Chapter 912: 5 Years, $2.2 Billion

Insider source: The United Development Group, in which Tang Ye holds shares, plans to launch strategic cooperation with four clubs from Japan's J1 League.

Japan Football Association announcement: The JFA will sign a partnership agreement with UDG, sharing its three national training centers located in Tokyo, Kanto, and Kyushu with the Chinese side; please await further announcements for specific details.

Japan began cooperating with China immediately after losing the Asian Cup final, causing intense anger among some Japanese fans.

"I don't understand why we should cooperate with China; their youth training system cannot compare to ours. Cooperating with them is a loss for us, even if UDG can bring Japanese players to Europe. Tajima (Tajima Kozo) is wrong!"

Reporters from "Tokyo" magazine interviewed several young Japanese fans to gather their views on this incident.

After all, they had just lost the match; this move by the Japan Football Association was truly kneeling too fast.

If you're going to kneel, at least wait until the next season starts, right?

In the three days following the Japan Football Association's announcement, they faced massive criticism from fans, but then something interesting happened: as time passed, public opinion regarding the cooperation news between the JFA and UDG gradually reversed.

"Actually, upon careful thought, we basically don't need to give up anything; we only need to provide training venues and coaches, which we already possess."

A Japanese host from "Kanto Radio" stated: "In the long run, we are the beneficiaries, because we can send more Japanese players to Europe without paying too high a price. This is a good thing, not what some call 'kneeling to China'; Japanese football has never knelt to anyone."

"Yes, we have witnessed the transformation of Chinese football, especially in recent years."

Another female host agreed with her colleague's viewpoint: "Japanese football has been stronger than China's since 2000, but that is in the past, and many Japanese people clearly haven't emerged from that former arrogance, even though China has achieved sufficiently good results in the World Cup and Asian Cup. As supporters of Japanese football, what we should do most is understand our own capabilities. Since Chinese football has won the Asian Cup championship twice consecutively, they must possess their own unique strengths, and this is exactly what Japanese football needs to learn."

"Mm."

The male host nodded: "In the confrontations between Japan and China in recent years, China is the undisputed victor, having become the strongest team in all of Asia. If we give up the opportunity to cooperate with Chinese football merely due to a final defeat, I think that would be a great pity."

"Weakness and failure are not obstacles to survival and development; arrogance is."

Indeed!

Some Japanese fans are somewhat too arrogant, believing that qualifying for the World Cup finals a few times makes them invincible in Asia, but that is not the case.

There is always someone better and a sky beyond the sky; beyond Japan lies China. Arrogant Japanese fans only know how to look down, so they cannot see China above their heads.

The words of the two hosts from "Kanto Radio" woke up many Japanese fans who were pretending to sleep.

Stay humble; Japanese football is long past being the strongest in Asia!

talkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs: Al-Hilal has submitted a formal offer worth $550 million to Manchester United to acquire the Red Devils' soul, Tang Ye. They have also presented the player himself with a super contract spanning 5 years with a total value of $2.2 billion.

Reporter Jacobs stated in the comments section: "I am 100% certain that this matter is real; as long as both Manchester United and the player himself nod in agreement, Al-Hilal's offer and contract can take effect immediately."

Ben Jacobs is not a particularly famous reporter, so not many fans chose to firmly believe what he said.

However, just half a day after this reporter posted his tweet, the well-known Spanish media outlet "Diario Sport" also reported similar news.

"Diario Sport"—Al-Hilal's offer has caused panic within Real Madrid; the conditions Real Madrid offered to TY may lack certain "competitiveness."

They're serious this time!

This was the immediate reaction of many fans.

After brewing for nearly a whole year, has the battle between Real Madrid and Al-Hilal to snatch the player finally erupted!!

Twitter poll: Where will Tang Ye go next season? (Participants: 2,779,572).

1. Stay at Manchester United: 68%.

2. Al-Hilal: 20%.

3. Real Madrid: 7%.

4. Al-Nassr: 3%.

5. Others (Barcelona, Al-Ittihad, Mancheng, CSL teams): 2%.

In a poll involving nearly 3 million people, the majority of fans insist that Tang Ye will continue to stay at Manchester United, while one-fifth of fans believe Tang Ye will move to the Saudi League.

It is worth noting that only 7% of voters believe Tang Ye will transfer to Real Madrid, and most of these votes came from Real Madrid fans themselves, which is very interesting.

