Chapter Summaries

Tang Ye scored the winning goal as the ten-man China national football team defeated Japan 3–2 at the Bird's Nest, securing back-to-back AFC Asian Cup titles. After celebrating and receiving the final MVP award, Tang Ye reflected on the victory, while Hajime Moriyasu vowed Japan would keep returning.

• Tang Ye scored directly from a corner in the 78th minute, giving China a 3–2 lead, and received a yellow card for prolonging his celebration.
• Takumi Minamino drove Japan's late attack but sent his shot over the goal as China defended its lead.
• The referee ended the match, and China won the AFC Asian Cup for a second consecutive time, its first back-to-back titles.
• Tang Ye celebrated with Escribá and lifted the trophy with his teammates before being named tournament MVP.
• Tang Ye told the AFC host that winning at home was special, thanked his teammates and fans, and said he believed China could win the tournament.
• Hajime Moriyasu admitted Japan had failed to seize its chance but promised that the team would keep fighting and return.

After winning the AFC Asian Cup, Tang Ye visited Japan to discuss cooperation between United Development Group and the Japan Football Association on developing young players. Kozo Tajima proposed using Japan's elite academies to prepare Chinese prospects for European football, leaving Tang Ye to consider the plan.

• He Wei thanked loyal fans after China's Asian Cup victory and said the national team's rise was still underway.
• Escribá told Mati he intended to renew with China and keep winning titles, though he doubted Tang Ye could succeed in reforming Chinese football.
• Romano reported that Real Madrid had offered Manchester United €220 million plus a €120 million signing bonus for Tang Ye.
• Tang Ye traveled to Tokyo on July 15 after the Japan Football Association invited him to discuss United Development Group.
• Kozo Tajima proposed sending Chinese prospects through Japanese academies before they moved to Europe, and Tang Ye listened as he argued for cooperation.

Tang Ye’s transfer to Al Hilal neared completion as reports named a roughly $500 million fee and a five-year contract worth more than $2 billion. He told his Manchester United teammates he planned to return after three years, while Al Hilal began reshaping its recruitment around the deal.

• Japanese fans’ initial anger at the JFA’s partnership with UDG gradually eased as radio hosts argued that Japan could benefit from cooperation with China.
• Reports said Al Hilal had offered Manchester United $550 million and Tang Ye a five-year contract worth $2.2 billion, prompting speculation about his future.
• Jason predicted Tang Ye would most likely stay at Manchester United or move to Saudi Arabia, and ruled out Real Madrid and Barcelona.
• Cristiano Ronaldo urged Tang Ye to join Al Nassr, but Tang Ye said he was willing to wait while Ronaldo tried to persuade the club’s executives.
• Tang Ye told Manchester United teammates he viewed a three-year Saudi stay as beneficial to both sides and promised to return, prompting the players to give him a farewell gathering.
• Romano reported that Al Hilal had reached a verbal agreement with Manchester United and Tang Ye, while Al Hilal shifted its recruitment toward defenders and filed a therapeutic-use exemption application.

Tang Ye’s record-breaking transfer to Al Hilal and the extraordinary terms of his contract were revealed as Manchester United faced angry fans and questions about how it would use the fee. As Tang Ye prepared for his Al Hilal debut, The Sun reported that the Glazers had shifted £450 million in debt onto Manchester United.

• Joel Glazer defended Tang Ye’s €550 million transfer, saying Tang Ye had chosen to leave, while Manchester United fans demanded his return and questioned how the fee would be spent.
• Al Hilal signed Theo Hernández and Koulibaly and pursued Cancelo as reports said the club planned to spend around $750 million on summer transfers.
• Saudi media revealed that Tang Ye’s five-year Al Hilal deal could earn him $2.78 billion, including a transfer-freedom clause after three years that would let another club sign him for €60 million.
• Cristiano Ronaldo criticized Manchester United for selling Tang Ye, while Morgan argued the transfer fee would transform the team.
• Al Hilal’s first Saudi league match against Al-Fayha was set to mark Tang Ye’s debut when The Sun reported that the Glazers had transferred £450 million of debt to Manchester United, raising its debt to £1 billion.

Tang Ye won his fifth Ballon d'Or while playing for Al Hilal, tying Lionel Messi's career total, as Dembélé and Rodri finished third and second. The chapter then moved to 2024, when the expanded 2025 Club World Cup was announced and Al Hilal's chances of qualifying remained uncertain.

