Chapter 41

Of course, it's the transfer rights.

For Lin Sen, no matter what team he coached, this was the only right he had to hold firmly in his hands. Because this was his foundation. In fact, according to his understanding, Malaga's head coach last season, Muniz, was also the team's sports director. However, as a newcomer, he certainly couldn't be compared to Muniz right away, so he had to make the request.

In response to Lin Sen's request, Aguilar's first reaction was a sneer. This time, he didn't hide it in his heart but clearly showed it on his raised lips, saying, "Mr. Lin, I think you've forgotten one thing: this is Spain, not the Premier League. And I hope you understand that Malaga is a newly promoted team."

In other words, even if the transfer rights were given to Lin Sen, Malaga would mostly play a supporting role in the summer transfer market, making the transfer rights practically meaningless. However, Aguilar didn't expect that Lin Sen would nod as if nothing had happened and say something that made him feel a bit helpless.

"I know, but that's precisely why I have the confidence to ask for the transfer rights, just like Muniz." Lin Sen also had a hidden meaning: if the transfer rights were practically meaningless for Malaga, then it didn't matter whether they were given to him or not. The main reason Muniz could serve as both head coach and sports director was not because of his experience and ability, but because of Malaga's financial situation.

"Of course, for the transfer rights, I can give up other requirements, including those in my personal contract." Before Xiao Sans and Aguilar could respond, Lin Sen added more weight to his request.

Xiao Sans and Aguilar exchanged glances again, unsure how to evaluate this Chinese coach.

"Mr. Chairman, Mr. Advisor." At this moment, Lin Sen looked directly at the two men, "I mean no offense. Since you arranged this meeting, you must have already learned about me. I believe there is a basis for cooperation, which is why we are meeting today. You want to know my thoughts, and I will tell you honestly. Exaggeration would do me no good. To use an perhaps inappropriate analogy, Malaga is now a family car on a professional track. If you ask me how to drive, I can only tell you that my driving steps are the same as everyone else's. But the problem now is not just driving, but how to win the race on this track. I believe in my driving skills, and I have confidence in driving Malaga to the finish line. But to win against those professional racing cars, driving skills alone are not enough. The most important condition is that you must allow me to modify the car. I believe my request is not excessive. But..."

At this point, Lin Sen smiled politely, "If you are looking for a coach who only aims for relegation and haggles over his annual salary, I'm afraid I might not be the right choice."

After saying this, Lin Sen stood up. At this point, the outcome was clear, and further words were unnecessary.

Xiao Sans and Aguilar exchanged another glance, also standing up. Xiao Sans smiled and extended his hand, saying, "In any case, as I said at the beginning, at least our conversation was very honest."

"We will give you a response as soon as possible." After shaking hands with Lin Sen, Aguilar also extended his hand.

As Xiao Sans said, although Aguilar found Lin Sen a bit too confident, even to the point of arrogance, this was just one meeting, and Lin Sen was at least honest, which he had to admit.

The three parted ways at the door and then left. However, none of them noticed that a camera had been following Lin Sen since he entered the cafe.

---

Regardless of the outcome of the meeting, Lin Sen didn't know, but even if they met a hundred more times, he would say the same things and do the same things. So, no matter the result, there was nothing to regret.

Leaving the cafe, Lin Sen didn't plan to return to Madrid directly. After all, he was currently unemployed and had plenty of time. Malaga was a famous tourist city with many places to visit. As an art student, he knew that Malaga was the birthplace of the great painter Picasso. Picasso's birthplace was not far from the cafe, and it was a short walk.

Arriving at the famous Plaza de la Merced, when Lin Sen saw the monument, he knew he had arrived. It was said that this square was once a monastery, and the monument standing on the site of the monastery was built to commemorate General Dorrego, who died for freedom. In Europe, squares are often filled with pigeons, and this one was no exception. As soon as Lin Sen walked over, a few people tried to sell him various handicrafts, clearly mistaking him for a Chinese tourist. No one recognized him as the former interim coach of Atletico Madrid.

Picasso's birthplace has been turned into the Picasso Museum, a four-story building. Like in China, there is an entrance fee, which is not expensive, 2 euros, but only the ground floor and first floor are open. Lin Sen bought a ticket and walked in. At the entrance, there was a small shop selling items related to Picasso, including books, albums, and various souvenirs. As he walked to the door, two people glanced at Lin Sen and quickly looked away. Lin Sen didn't mind and walked in.

