Chapter 13

To be honest, up until now, Kenyon has been extremely dissatisfied with the team's signings. First, they spent a large sum of money to sign the heavily injured Rooney, then traded the prime-aged Veron for Cannavaro, who couldn't get playing time at Inter Milan. Next, they spent 13 million euros on a 22-year-old goalkeeper. Keep in mind, the total amount Chelsea has ever spent on goalkeepers hasn't exceeded 10 million euros!

Robben's outstanding performance at the European Championship made Kenyon and the club's top management very appreciative, but who would have thought that this transfer, which everyone agreed on, would end in failure.

Seeing Kenyon's gloomy face, Jowan Xian didn't bother to explain. A bunch of short-sighted scoundrels, just wait and see when these players perform on the field, you'll be the ones to enjoy it!

Jowan Xian casually took an A4 paper from his desk and handed it to Kenyon: "These are the players I need, and the highest bids I think are acceptable. Hmm... you saw the match against AC Milan, the team's strength is still far from that of the top clubs, we urgently need to strengthen our squad."

Kenyon frowned, glanced at the paper, and then widened his eyes in surprise, muttering, "Sergio Ramos, for less than 15 million euros. Who is this person? I've never heard of him before?"

Jowan Xian pretended to ponder, "Hmm... This is a young Spanish player from Sevilla, a right-back who can also play as a center-back. He is technically versatile and has a tough style, capable of supporting the entire right flank of the team."

Actually, for the right-back position, Jowan Xian had two more outstanding candidates, both Brazilians—Maicon and Alves. However, Maicon was still in Brazil, and it would be difficult to obtain a work permit; Alves, as an absolute starter for Sevilla, was expensive and short in stature, which would not be beneficial for defense when paired with the not-so-tall center-backs Terry and Cannavaro.

Thus, the young Spanish player, Sergio Ramos, who would later shine at the Bernabeu, became Jowan Xian's top choice. Of course, there was another main reason: Ramos was much more handsome than Maicon and Alves.

Unfamiliar with Ramos, Kenyon continued reading, "Kaka, valued at... 35 million euros! Oh God, Wanhuan, are you talking about the Kaka from AC Milan?"

Jowan Xian was determined to build a team with two or even three attacking midfielders, and with a "Lampard" in the team, he had long set his sights on Kaka!

Kaka was only 22 years old, having just arrived in Europe last year, where he made 30 appearances for AC Milan, scoring 10 goals and helping the team win the league title, showing immense potential!

However, in the previous friendly match against AC Milan, due to Jowan Xian's malicious arrangement, Kaka performed terribly, completely overshadowed by Rui Costa, Seedorf, Shevchenko, and others.

Kenyon was almost in tears, his eyes brimming with tears, "Wanhuan, are you saying that Kaka's poor performance in the last friendly match was what you approved of?"

Jowan Xian pondered, "Hmm... You only see the surface, the deeper technical characteristics, I can't explain to you. You just need to operate the transfers according to my requirements!"

Kenyon was very unhappy, feeling that Jowan Xian was abusing his authority as the head coach. Although he, as the club's manager, had no right to interfere with the team, he had already made up his mind to have a good talk with owner Abramovich for the long-term planning of the team.

Jowan Xian's transfer policy was simply too absurd!

Jowan Xian sighed inwardly, "The world laughs at me for being too crazy, but I laugh at the world for not seeing through it! These are just the transfers for Ramos and Kaka, I haven't even asked for Ashley Cole and Ballack yet!"

Regarding transfers, Jowan Xian had done a lot of thinking and had confidently discussed with his assistant, Mourinho, believing that large-scale adjustments to the team would significantly reduce the team's cohesion and the captain's authority. It would be best to achieve results in the first season before making further purchases.

So, Jowan Xian's main transfer targets for the summer were down to three: Ramos, Kaka, and the fiery English sensation, Michael Owen!

With Abramovich's strong entry into Chelsea and Real Madrid's widespread spending, the transfer market was significantly affected, with major clubs making big moves.

Especially the competition for the English Golden Boy, Michael Owen, became increasingly intense under the pursuit of the money-no-object Real Madrid and Chelsea.

On August 3rd, the host of the Spanish sports program "El Chiringuito," Pedrerol, revealed: Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, had personally negotiated with Liverpool and reached a preliminary agreement to sign Owen for 19 million pounds!

