Chapter Summaries

Manchester United defeated Al Ahly 2:0 to reach the Club World Cup final against Al Hilal, while Tang Ye discussed Saudi interest in signing him. Tang Ye also used his endorsements to attract major sponsorships for Chinese football, prompting a surge of investment as the national team prepared for the Asian Cup and the next World Cup.

• Harry Kane scored Manchester United's opener, and B. Fee added a second as they beat Al Ahly 2:0.
• Tang Ye praised Al Hilal before the final but said he had never promised to join the Saudi club.
• Pepsi offered Tang Ye and the China national team a combined endorsement deal, and the Chinese Football Association announced Pepsi as a partner.
• Tang Ye sought sponsors for Chinese football, leading Adidas, Nike, Red Bull, Panasonic, and Budweiser to make offers.
• The Sun dubbed Tang Ye's approach the “King Tax” as companies paired deals with him with sponsorships of Chinese football.

Manchester United overwhelmed Al Hilal in the Club World Cup final, with Harry Kane scoring a hat-trick and Tang Ye contributing a goal and an assist. Manchester United held a 6–2 lead late in the match as Kane came off to celebrate his first major trophy with the club.

• Manchester United took an early lead when Ousmane Dembélé crossed for Harry Kane to score, then Tang Ye assisted Kane's second goal to make it 2–0.
• Kane added another goal after Tang Ye passed to Diogo Dalot, before Mitrović scored for Al Hilal to make it 3–1 at halftime.
• Erik ten Hag sent Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay on and instructed Tang Ye to prioritize defense, but Tang Ye later scored to extend Manchester United's lead to 4–1.
• Matthijs de Ligt headed in Manchester United's fifth goal, then Diogo Dalot conceded a penalty that Mitrović converted for 5–2.
• After Tang Ye was substituted off, McTominay, Hakim Ziyech, and Rashford combined to set up Kane's hat-trick and make it 6–2.
• Kane came off to a chorus of Manchester United chants, and Tang Ye told him he was about to win a trophy.

Manchester United beat Al Hilal 6–2 to win the Club World Cup, with Kane lifting his first Manchester United trophy after a hat trick. Tang Ye’s proposal to separate China’s professional leagues from the Chinese Football Association was rejected, but he later backed a youth-training company that planned to raise funds in Hong Kong.

• Manchester United defeated Al Hilal 6–2, and Kane won the Club World Cup MVP after scoring a hat trick.
• Tang Ye spoke with Infantino about developing Chinese football, then gave Kane the trophy to raise.
• Manchester United won the EFL Cup and advanced past Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League while Tang Ye’s contract extension remained unsettled.
• Tang Ye proposed creating the China Football League Alliance and transferring professional leagues’ ownership and operations away from the Chinese Football Association, but the association rejected his plan.
• Bubble Bond announced plans for a Hong Kong secondary listing, while its jointly owned China Football Youth Training Group prepared to raise funds for youth-training facilities and pitches.

Tang Ye continued his push to invest heavily in Chinese football despite criticism and falling Bubble Bond stock, while asking his father to sell property to fund the effort. China drew Uzbekistan, Syria, and Vietnam in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, and Tang Zhengxiong put his Foshan office building up for sale as Manchester United prepared to face AC Milan.

• The media and shareholders criticized Tang Ye’s plan for Bubble Bond to invest billions in Chinese football, while Boer faced accusations of neglecting his duties as CEO.
• Tang Ye declined the AFC Asian Cup draw invitation, and reports claimed his youth academy project had strained relations with the Football Association.
• Tang Ye asked Tang Zhengxiong to sell the family’s office building and buy PPBD stock; Tang Zhengxiong agreed to list the building and consider selling part or all of it.
• China’s AFC Asian Cup draw placed the hosts in Group A with Uzbekistan, Syria, and Vietnam.
• Tang Zhengxiong listed the Nanhai District office building for 420 million yuan, while Manchester United’s Champions League quarterfinal against AC Milan was set for April 13.

