บท 299: Chapter 299: Transfer Window Opens, Paris Saint-Germain Offers 200 Million Euros for Lin Quan!
Chapter 299: Transfer Window Opens, Paris Saint-Germain Offers 200 Million Euros for Lin Quan!
After the match against Mexico, coach Bosque gave the team two days off as usual, allowing the players to relax before the quarter-finals.
According to the schedule, the quarter-final match will take place in a week.
While the players rested, the coaching staff used the time to gather intelligence on their potential opponents.
Although their quarter-final opponent wasn't considered very strong, upsets do happen on the World Cup stage.
Costa Rica, finishing first in their group, clearly had strengths to be reckoned with.
Greece, though not highly regarded, once pulled off a major upset by winning the European Championship.
Even though these teams might not be as strong as Spain, they shouldn't be underestimated.
Spain's goal is to defend their World Cup title, and they are now just three matches away from achieving it. Thus, they can't afford to let their guard down.
Bosque took Coach Tony to watch the Round of 16 match between Costa Rica and Greece.
Before the match, Costa Rica was favored to win.
The game seemed to confirm this, as Costa Rica played very proactively and dominated the match.
In the 52nd minute of the second half, Costa Rica's number 10, Bryan Ruiz, scored the opening goal, making it 1-0.
This goal seemed to signal Costa Rica's historic advancement to the World Cup quarter-finals.
However, Greece, known for their resilience, did not crumble after conceding.
In the 66th minute, Costa Rica's defender Duarte fouled Greece's Holebas and received a second yellow card.
With Duarte sent off, Costa Rica, now down to 10 men, began to lose control of the game.
Greece took the initiative and launched wave after wave of attacks.
In the 67th minute, Holebas's free-kick was headed just wide by Samaras.
In the 69th minute, Christodoulopoulos's powerful shot from the edge of the box missed the goal.
Greece's attacks were becoming more threatening, causing Costa Rican fans to worry.
Despite leading on the scoreboard, Costa Rica's lead felt precarious under Greece's pressure.
Costa Rica's fouls increased under the pressure.
In the 70th minute, Ruiz fouled Samaras and received a yellow card. Two minutes later, Manolas's tackle on Joel Campbell earned him a yellow card as well.
To stabilize the situation, Costa Rica brought on Acosta to strengthen their defense.
Greece substituted veteran Katsouranis to bolster their attack.
The game turned into a fierce contest, with Greece attacking relentlessly and Costa Rica defending desperately.
The intensity of the match kept fans on their feet.
In the 80th minute, Karagounis's free-kick from 25 meters flew over the bar.
In the 82nd minute, Greece's free-kick into the box saw Manolas's header go just over the bar.
Greece seemed on the verge of scoring.
Costa Rica's coach made their final substitution, bringing on Brenes for the exhausted Bolanos.
Bolanos left the field slowly, deliberately wasting time, angering the Greek players.
In the 87th minute, Christodoulopoulos's cross found Samaras, who was in a prime position to score.
Costa Rica's goalkeeper Navas saved the day, snatching the ball before Samaras could reach it, preventing a certain goal.
But luck eventually runs out.
In stoppage time, Navas saved Gekas's shot from 8 meters, but the rebound fell to Greek defender Papastathopoulos, who scored, making it 1-1!
This goal, Papastathopoulos's first in 51 international matches, pulled Greece back from the brink of elimination.
"Could Greece be heading to the quarter-finals?" Tony wondered, amazed by Greece's resilience.
"It's very possible. With extra time approaching, Greece has the numerical advantage and higher morale," Bosque replied seriously, acknowledging Greece's tenacity.
Spanish coaches weren't the only ones who thought Greece might win; Greek fans were also optimistic.
However, after leveling the score, Greece seemed to exhaust their good fortune.
Costa Rica's goalkeeper Navas was incredible, making four crucial saves during stoppage and extra time, thwarting all of Greece's attempts.
Costa Rica, with 10 men, held on, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
This was the second penalty shootout of the tournament.
Out of three knockout matches so far, two had gone to penalties, highlighting how tough it is to win at this stage.
In the shootout, both teams scored their first three penalties. However, on Greece's fourth, Navas saved Gekas's shot.