In the mindset of most football fans, Real Madrid and Barcelona, these two brothers, have always been "highly attractive" clubs, with many players dreaming of playing for Real or Barca.

Those 7% of fans who believe Tang Ye will transfer to Real Madrid are precisely banking on this point; they believe the name "Real Madrid" is more precious than Saudi Arabia's super contract—because of the great success of PPBOND Company, Tang Ye does not belong to the category of players who are desperately short of money.

【Sky Sports】

"Jensen, you are considered one of the football commentators who understands TY best; what are your thoughts on the potential transfer TY might face?"

In a special program on "Sky Sports," Jensen, invited as an honorary staff member, attended: "Well... I think there is a high probability that TY will stay at Manchester United. Yes, the probability of him staying at Manchester United is the greatest; if I were him, I would also choose to stay at Manchester United."

As soon as Jensen finished speaking, the host immediately displayed a disappointed expression.

Originally expecting Jensen to offer some unique insights, it now seems he is just following the crowd!

"However, I am 100% certain that TY will not go to Real Madrid or Barcelona."

!

It's not over yet!

Jensen's supplementary remarks made the host's eyes light up: "100% won't go to Real Madrid? But Real Madrid has offered TY a bid exceeding 200 million euros, along with a signing fee of 120 million euros. This treatment far surpasses that of C. Ronaldo and Hazard at the time."

Jensen agreed with what the host said: "Yes, Modric and Kroos are not far from retirement because they are indeed very old. Real Madrid needs a top-tier player who can solve their midfield problems, so they are willing to provide TY with such an exaggerated offer, something never seen before."

"But we must think from TY's own perspective."

Jensen stated: "Since he is going to Real Madrid, why not stay at Manchester United where the treatment is better? Manchester United has now formed a mature system; as long as TY stays at Manchester United, it is almost impossible for him to encounter any opponents."

"Moreover, currently speaking, if TY demands a weekly salary exceeding 700,000 pounds from Manchester United, the Manchester United senior management will most likely nod in agreement."

"Mm..."

The host pondered thoughtfully: "Indeed, based on our understanding, TY is not a player with a 'childhood dream of Real Madrid.' Moreover, he has enough brothers at Manchester United, and given his personality, the probability of him staying with the team is very high."

"But."

The host shifted the topic: "TY has stated multiple times in front of the media that 'he needs rest'; what is your view on this?"

"Oh, I certainly know about this."

Jensen looked at the camera: "Over the past 8 seasons, TY has played nearly every single season; throughout the entire history of football, almost no other player has achieved such attendance rates and such running efficiency as he has."

"Moreover, strictly speaking, in his early days he dragged his teams to championships; Manchester United in the 2018-19 season, Dortmund in the 20-21 season, and the Chinese national team in 2019 are all examples. Adding last year's World Cup... it is normal for him to feel fatigued, but I do not believe this will be a decisive factor."

"70%; I believe there is a 70% chance TY stays at Manchester United and a 30% chance he goes to Al-Hilal or Al-Nassr. This is my viewpoint."

"Of course, no matter what, TY is this year's Ballon d'Or winner; I am absolutely certain of that," Jenson said with a smile, emphasizing his status as Tom's die-hard fan.

……

Saudi media: Cristiano Ronaldo hopes Al-Nassr's management will make an offer to intercept TY, but the club's shareholders believe "this is not a good deal," which has caused Cristiano Ronaldo's dissatisfaction.

"It is reported that the Portuguese has communicated with TY multiple times, explaining to this legendary midfielder the competitiveness of the Saudi League and Al-Nassr's championship plans; currently, TY's own stance remains unclear."

【Brother Luo still hasn't given up; if he pulls Tang Tang Qiuwang to Al-Nassr, wouldn't Al-Nassr be invincible?】

【Cristiano Ronaldo plus Tang Ye? Al-Nassr is backed by petrodollars, but even the petrodollar backers shouldn't spend money like this; it's too exaggerated.】

【Don't underestimate those Middle Easterners wearing white headcloths. I did some research; Al-Hilal seems to have always been the big brother of the Saudi League. If Al-Nassr buys Tang Ye, they can challenge Al-Hilal; this is an opportunity for them.】

【I have a premonition that Tang Tang Qiuwang will go to play for Al-Hilal for one to three years; he loves bullying the weak the most.】

【The hater above better turn off their private messages; are you really not afraid of being flooded?】