain and Dunn met Arturo Canales at the pre-arranged restaurant. Even though the player that he represented was still a young man who had not played in a professional league, he was qualified enough to put on airs before Twain.

Piqué was the Spanish youth team\'s main center back. His future was almost certain, even without the analysis of experts. And the agent also benefited when so many big clubs had their eyes on Piqué. While on the verge of reaching a consensus with Manchester United, Canales had no real need to meet with a manager of a recently promoted Premier League team to discuss the future of his client. However, over the phone, Twain had made him a tempting promise: if he did his best to facilitate the deal, then he would personally receive an additional fifty-thousand-pound commission from the Forest Football Club!

Mr. Ferguson did not promise to pay him an extra compensation, and as for Tony Twain... Canales could still remember that the first time he called him, he had already mentioned it. Even though Canales had never heard of him, it was clear that Mr. Tony Twain, despite being less famous than Sir Alex Ferguson, knew the business. Yes, he knew it very well.

When he arrived at the restaurant, Canales was a little apologetic towards Twain, who stood up to greet him. He said, "I\'m really sorry, Mr. Twain. There was a traffic jam." He spoke fluent English.

After exchanging a few words of conventional greeting, the two sides quickly came to the point. Twain made no secret of his liking and pursuit of Piqué, and he hoped that Canales would convey this message to Piqué: that although Nottingham Forest had just been promoted to the Premier League, the club had a very ambitious plan which was a very suitable way for the young Piqué to fully show his talents. In addition, he and the Forest team had the tradition of putting young players in important positions. He did not have to worry about not being able to play in matches when he joined the Forest team. The Forest team would not make him play in the youth league championships or reserve games. Twain wanted to buy him to let him play as the main center back, rather than as an investment for the future. Thirdly—and this was Twain\'s trump card—although Manchester United could take part in the UEFA Champions League next season, if Piqué were to join Manchester United, it was absolutely impossible for his name to enter the Champions League list, which both Piqué and his agent, Canales, were very clear about their interest in. But the Forest team could guarantee that Piqué would definitely play in UEFA Champions League, because the Forest team was one of three teams to represent England in the UEFA Europa League next season.

What did it mean for a young player to participate in a European tournament? Twain believed Piqué and Canales must clearly understand that players could participate in more games to raise their profiles, accumulate experience, and, at the same time, help increase their business value.

Holding a negotiation while Manchester United and Piqué were already getting closer in their relationship was advantageous to Tang En, in that they did not have to be entangled with the issue of the player\'s sentimentality towards his club, nor could Canales use that point to ask for high prices.

Piqué was certain to leave. The only question was which club he would go to.

When they had finished their discussion, they were like old friends, chatting about Catalonia and the weather in the United Kingdom. In this regard, Twain was bound to compliment the sunny weather and beaches of Barcelona, as well as its delicious cuisine. Then, Dunn excused himself from the table to go to the restroom, and Twain slid a twenty-thousand-pound check in front of Canales and told him that it was an advance payment. If the matter was successful, the remaining thirty thousand pounds would reach Mr. Canales\'s account immediately. If it was unsuccessful, these twenty thousand pounds would be the basis for their future cooperation.

When Dunn returned, the perfectly satisfied Canales took the check and said goodbye to them. His attitude was quite different from how it had been during the first phone call.

After they had sent Canales off, Tang En and Dunn took the car back to the hotel. In the car, Tang En said to Dunn, "Money makes the world go round… the great wisdom of the Chinese."

"I... don\'t really if it\'s worth doing this for a young player who has not proven himself yet in the professional arena." Dunn expressed his caution and concern.

Tang En shook his head. "In a few years, you will be glad that we only had to put out fifty thousand pounds to get him, and the people from Barcelona will regret it very much... Actually, they are already regretting it now, but they can\'t do anything about it. I love Spain... and its law!" He laughed.

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A day later, Tang En received a call from Mr. Arturo Canales, who told him that Gerard Piqué Bernabéu would like to speak with him face-to-face.

After he hung up the phone, Tang En looked at Dunn, who was sitting on the couch and watching him. His face revealed a barely-concealed smile. "Dunn, half the battle is won. The team I want is taking shape, and I can already see it."