Thanks to Navas's heroics, Costa Rica narrowly won the shootout, making history by reaching the World Cup quarter-finals.
They were now set to face the reigning champions, Spain, in the quarter-finals.
Navas was deservedly named Man of the Match.
Greece had 27 shots, with 13 on target, and four almost certain goals denied by Navas's outstanding saves.
This performance made Navas a target for top clubs.
As the transfer window opened, more scouts arrived in Brazil to observe potential signings.
With penalty shootouts frequent in this World Cup, top-performing goalkeepers like Navas and Bravo quickly attracted attention.
While Barcelona negotiated with Bravo's agent, Real Madrid planned to bid for Navas, aiming to replace the aging Casillas.
However, this transfer might not be straightforward, as newly crowned Champions League winners Manchester City also eyed Navas!
City's coach Pellegrini wasn't satisfied with current goalkeeper Joe Hart's inconsistent performance.
Pellegrini wanted to replace Hart but hadn't found a suitable candidate until now. With City aiming for higher goals next season, they needed a more reliable goalkeeper.
Besides seeking a new goalkeeper, Pellegrini also planned to scout for top defenders to further strengthen City's defense.
This season, Mansour's investment in Manchester City remains substantial. Despite City winning the Champions League, he has not reduced his financial support. On the contrary, Mansour plans to use this victory to transform City into a top-tier team with a strong foundation.
A true elite club and a nouveau riche team have significant differences in influence and reputation. Manchester City currently lacks the rich history of a top club. Winning a Champions League trophy helps shed the nouveau riche label, but they are still a step away from becoming a true elite club.
Mansour wants to build on this success and aim to defend their Champions League title. If City can achieve the unprecedented feat of winning consecutive titles, they will firmly establish themselves as a top-tier club.
Taking advantage of the World Cup, Pellegrini personally attends matches to scout players recommended by scouts and observe others not initially on the list. Players who make it to the World Cup are generally among the best in the world, making it an excellent opportunity for clubs to find new talent.
During World Cup years, clubs have the chance to spot talented players who can seize their moment and attract the interest of top clubs. The high level of competition ensures that those who perform well are less likely to be poor investments.
Due to his connection with Lin Quan, Pellegrini watched many of Spain's matches and took note of Chile's goalkeeper, Bravo, during the group stage. Bravo's strengths include his large defensive range and skill in intercepting plays. His quick reflexes, technical footwork, and ability to participate in building play from the back make him an ideal fit for Barcelona, who need a keeper proficient with their feet and capable of initiating attacks.
Seeing Bravo's impressive performance, Barcelona quickly made an offer to Real Sociedad to bring him to Camp Nou. Without having seen Navas' outstanding performance in the match, Pellegrini might have pursued Bravo. As both are Chilean, signing Bravo could have been easier to manage in the locker room.
However, after watching the game, Pellegrini also liked Navas. If they couldn't sign Bravo, they would definitely try to get Navas. While Real Madrid also wanted Navas, their current goalkeeper, Casillas, was still performing well. Navas would have to compete for his position at Madrid.
Casillas, at 33, was not too old for a goalkeeper, with many still playing at the top level in their late 30s. For example, Buffon at 36 is still Juventus and Italy's first choice. Van der Sar played for Manchester United until he was 40. Given Casillas' current form, he could continue at Madrid unless the club decided otherwise.
Pellegrini was confident that if Navas joined Manchester City, he would be their first-choice goalkeeper, whereas at Real Madrid, he might spend more time on the bench waiting for an opportunity. A higher salary and a guaranteed starting position at City versus a lower salary and potential bench time at Madrid made City a more attractive option unless Navas had a strong emotional pull towards Real Madrid.
Pellegrini acted quickly, instructing the club to offer Levante €8 million for Navas to test the waters. If Levante was unhappy with the price, they could increase their offer. However, City's transfer strategy had shifted from high spending to a more balanced approach. Previously, high prices were necessary due to their lack of history and honors, making it hard to attract top players.
Now, with a Champions League title and a competitive league presence, City found it easier to attract high-level players without paying excessive fees. Pellegrini was willing to go up to €15 million for Navas but would reconsider if the price exceeded this amount.