Tang Ye’s UAG expanded its Chinese football plans through partnerships, youth development, and a possible acquisition of Evergrande Football School, while Manchester United prepared for two finals against Manchester City. The chapter ended with news that UAG planned to recruit coaches and scouts and build a major football training base in China.

• Shandong Taishan signed an agency agreement with UAG, which planned to send Luneng Football School players to train at Dunkirk in France at no cost to the club.
• Guangdong officials sought financing for Bubble Bond to acquire Evergrande Football School and potentially save Guangzhou, while Bubble Bond weighed the cost and debt involved.
• Li Laoba speculated that Tang Ye was focused on raising Chinese football’s level and said he would buy UAG shares if the company went public.
• Manchester City defeated Real Madrid 3-0 to reach the Champions League final against Manchester United, setting up two Manchester derbies in consecutive finals.
• The Sun reported that UAG sought partnerships with more Chinese Super League clubs and was negotiating to acquire Evergrande Football School.
• UAG planned to recruit international scouts, lawyers, and coaches, renovate the school with Peking University’s help, and build a large football training base in China.

Manchester United defeated Manchester City on penalties to win the FA Cup, their fourth trophy of the season, and began preparing for the Champions League final. As reports of Al Hilal’s bid for Tang Ye intensified, Manchester United fans protested to keep him at the club, while Tang Ye left his decision open.

• Manchester United drew 0–0 with Manchester City and won the FA Cup final 4–3 on penalties, prompting Erik ten Hag to promise the team would pursue the Champions League title in Istanbul.
• Boer told Tang Ye that he planned to rename United Youth Training Group as United Development Group and described Al Hilal’s offer, including captaincy, reduced playing demands, and a possible $500 million transfer fee; Tang Ye told him to keep communicating without rushing.
• The AFC Asian Cup organizers received no definite answer about whether Tang Ye would play in China’s opening match, while Manchester United and Manchester City prepared to travel to Turkey for the Champions League final.
• Reports said Al Hilal was pursuing Tang Ye as part of a plan to strengthen its squad, and Manchester United fans protested outside Old Trafford, demanding that he stay.
• Prince Alwaleed bin Talal confirmed Al Hilal’s pursuit of Tang Ye and said Saudi Arabia would bid to host the 2034 World Cup.

Manchester United and Manchester City prepared for the Champions League final amid speculation about Tang Ye’s possible move to Saudi Arabia. Before the match began in Istanbul, Tang Ye told Erik ten Hag he had not decided whether to leave, and the chapter ended as the final kicked off.

• Pep Guardiola told Manchester City’s players that beating Manchester United in the Champions League final was their only acceptable outcome.
• Erik ten Hag asked Tang Ye whether he would go to Saudi Arabia, and Tang Ye said he had not made up his mind and might simply want a new environment.
• Tang Ye and Erik ten Hag agreed to focus on the final, though Erik asked Tang Ye to contact him if he changed his mind.
• Manchester City and Manchester United arrived at Atatürk Olympic Stadium as commentators discussed the sextuple bid and Tang Ye’s future.
• The Champions League final began, and Manchester City attacked through Grealish and Palmer before Palmer made a mistake.

Manchester United took a 2–0 halftime lead over Manchester City in the Champions League final, with Rodri scoring from Tang Ye’s corner and Kane finishing after a move involving Dembélé and Tang Ye. Guardiola rallied City in the dressing room and prepared changes as both teams geared up for the second half.

• Tang Ye led Manchester United forward and created a corner, which Dalot and Tang Ye worked into a cross for Rodri to head in for a 1–0 lead.
• Manchester City built attacks through De Bruyne and Haaland but failed to score, while De Gea and United’s defense held firm.
• Dembélé beat Akanji and drew Rúben Dias out before passing back to Tang Ye, whose pass set up Kane to make it 2–0 before halftime.
• Guardiola confronted Manchester City’s players at halftime, stressed that the final was their last chance for a trophy, and explained his substitution plan.
• Palmer asked Rúben Dias to pass to him in the second half, then remembered Guardiola planned to substitute him.
• Gündogan urged Manchester City to prove they could compete with Manchester United, and the squad rallied around his call to wash away their season’s humiliation.