• Dembélé said Tang Ye's departure had contributed to Manchester United's poor start, but promised to win a Ballon d'Or within the next three years.
• Tang Ye discussed his prolific start at Al Hilal, where the team had won all eight league matches, and said he would attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris.
• Tang Ye reunited with Manchester United teammates at the ceremony and joked that he could score five goals per match in the Saudi league if he tried harder.
• Dembélé finished third and Rodri finished second before Tang Ye won the 2023 Ballon d'Or, his fifth career award.
• France Football announced that Tang Ye had tied Messi's record of five Ballon d'Or trophies, and Tang Ye said Dembélé or Rodri could win the next one.
• FIFA confirmed that the expanded 2025 Club World Cup would feature 32 teams in the United States, while Al Hilal still needed strong results to qualify.

Shandong Taishan missed the chance to face Tang Ye after losing to Jeonbuk, while Wang Dalei considered a move to Japan’s J1 League. Tang Ye led Al Hilal to an unbeaten season and the AFC Champions League title, then stayed silent as the Saudi league’s strength was compared with Ligue 1.

• Wang Dalei and Gao Zhunyi said they hoped Shandong Taishan could reach the semifinals and face Tang Ye, while Wang Dalei confirmed he was considering Yokohama F. Marinos.
• United Development Group discussed salary subsidies and sponsorships to help Wang Dalei move to Japan, and Tang Ye said Escribá had praised Wang Yudong’s talent.
• Shandong Taishan lost to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, ending their chance to meet Al Hilal, while Wang Dalei continued to consider his future.
• Tang Ye scored twice as Al Hilal crushed Ulsan HD 8-0 on aggregate to win the AFC Champions League and complete a four-title unbeaten season.
• Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the Saudi league was more competitive than Ligue 1, and Zlatan Ibrahimović argued that Ligue 1 was superior.

Manchester United’s poor season intensified protests against the Glazer family, while Tang Ye discussed Guangzhou Hengsheng’s progress and his uncertain future after Saudi Arabia. Al Hilal then won another AFC Champions League title, and attention turned to the lucrative 2025 Club World Cup in the United States.

• Rodri said Manchester United’s disappointing season had made his Ballon d’Or victory feel hollow, and fans at Old Trafford demanded that the Glazer family leave.
• Fans blamed the Glazers for transferring huge debts onto Manchester United and blocking major signings despite Tang Ye’s €550 million transfer fee.
• Tang Ye defended Guangzhou Hengsheng’s quarterfinal run in the AFC Champions League Elite and said the Chinese Super League needed star signings while youth development continued.
• Tang Ye said he had not decided whether to leave Saudi Arabia when his contract’s free-transfer clause took effect, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Tang Ye were named Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup promotional ambassadors.
• Tang Ye assisted three goals as Al Hilal beat Kawasaki Frontale 5-2 to win the AFC Champions League, having lost only once in 51 matches that season.
• FIFA announced a $1 billion prize pool for the 2025 Club World Cup, and reports highlighted the Asian teams that had qualified.

Al Hilal prepared for the Club World Cup with a daunting draw, while Tang Ye welcomed Paul Pogba to the team after his two-year ban. The chapter ended with the tournament approaching and reports that some American fans wanted Messi to fake an injury to avoid playing.

• Paris Saint-Germain defeated Inter Milan 3-0 to win their first Champions League title and complete a treble.
• Tang Ye and Mitrović discussed Al Hilal’s difficult Club World Cup group and the attention surrounding possible matches against Messi and Ronaldo.
• Simeone Inzaghi introduced Pogba at Al Hilal’s training ground, where Pogba said he had returned to professional football and hoped to regain his form.
• Pogba explained that Tang Ye had persuaded him to choose Al Hilal over Monaco, and Inzaghi said Pogba’s Club World Cup availability would depend on his training.
• A Manchester United fan called for Tang Ye to return and blamed the Glazer family for the club’s problems.
• Media reports and betting odds portrayed Al Hilal, Al Nassr, and Inter Miami as unlikely Club World Cup winners, while some American fans reportedly suggested Messi fake an injury.

Al Hilal took an early two-goal lead over Inter Miami through Michael and Malcolm, but Messi scored from the penalty spot after Lodi fouled Suárez. At halftime, Inzaghi urged Al Hilal to protect their lead, and Tang Ye prepared to step up as the second half approached.

• Tang Ye and Messi exchanged good-luck wishes before the Club World Cup group-stage match began.
• Inter Miami created early chances, while Tang Ye urged Cancelo to stay calm and Al Hilal pushed to attack.
• Tang Ye helped set up Michael’s 24th-minute goal, then assisted Malcolm’s strike to put Al Hilal 2–0 ahead.
• Lodi brought down Suárez in the penalty area, and Messi converted the penalty to make it 2–1 in the 36th minute.
• At halftime, Inzaghi warned Al Hilal not to give Inter Miami more chances and told Tang Ye to take the second half seriously.
• Tang Ye purchased Vardy’s Super Red Bull before the second half.