When this news reached the British Isles, it immediately plunged the entire English fan base into panic. Just last year, England's captain, Beckham, left Manchester United to join Real Madrid, but his performance was unsatisfactory, struggling to compete with Figo on the right wing, leading to a poor performance at the European Championship, even missing a penalty.

As the English Golden Boy, fans did not want Owen to go to Real Madrid. Although Jowan Xian's words were absurd and his identity peculiar, Chelsea was still an English club, and fans could continue to see his lightning speed in the Premier League.

Especially, fans worldwide knew that Ronaldo and Raul were irreplaceable starters for Real Madrid. Should our English main striker play as a substitute? We, the fans, do not agree!

That afternoon, Liverpool fans gathered around the club, protesting that they did not want Owen to leave, especially not to Real Madrid! The passionate Kop fans vented their frustration over England's poor performance at the European Championship, forcing the Liverpool club to contact the police to maintain stability.

At this time, Chelsea's head coach, Jowan Xian, also gave an interview to The Times, saying, "Owen is our English hero, and heroes should look like heroes, not sit on the bench in Mourinho's team! Mourinho won the Champions League last year, and his tactical style is well-known, favoring physically strong, tough center-forwards.

Owen is a technical and speed player, clearly not fitting Mourinho's tactical requirements. Under the pressure of Ronaldo and Raul, he would have few opportunities to play. Therefore, I can confidently predict that if Owen goes to Real Madrid, his entire career will suffer an unprecedented blow!"

When The Times' football section published Jowan Xian's words, it immediately sparked another wave of "Jowan Xian" fever in the English media.

"Jowan Xian angrily criticizes Mourinho's single-minded tactics!"

"After Eriksson, Mourinho is hit again."

"Jowan Xian makes another miraculous prediction, will Owen dare to go to Real Madrid?"

"Blue Lion's head coach pulls out all the stops, where will the wind-chasing Owen go?"

"Jowan Xian vs. The Special One"

...

Before the transfer fee offer is officially accepted, FIFA rules prohibit the opposing club from contacting the player. Therefore, Jowan Xian never met Owen in person.

If he could, Jowan Xian believed that with his outstanding charisma, Owen would obediently apply for a transfer to Chelsea without a word.

Fortunately, Jowan Xian had another trick up his sleeve—Owen's national team teammate and good friend, Rooney!

Jowan Xian bought a large amount of nutritional supplements, complaining about the club's stinginess, which wouldn't even reimburse him! In his previous life, even travel, dining, dating, and saunas could be reimbursed with invoices.

Rooney's condition was clearly much better, already able to move slowly around the bed. Seeing Jowan Xian, he greeted him warmly, "Boss, the article in The Times, were those words really yours?"

Jowan Xian said seriously, "Of course! With my keen eye, if Owen goes to Real Madrid, then England's attack will rely solely on you."

"Ah?"

Over this period, Jowan Xian had gained Rooney's trust through his sincerity and actions. Hearing this, Rooney looked panicked and worried, "Boss, you should talk to Abramovich, we must do everything to sign Owen. With him, I have confidence we can win the league this year!"

Jowan Xian put on a difficult face, "Sigh! The transfer fee shouldn't be a problem, but the key is... Owen seems to have been convinced by Florentino to go to Real Madrid. What if..."

"What if what?"

Jowan Xian shamelessly said, "What if you give him a call and persuade him?"

"Ah?" Rooney's mouth opened wide as if he had swallowed an egg, shyly saying, "That... wouldn't be right, would it?"

Jowan Xian quickly took out the script he had prepared and handed it to Rooney, grinning, "Don't worry, it won't be difficult for you, just read it out!"

Rooney took the script and nervously dialed Owen's number, "Hi, Michael, it's Rooney..."

After some small talk, Rooney finally read from the script, "Jowan Xian, though English, is of Chinese descent and studies the I Ching! Do you know the Eight Trigram Formation? It's a very mysterious Eastern pattern that encompasses all the secrets of the universe. If studied thoroughly, it can accurately predict future events!"

"I think it's true, ancient Eastern civilization is very mysterious, and you haven't forgotten, right? At the European Championship, Wanhuan accurately predicted that I would get injured, and of course, the great comeback. Even if the prediction isn't entirely reliable, I believe it has a high credibility in football..."

After reading the long script, Owen felt as if he had taken a cold shower, cold sweat pouring down his back, and countless questions arose in his mind, "Could it be... that going to Real Madrid will really lead to the lowest point of my career as Jowan Xian said?"

Even after hanging up the phone, Owen was still in shock.