After the Costa Rica vs. Greece match, Pellegrini headed to another stadium to watch Colombia vs. Uruguay. This South American clash featured two strong teams. Colombia had an unbeaten run in their last ten matches, though their last loss was to Uruguay. Many favored Uruguay due to their slightly stronger team on paper.
The match drew a large audience and scouts from top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United. Bayern Munich and Manchester City's coaches also attended. Pellegrini brought his assistant, while Guardiola watched the game with Lin Quan.
The game had three main attractions: James Rodriguez (JRod), Suarez, and Cavani. News had spread that Suarez would leave Liverpool this season, with Barcelona as his most likely destination. To assess Suarez's form, Barcelona sent senior scouts to watch.
However, disappointment struck when FIFA announced Suarez's four-month ban for biting Chiellini during the Italy match, ending his World Cup and sidelining him for at least nine club matches next season, or 19 if he stayed in the Premier League. This led Arsenal to withdraw their interest, not willing to pay £40 million plus £1.
With Suarez out, the match's focus shifted, and JRod's outstanding performance captured everyone's attention. Last summer, Monaco bought him from Porto for €45 million, a move many thought was overpriced. Porto, known for buying cheap and selling high, had made significant profits on players like Carvalho, Falcao, and Pepe, each time making millions.
While Porto profited, buying clubs bore the risk, with some players like Quaresma and Anderson failing to meet expectations, earning the label of expensive flops. JRod faced skepticism last year but dispelled doubts with a stellar season at Monaco, scoring 10 goals and providing 12 assists in 37 appearances.
If not for exceptional talents like Lin Quan, JRod's achievements would have garnered more attention. Nevertheless, true talent shines through, and JRod's World Cup performance has been exceptional. He scored in injury time against Greece, opened the scoring against Ivory Coast, and set up three goals against Japan, leading Colombia to the round of 16.
In this knockout match, JRod's brilliance continued to dazzle, capturing the attention of scouts and solidifying his status as a rising star.
Shortly after the second half began, he scored again with a header, expanding the lead for his team.
Facing Uruguay, which was favored before the match and boasted stars like Suarez, Cavani, and Forlan, Colombia, led by JRod, defeated them 2-0 and advanced to the quarter-finals.
With five goals, JRod climbed to second place on the top scorer list, just behind Lin Quan, who had six goals.
After witnessing JRod's dominant performance, scouts from top clubs were astonished. Last year, they laughed at Monaco for overpaying Porto, but now they wished it had been them.
This one game alone could boost JRod's value to at least €50 million. Considering his excellent performance in Ligue 1 and the World Cup group stages, many believed his market value could reach €60-70 million. In South America, only Neymar could rival him at this age.
As soon as the match ended, top clubs started making offers to Monaco for JRod. Real Madrid was the first to approach his agent, offering €80 million.
This offer was hard for Monaco to refuse, having bought him for €45 million a year ago and now standing to make a €35 million profit without spending a dime.
Before Monaco could accept, Barcelona reportedly stepped in, offering €88 million. Meanwhile, Manchester United joined the fray with a £63 million bid, aiming to bring JRod to Old Trafford.
Intent on outdoing their city rivals Manchester City, Manchester United, under new manager Van Gaal, actively pursued several top players, including Juventus' Pogba, Monaco's JRod, and Real Madrid's Di Maria.
United had just signed a ten-year sponsorship deal with Adidas worth £750 million, giving them ample funds to spend in the transfer market. With this financial backing, Van Gaal had no reason to save money for United.
If Manchester City could spend £1 billion to win titles, so could Manchester United.
As United entered the race for JRod, Liverpool also made a move. With Suarez showing interest in Barcelona and seemingly uninterested in renewing his contract with Liverpool, combined with his frequent bans for biting, Liverpool resigned themselves to losing Suarez this summer. To fill the void, they needed a top-level attacking player, and JRod, with his outstanding World Cup performance, was their ideal choice.
If JRod was the most sought-after player at the start of the transfer window, a report from France shook the football world even more: Paris Saint-Germain had offered €200 million to Manchester City for their number 10, Lin Quan.
(End of chapter)
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