Manchester United overwhelmed Manchester City 4–0 in the Champions League final, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring twice after Tang Ye sparked dangerous counterattacks. As stoppage time ended, Manchester United stood on the verge of completing a historic sextuple, while Lisandro Martínez had been stretchered off injured.

• Rico Lewis came on for Palmer, and Manchester City began the second half by pressing for a goal.
• Tang Ye turned a City attack into a counterattack, and Luke Shaw crossed for Ousmane Dembélé to head Manchester United’s third goal.
• Tang Ye quickly took a free kick, setting up Dembélé to score again and make it 4–0.
• Lisandro Martínez was carried off on a stretcher after colliding with Haaland, so Erik ten Hag moved Rodri into central defense.
• Tang Ye’s free kick struck the junction of the post and crossbar, and a later goal was ruled offside.
• Manchester City failed to score, and Manchester United approached the final whistle with the league, EFL Cup, FA Cup, Community Shield, Champions League, and Club World Cup secured.

Manchester United defeated Manchester City 4-0 in the Champions League final to complete an unprecedented sextuple, while Tang Ye won the Champions League MVP and Silver Boot. As celebrations ended, Tang Ye remained noncommittal about leaving Manchester United, and speculation over his future intensified.

• Manchester United beat Manchester City 4-0 in Istanbul, and Guardiola struggled to cope with the defeat as United celebrated their sixth trophy of the season.
• Tang Ye congratulated Haaland, who asked whether he planned to leave Manchester United, but Tang Ye said the reports were not necessarily true and that nothing had been decided.
• Tang Ye lifted the Champions League trophy and later received the season MVP award, while Kane claimed the Golden Boot and Tang Ye took the Silver Boot.
• Dembélé and Mati discussed rumors that Tang Ye might move to Saudi Arabia, but neither knew his plans, and Guardiola admitted he might need to change Manchester City's approach.
• Tang Ye thanked his teammates in an interview and said fans would learn his decision soon, while reports linked him with Al Hilal and Real Madrid.
• Manchester United's shareholders said any transfer depended on Tang Ye's wishes, and The Sun reported that a Saudi move could help the club clear its debt.

China national football team defeated Australia 4–1 in the AFC Asian Cup Round of 16, with Tang Ye scoring a hat trick and Dai Weijun assisting one goal on his national team debut. China advanced to face South Korea in the quarterfinals, while Tang Ye planned to collect his two Peking University graduation certificates before the match.

• Australia brought Goodwin off the bench as China national football team maintained its attacking pressure with a 2–0 lead.
• Tang Ye scored from Dai Weijun’s corner to put China ahead 3–0, then Goodwin scored for Australia after Zhang Linpeng made a mistake.
• Tang Ye beat Behich near the end line and scored from a tight angle, sealing China’s 4–1 win and his second hat trick of the tournament.
• Escribá warned the players not to celebrate too soon and said the team’s only goal was to win the championship.
• South Korea defeated Saudi Arabia to set up a quarterfinal against China, while Tang Ye’s plan to collect his Peking University certificates was reported.

Tang Ye collected his graduation certificate at Peking University, helped a fan challenge a seller of fake memorabilia, and discussed his plans for further study and football reform. As China prepared to face South Korea in the Asian Cup quarterfinal, Gao Hongbo voiced support for Tang Ye’s proposal, though his interim role offered little practical help.

