Chapter 889: 3.6 Billion Euros for a Midfielder Who Wants to Buy Guangzhou Evergrande

The Football News — Final verdict! After two consecutive losses in the final matchday, the former eight-time champion Guangzhou team has officially missed out on next season’s Chinese Super League.

China’s national team has earned praise for its World Cup achievements, but on the other hand, Guangzhou’s disastrous relegation has left many sighing.

This was once the eight-time champion!

An eight-time Chinese Super League winner, even with two highly prestigious AFC Champions League titles.

Now it has sunk to this level!

After Evergrande’s bankruptcy, Guangzhou could have barely survived in hardship, but this season’s performance was simply too terrible.

Once relegated to China League One, there’s truly nothing left to do.

This relegation has shattered Guangzhou’s last line of defense.

In early 2023, Guangzhou released an advertisement titled: “Evergrande Football Club Recruitment Notice.”

In this advertisement, Guangzhou’s core transfer proposal was this: 100% club equity transfer for 0 yuan.

“Holy shit, that’s insane.”

The moment Tang Ye saw this news, he immediately called Boer without hesitation.

“Do you know Guangzhou team? The old Guangzhou Evergrande from the AFC Champions League? I think we should buy it.”

It wasn’t that Tang Ye was impulsive — mainly because acquiring Guangzhou Evergrande meant far too much to him.

Tang Ye is from Guangdong; since childhood, the team he heard most about was his neighbor, Guangzhou Evergrande. Now, making this acquisition feels like fulfilling a childhood dream.

Upon hearing this news from Tang Ye, Boer immediately began researching Guangzhou team and delivered very bad news three days later.

“Tom, you didn’t finish reading the announcement… Yes, it’s 0 yuan for 100% equity, but the condition is you must assume all the club’s debts.”

“I know that. I saw it.”

Tang Ye replied: “Of course I saw it — I’m not an idiot. Assuming the debt isn’t a problem. I think I can handle it.”

“This… the announcement didn’t specify the exact debt amount, but I calculated it.”

Boer gave Tang Ye a number.

To acquire 100% of Guangzhou’s equity for 0 yuan, Tang Ye must assume approximately 2.4 billion RMB in current debts.

After careful consideration, if he gritted his teeth, Tang Ye could afford this sum himself.

But!

It’s not that simple.

If you truly want to buy Guangzhou team, you must also prepare at least three years of operating funds for the club.

Combined with existing debt and three years of operating funds, Tang Ye needs to pay out nearly 5 billion RMB.

Alright…

That’s a bit too much.

“Fucking expensive…”

“Yeah, Tom, I know you want to buy a Chinese Super League team, but my advice is to leave Guangzhou alone for now. Though they have historical prestige, I think 5 billion RMB is not worth it.”

“If you insist on buying, look at other teams. But don’t rush — I’ve been observing and studying Chinese football lately, and I think prices will be much better in a few years. For example, buy Zhejiang, or… Chengdu? That’s how you say it, right? Haha, I’m not sure — the pronunciation is weird.”

“Hmm…”

Tang Ye was about to hang up when he suddenly remembered something: “Hey, wait, Boer!”

“What if I use PPBOND to buy it? Use the company’s name to take equity — that way, it’s company money.”

“...Your idea.”

Boer took a deep breath. Tang Ye’s idea was indeed wildly imaginative — no surprise from a top-class midfielder.

“If you insist, I’ll propose it at the shareholders’ meeting. But I can tell you with absolute certainty: this proposal will be rejected 100%. Six hundred million pounds? Our market cap is only 7.2 billion pounds, and that’s inflated by the World Cup hype. If we actually buy Guangzhou, our stock will crash.”

“...Just ask first. Thanks.”

“Haha, you’re this obsessed with Guangzhou? Fine, I’ll try. But don’t be upset if it fails — there are other teams you can buy.”

…

Dongqiu Di pinned post, republished from Xinmin Evening News — PPBOND announced the results of its latest shareholders’ meeting: the proposal to acquire Guangzhou team was overwhelmingly rejected.

Additional info: PPBOND (PPBD) is a diversified company listed on the London Stock Exchange, primarily earning revenue from blind-box dolls, with an estimated market cap of 7.2 billion pounds. If PPBOND wants to acquire 100% of Evergrande’s equity, it must assume all of Evergrande’s current debts (approximately 2 billion RMB).

【What the fuck? Tang the King, really going to save Evergrande? Okay, I declare you a pure-blooded Guangdong man.】

【So badass — this proposal is so abstract, no surprise from a 10% shareholder. Tang the King still has imagination, but buying Evergrande (here meaning Guangzhou team, not Evergrande Group) isn’t worth it. Consider my Shanghai Shenhua instead — we want the King’s favor too.】

【Shenhua? Do you even know where Tang the King is from? Guangdong pretty boy! Must buy Evergrande!】

【Must buy Evergrande. Pay up. You gonna pay 2 billion yourself?】

【A World Cup semifinal shattered my Dao heart, now you’re going national… But honestly, buying Evergrande isn’t worth it — they got relegated. Save your money and buy Manchester United instead. Tang the King has the power. Go for it!】

The Rac — After proposing to acquire Guangzhou team, PPBD’s stock dropped 5.5%, shrinking its market cap by 400 million pounds.

Tang Ye’s social media reply to the Guangzhou acquisition proposal: “It was just an idea, but likely unfeasible — the company currently has limited cash flow.”

After Tang Ye’s social media reply, PPBD’s stock quickly rebounded.

Like PPBD, a speculative stock, PPBOND itself is a “weird company” — it appears to have a 7-billion-pound market cap, making the purchase of Guangzhou seem trivial.

But as Boer said, PPBOND’s market cap contains massive “Tang Ye bubbles.” Many invest in the company solely because of Tang Ye. If he does something they deem wrong, the stock will swing wildly.

PPBOND wants to buy Guangzhou team, but right now, it’s simply impossible.

Domestic football insider: According to an unnamed source, Tang Ye inquired about the acquisition price of Shandong Taishan.

“He may want to buy his old youth academy club, but the authenticity of this rumor remains unconfirmed.”

…

Dongqiu Di match report — Manchester United defeated Arsenal 2-0 away, Tang Ye provided two assists in consecutive matches. (Comments: 375,321)

Appendix: 2022-23 Premier League standings (after Matchday 21):

1. Manchester United, 57 points.

2. Manchester City, 53 points.

3. Arsenal, 48 points.

4. Newcastle, 47 points.

5. Liverpool, 47 points.

The most surprising teams this Premier League season have been Newcastle and Liverpool.

The Middle Eastern consortium’s takeover raised high expectations for Newcastle, yet they soared in just one season.

Liverpool, however, has been terrible. Just a few seasons ago, they were competing with Manchester United and Manchester City in a three-way rivalry — now they’ve suddenly dropped to fifth.

Klopp, what are you doing!?

Liverpool’s fall from the top group has been deeply disappointing, to the point some fans have begun calling on Tang Ye to invest in this Manchester United rival — an unmistakable mockery of Klopp, Salah, and others, and a devastating one at that.

“Next month is the Club World Cup, Ty. This will be your first-ever Club World Cup. And because Manchester United won last season’s Champions League, you’ll enter directly in the semifinals, meaning you only need two wins to claim the trophy. Given this, what’s your Club World Cup goal?”