Chapter 66: Walking Left, Walking Right

Compared to the summer transfer window, the winter transfer period in European football has always been relatively quiet. After all, the major leagues have already played half a season, so teams are unlikely to rebuild their squad structures at this time. At most, they make targeted signings to patch up issues or cover for injuries in specific positions.

However, looking back at past winter transfer windows, there have been shocking moves, such as Torres in 2011 and Mata in 2014. Yet this year, the most headline-grabbing transfer is not from Europe, but from the Chinese Super League.

Overall, this year’s European winter transfer market has been rather subdued. The Premier League remains the biggest spender, but its activity pales in comparison to previous years. Another telling sign is that, in recent years, Italian clubs have tightened their purse strings; this winter, Serie A spent less than €100 million, second only to the Premier League.

For Chinese fans, the most captivating story in early 2016 was Dai Zhiwei’s journey abroad.

During the winter transfer window of 2016, it was rare to see so many top European clubs focusing their attention on a 21-year-old from Evergrande.

Although Dai Zhiwei still lags behind world-class young forwards like Neymar and Griezmann—he lacks composure with the ball, his passing is weak, and his playing style is somewhat solitary—when you compare their ages, his shortcomings become easier to overlook.

Two years? If not two, then three, or even five. In five years, Dai Zhiwei will be just twenty-six, the prime age for a striker.

Moreover, Dai Zhiwei is already outstanding: not only among his peers, but his dual golden boot awards in the Super League and AFC Champions League, as well as the honor of Asian Footballer of the Year, have already proven his talent.

As for whether Dai Zhiwei can adapt to a top European league, after he scored twice against Barcelona, no one doubted it anymore.

If breaking through the Barcelona defense twice on his own merits isn’t enough to prove he belongs in Europe, what more could anyone expect?

With confidence in Dai Zhiwei’s current abilities and high hopes for his future, more than ten top European clubs have submitted transfer bids to Evergrande. Among them are giants such as Arsenal, AC Milan, and Atletico Madrid.

Evergrande has also shown strong support for Dai Zhiwei’s move abroad. The club chairman, Liu Yongzhuo, told the media: “I know 80 million RMB isn’t a huge sum for many top European clubs, but if it means Zhiwei can have a better future, the transfer fee can be lower than the buyout clause. You know, Evergrande isn’t short of money! We fully support our domestic players venturing out to hone their skills.”

...

“How much do you think it would cost us to sign Dai?” An elderly man asked his assistant, who was reviewing Dai Zhiwei’s stats from last season.

Steve Bould pondered briefly before replying, “Evergrande isn’t asking for much in terms of transfer fee. Dai’s work permit won’t be an issue—it all depends on the player’s own decision. But I estimate it’ll take at least £7.5 million.”

“Seven and a half million?” The questioner was none other than Arsène Wenger, manager of Premier League powerhouse Arsenal. He frowned, silent.

Wenger had no clear idea what the final transfer fee for Dai Zhiwei might be.

But spending such a hefty sum on a 21-year-old Asian player—even Wenger had to think carefully. Investing so much in a youngster who’s only played one season is risky, especially since he hasn’t proven himself in any European league.

“Should I wait another season?” Wenger glanced at Walcott and Welbeck—his so-called young strikers—on the pitch, feeling even more frustrated.

English passports really are overpriced and burdensome!

“No, I won’t wait. I’ll make my decision, and leave the rest to Sven. £7.5 million it is!”

Wenger finally resolved to pursue Dai Zhiwei, but he forgot that Arsenal was no longer the football sanctuary it once was for young players.

...

Meanwhile, in Dortmund, another coach was troubled by Dai Zhiwei’s situation.

“Thomas, I still recommend signing Dai. Right now, the only reliable striker we have is Pierre. If he gets injured, the team is in serious trouble,” suggested Dortmund’s assistant coach, Michels.