• Tang Ye discussed the difficulty of separating the Football Association from the league system with Escribá, who warned that the reform could strain Tang Ye’s relationship with the association.
• At Peking University, Tang Ye identified a fan’s Borussia Dortmund autograph as fake and recorded a video demanding that the seller refund the fan.
• Tang Ye collected his graduation certificate, announced plans to pursue master’s degrees, and said he might help coach at Peking University in the future.
• Tang Ye declined to answer reporters’ questions about his transfer and focused on training ahead of China’s quarterfinal against South Korea.
• Gao Hongbo supported Tang Ye’s plan to separate administration from league operations, but his interim position meant he could offer little concrete assistance.

China faced South Korea in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal after German coach Klinsmann dismissed fears of Tang Ye and China. South Korea took an early lead from Hwang Hee-chan’s penalty, but Tang Ye set up Wu Lei to equalize before halftime.

• Klinsmann said China’s record against Germany gave him no reason to fear Tang Ye, and South Korea announced a lineup with Son Heung-min in midfield.
• Tang Ye and Son Heung-min greeted each other before the match as the China and South Korea teams entered a packed Workers’ Stadium.
• South Korea threatened early through Hwang Hee-chan, Lee Kang-in, and Son Heung-min, but Zhu Chenjie blocked Son’s shot.
• Wang Dalei failed to hold Cho Gue-sung’s shot, then conceded a penalty after bringing down Hwang Hee-chan, who scored to put South Korea ahead in the 29th minute.
• Tang Ye drove into the box and sent a cutback through Kim Min-jae’s legs, allowing Wu Lei to score and make it 1–1.

China national football team came from behind to defeat South Korea national football team 3:1 and advance to the AFC Asian Cup semifinals, with Tang Ye scoring twice. South Korea’s elimination left Son Heung-min and its fans frustrated, while Faker joked about his old League of Legends match against Tang Ye.

• Tang Ye reassured Dai Weijun before the second half and urged him to follow the game plan.
• Tang Ye set up an attack that ended with Wu Lei heading the ball to Zhang Yuning, who laid it off for Tang Ye to score China’s go-ahead goal.
• Tang Ye tackled Hwang Hee-chan, and Dai Weijun carried the ball forward before a passing move led to Tang Ye’s long-range goal for a 3:1 lead.
• Escrivá substituted Tang Ye in the 74th minute, and China national football team held on to win and advance to the semifinals.
• Son Heung-min spoke to reporters after South Korea’s elimination, while Faker laughed about reports that he had once defeated Tang Ye in a ranked match.
• South Korean fans criticized their team and the KFA, with some claiming that Faker was the only Korean in the stadium who could suppress Tang Ye.

China's national team prepared to face Iran in the Asian Cup semifinals while Tang Ye's business ventures and Manchester United transfer rumors drew attention. After hearing Dai Weijun describe his stalled career, Tang Ye arranged for him to become a first-team midfielder at Utrecht next season.

• Escribá lamented that Iran had eliminated Qatar and disrupted his semifinal plans, while Mati urged him to adapt to circumstances.
• Bubble Bond faced scrutiny over its finances, a possible purchase of Evergrande Football School, and UDG's expansion into grassroots football and club partnerships.
• Tang Ye's Passing rose to 99, but he worried that his overall rating might never reach 99 and unlock the next tier of [King Ding].
• Dai Weijun told Tang Ye that he had struggled to adapt in the Premier League and doubted he could return to European football.
• Tang Ye called a contact at Utrecht and told Dai Weijun he would be a first-team midfielder there starting next season.

Tang Ye led China national football team to a 3–0 semifinal win over Iran, sending them to the AFC Asian Cup final and bringing the possible move to the Bird's Nest closer. After the match, he praised Japan and said he could not predict the final, but this year's AFC Asian Cup would not leave him with regrets.

• Tang Ye encouraged Dai Weijun to pursue a move from the Chinese Super League to Utrecht, and Dai agreed to try.
• China national football team prepared to face Iran in the semifinal as Japan's Hajime Moriyasu anticipated a possible final against China.
• Wang Dalei suffered facial bleeding after a collision with Azmoun and left the match, with Yan Junling replacing him.
• Tang Ye scored twice in the first half, including a direct free kick, to give China national football team a 2–0 lead.
• Tang Ye completed a hat trick with another direct free kick as China national football team defeated Iran 3–0 and advanced to the final.
• Tang Ye told reporters Japan would be a strong opponent and concluded that this year's AFC Asian Cup did not need a passport filled with regrets.