There weren't many visitors, only three or four people. Whether it was because of the few people or a rule against noise, it was very quiet. For someone like Lin Sen, visiting a celebrity's home was a way to absorb some of their aura. Although he couldn't appreciate Picasso's abstract art, he quickly finished the ground floor and then went up to the first floor, where he unexpectedly saw a familiar face.

Cinderella.

Cinderella was with two other girls. He could only see their backs, but they were slender, and from behind, they looked like "back beauties."

Lin Sen was taken aback, hesitating whether to greet her, but Cinderella noticed him and immediately waved with a look of surprise. Lin Sen had no choice but to smile and approach.

"Why are you here?"

"Here to play."

"Okay, same answer."

At this moment, a face turned to Lin Sen, making his heart skip a beat. The girl's eyes glanced at him indifferently, then turned to Cinderella with a hint of blame before turning away. Cinderella stuck out her tongue and gestured for Lin Sen to talk outside.

Saying he was dazed was an exaggeration, but Lin Sen had never thought anyone could surprise him so much. They say a smile can make a hundred beauties, but she hadn't even smiled yet. He was already embarrassed by his reaction and decided to follow Cinderella outside, controlling his urge to look back at the girl.

Because, he had seen a book that he couldn't resist reading to the end.

Outside, Lin Sen learned that Cinderella was really there to play, on a weekend trip. The other two were her friends, one named Boya and the other named Airel. Airel was someone Lin Sen knew to some extent, the girl who had spammed his phone with messages. This trip to Malaga was Airel's idea, as Malaga was her hometown.

The girl he saw earlier definitely wasn't Airel. Lin Sen reassured himself.

When Cinderella asked what he was doing in Malaga, Lin Sen told the truth. It wasn't a business secret or anything embarrassing, so there was no need to hide it.

"So, are you coming back to work here soon?" A familiar, bold voice came from behind Lin Sen.

Lin Sen turned around and saw another girl. Although not as stunning as the previous one, she was still very beautiful, with an incredibly good figure. Beautiful girls do tend to stick together.

"It's still just a possibility." Lin Sen nodded in greeting and smiled.

"Why? Didn't you coach Atletico Madrid? Is Malaga's requirement higher than Atletico's?"

"No." Lin Sen shook his head with a smile.

"Then why?"

"Well..." Lin Sen was a bit hesitant. He didn't think it was appropriate to explain football to a girl at this moment, so he thought for a moment and said, "Think of it as getting married."

It's not just about matching social status or mutual consent.

"Marriage?" Airel thought for a moment and then laughed, "So, are you the groom or the bride?"

Lin Sen was speechless. Are today's college students so imaginative?

"Airel, don't be so stubborn." Cinderella came to Lin Sen's rescue, "Lin, let's have dinner together. It's a thank you for the last time you took us to the game."

Lin Sen nodded. The meeting with Xiao Sans and Aguilar had been all talk, and he hadn't even had a sip of coffee. His stomach was indeed a bit hungry. Airel went to call Boya, while Cinderella waited outside with Lin Sen. Soon, Airel and Boya came out, and Boya nodded at Lin Sen, clearly recognizing him as the person who had taken them to the game.

Since Airel was a local, she chose the restaurant. However, to Lin Sen, she just picked a clean, small restaurant and walked in. Lin Sen didn't mind; anyone knew that in a tourist city like Malaga, the best flavors were often found in these small, unassuming restaurants.

Roast lamb leg, salmon, mussels...

Airel's seemingly casual choice proved to be excellent; the few dishes were all very authentic.

Lin Sen ate heartily, not caring about his image in front of the three girls. After the initial surprise, his feelings toward Boya quickly became indifferent. Friends of friends, several layers removed, didn't require formal behavior. Cinderella and Airel didn't mind Lin Sen's casualness, but Boya found it interesting.

To be honest, at first, she thought Lin Sen was deliberately acting indifferent in front of her, as she had clearly seen him lose focus in the museum. But when Lin Sen didn't hesitate to eat the roast lamb leg that Cinderella had passed to him, she knew that the Chinese man in front of her was either a starving ghost or truly relaxed in her presence.

After the meal, the four of them said goodbye.

Impressions? Cinderella said, "A good friend." Airel said, "A good man." Boya said, "A starving ghost."

Lin Sen, of course, didn't know he had received so many evaluations from one meal. He didn't care about what people thought of him; it was just a chance encounter, like how he met Cinderella. After leaving, he took the train back to Madrid that night. When he returned home, he received three faxes, one from Valencia, one from Zaragoza, and one from the Segunda Division's Real Sociedad.