“But you know, €11 million is no small sum for us. Even if we’re short by only €500,000, the club can’t afford it,” Tuchel sighed.

“It’s not a problem. I think we can pay in installments. Mkhitaryan is planning to leave at season’s end, and that should bring in at least €50 million. I believe Evergrande will agree! That way, the club won’t need to add extra funds for the transfer,” Michels proposed.

“Hmm.” After a moment’s thought, Tuchel nodded. “Alright, we’ve been pinching pennies for a long time. This time, let’s show them that Dortmund can make big moves too!”

Similar scenes played out in many other clubs, ushering in a new wave of transfer bids for Dai Zhiwei.

...

After Dai Zhiwei had used his recently purchased Porsche Macan as a farewell gift and successfully parted ways with Zhong Luchun, he received two unfamiliar guests.

“Manager Jin, you’ve come all the way to Guangzhou, and invited me out in such a hurry. Surely it’s not just for a cup of coffee?” Dai Zhiwei asked with a smile.

Seated before Dai Zhiwei was Jin Longgao, deputy director of advertising operations at the renowned domestic sports brand Xtep. Founded in 2001, Xtep adopted a differentiated marketing strategy, pioneering the use of celebrity endorsements for sports products with unprecedented success. Their slogan, “Extraordinary feeling,” rivals that of Nike and Adidas.

Jin Longgao sipped his coffee, thought for a moment, and then spoke: “Since you asked, I’ll be honest. You know we’ve signed La Liga’s ‘Yellow Submarine’ Villarreal as their current shirt sponsor. So, I’m here as an intermediary for Villarreal, hoping you’ll join their team. Xtep is willing to meet all your requirements, including a new contract—top-tier within the club!”

Dai Zhiwei was somewhat surprised by Jin Longgao’s words. He’d thought Xtep simply wanted him to abandon 361 Degrees and endorse their “Extraordinary feeling”—after all, since Dai Zhiwei became a 361 Degrees ambassador, sales of their football line had tripled, and profits soared.

Yet Xtep inviting him to join Villarreal was a clever move. If he donned a Villarreal kit emblazoned with Xtep’s logo, he’d be no different from a brand ambassador.

Dai Zhiwei didn’t immediately respond to Jin Longgao’s proposal, but quietly considered it.

Villarreal?

Villarreal, nicknamed “Yellow Submarine,” is a force not to be underestimated in Spanish football. Though not on par with the “super twins” Real Madrid and Barcelona, and slightly behind Atletico Madrid and Valencia, they consistently rank in the upper half of La Liga. Last season, they finished sixth, earning a spot in this year’s Europa League—a bona fide strong team.

Crucially, since Diego Forlán, Villarreal hasn’t produced any top-class strikers. There’s currently no player who poses a real threat to Dai Zhiwei’s chances of securing a starting position, which means he could quickly become a first-choice forward at Villarreal.

Earning a starting spot and playing in European competitions—these are Dai Zhiwei’s goals for joining a new club, and Villarreal can fulfill both.

Previously, Villarreal had been in contact with Evergrande and Jin Chang, so Dai Zhiwei wasn’t unfamiliar with the club—it was one of his options.

“It seems Villarreal might be a good choice,” Dai Zhiwei mused.

After stating his case, Jin Longgao watched Dai Zhiwei closely, clearly hoping to glean something from the young man’s eyes.

Unfortunately, he saw nothing.

Except, perhaps, a bit of sleepiness.

Dai Zhiwei was still hesitating, but Jin Longgao’s visit had certainly boosted Villarreal’s chances.

Capital’s power might help Dai Zhiwei adapt to the club more smoothly.

Of course, it could also have the opposite effect.

Compared to joining other top European clubs, Villarreal also had its disadvantages—language being a major one, since Dai Zhiwei didn’t speak a word of Spanish.

At this moment, Dai Zhiwei stood at a crossroads, unsure whether to turn left or right.