With the AFC Asian Cup final moved to the Bird’s Nest, China and Japan prepared for a heavily attended showdown as Tang Ye promoted Bubble Bond’s expansion and recruited a fan as a translator. On match day, China’s players faced the pressure of a home final, while a vendor outside the stadium sold a counterfeit Tang Ye doll to an unsuspecting uncle.

• Hajime Moriyasu said Japan aimed to defeat China in the final and become Asia’s strongest team.
• The AFC moved the final from Workers’ Stadium to the Bird’s Nest, prompting Japanese fans to complain about the change and the newly available tickets.
• Tang Ye discussed Bubble Bond’s football investments, hired a fan with a master’s degree in English as a translator, and invited other spectators to share their work ambitions.
• The Bird’s Nest sold out its publicly available tickets, and Tang Ye’s teammates discussed the pressure of playing the final before a huge home crowd.
• On match day, a vendor sold an uncle a counterfeit Tang Ye doll that played a recorded line when its button was pressed.

The China national football team faced Japan in the AFC Asian Cup final, with Japan targeting Tang Ye and using a cautious formation. After Japan threatened early and Takehiro Tomiyasu fouled Tang Ye, China created an attack that ended with Wei Shihao scoring.

• Japanese actresses Lola Takizawa and Kana Momonogi said they hoped Japan would win, while Mati asked the team manager to keep them away from the players and Escribá.
• Tang Ye and his teammates rallied in the locker room before China and Japan began the final at the Bird's Nest.
• Japan's Ritsu Doan, Morita Hidemasa, and Takehiro Tomiyasu combined for early attacks, but Yan Junling and Tang Ye helped China withstand the pressure.
• Tang Ye flicked the ball past his marker and was fouled by Takehiro Tomiyasu, who received a yellow card.
• Tang Ye called for Zhu Chenjie to shoot, and the resulting scramble let Wu Xi, Zhang Yuning, and Jiang Guangtai work the ball back to him.
• Tang Ye drew Japan's defenders with repeated shot feints, and Wei Shihao headed the ball into the net.

China took an early lead through Wei Shihao, but Japan scored twice to lead 2–1 at halftime. Tang Ye and Escribá urged China to respond, and the chapter ended as the team prepared to return to the field.

• Wei Shihao scored from Tang Ye's delivery in the 19th minute to put China ahead 1–0.
• Morita Hidemasa scored from a rebound after Takehiro Tomiyasu's header hit the post, leveling the match.
• Jiang Guangtai conceded a penalty, Yan Junling saved Wataru Endo's kick and the rebound, but Ritsu Doan scored Japan's third attempt to make it 2–1.
• Tang Ye criticized China's defending and Zhang Xizhe's failure to win the rebound in the locker room.
• Escribá moved China's substitution plans forward, emphasized attacking down the wings, and rallied the players to fight for the title.
• China's players left the locker room to begin the second half, while Mati stayed behind and reacted to Escribá's speech.

After Wang Shenchao was sent off, China national football team fought back from 2:1 down against Japan. Tang Ye scored twice, including a direct goal from a corner, to give China a 3:2 lead despite playing with ten men.

• Wang Shenchao received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving China national football team one player short.
• Tang Ye combined with Wu Xi and Zhang Yuning before scoring the equalizer, which VAR confirmed was onside.
• Escribá urged China national football team to restart quickly, and Tang Ye directed his teammates to keep looking for him.
• China national football team created several chances, but Zion Suzuki made saves and Tang Ye struck the post from long range.
• After China national football team won a corner, Tang Ye's curling delivery eluded Jiang Guangtai and Zion Suzuki and went straight into the net for a 3:2 lead.