A Chinese Super League Club is Interested in Me

Neymar fell silent when he heard Chen Anno's question.

It wasn't that he lacked confidence in Chen Anno's ability. On the contrary, he had always felt Chen Anno's achievements would definitely be no less than his own.

But Neymar's transfer to Barcelona had come after he had already proven himself in Brazil.

Brazil's U-17s, the youth team—he had achieved things with all of them.

At club level, he had won the Copa Libertadores with Santos in 2011, claimed the Libertadores Golden Boot that same year, and been named Brazil's Player of the Year.

But what about Chen Anno? He had already been called up to the Brazil youth team that year, but because of the death of his family, he had suddenly gone to China and fallen silent for two years.

After half a year at Barcelona, Neymar knew all too well how cruel professional football was. Before you had honors you could put on the table, going to a giant club—especially a top giant like Barcelona—meant you had to endure and bide your time.

Even he, right now at Barcelona, could only play a supporting role for Messi.

If Chen Anno really went to Barcelona, would he have the chance to get playing time?

Neymar thought it would be very difficult.

La Masia had so many homegrown players waiting in line for a first-team spot.

Rather than go to Barcelona and sit on the bench waiting for a chance to play, he might as well stay at Sao Paulo FC, get regular match opportunities over the long term, and only transfer to Europe once he had enough experience.

Or maybe go to one of Europe's upper-mid-table teams and train himself for two years?

Thinking of this, Neymar couldn't help feeling a little sad for his friend. The two years Chen Anno had spent in silence had truly wasted his talent.

Not hearing his close friend speak, Chen Anno could more or less guess what he was thinking, and a confident smile appeared on his face.

"All right, Neymar. I know you're doing this for my own good, but... you know, I'm a few years younger than you. I only turned seventeen last month. There'll be plenty of chances. There's no need to rush into thinking about all this."

"Damn! So what if you're young!" Neymar instantly bristled. "Fine, forget it. It's your own business, so think it through yourself. I believe in you.

"You're playing Santos away tomorrow. I'll go watch you at the stadium. You'd better do your best. Santos doesn't have me anymore. If you still can't beat them, don't go around telling people you're Neymar's brother!"

"Haha..." Chen Anno suddenly laughed. This guy really was something, actually encouraging him to take down his old club. "Fine! Tomorrow, watch me flatten Santos!"

"Heh... Then I'll be waiting to watch your show. After I watch this match, I've got to go back to Spain too. Preseason training is about to start. We've got a new head coach for the new season, so I've got to work a little harder and leave him a good impression."

He had just hung up Neymar's call when Wagner's call came in too. Chen Anno simply ended today's training and went to take a shower.

In an office, the current sporting director of Sao Paulo FC, Sergio Suarez, Chen Anno's guardian Vizoli, and Chen Anno's agent Wagner Ribeiro were talking about something.

Knock, knock, knock... There was a knock at the door.

"Come in," Suarez called toward the door.

Chen Anno walked in wearing a tracksuit.

"Anno, come on over. We were just waiting for you." Suarez was all smiles.

Chen Anno was the club's current money tree. As sporting director, Suarez had no choice but to be a little polite.

"I've already received inquiries from multiple clubs about Anno. They all want to get him during this summer window."

As soon as Chen Anno sat down, Wagner spoke. Before coming, Chen Anno had already gotten the general situation from the agent.

By this point, Chen Anno was actually a little dazed. He had only played a few matches for Sao Paulo FC, so how had so many clubs already taken a liking to him?

Chen Anno wasn't the only one thinking this way. Even Sao Paulo FC were a little stunned. They knew Chen Anno's ability, and they knew this day would come, but they really hadn't expected it to happen so fast.

Just now, Suarez had still been complaining to Vizoli, saying that when they signed the contract back then, they should never have set the release clause so low.

In truth, what they didn't know was that the main reason Chen Anno had attracted the attention of so many clubs so quickly was still that title from two years ago: the Sao Paulo State Twin Stars.

Since transferring to Barcelona, Neymar had produced results beyond expectations in just half a year. Real Madrid were extremely regretful now that they had failed to snatch this Brazilian talent from Barcelona back then.

Now Chen Anno had appeared, still carrying the title of once being Neymar's equal, and he was also a few years younger. A release clause in the tens of millions was still something certain giant clubs were very willing to gamble on.

It was said that Real Madrid were going to spend a hundred million this season to buy Tottenham winger Gareth Bale. People with sharp noses could already smell that future player valuations were definitely going to rise sharply.

So if Chen Anno's release clause could really pay off, it would absolutely be a guaranteed profit.

"Wagner..." Before the agent could say which clubs were interested, Chen Anno spoke.

"You don't need to tell me which clubs are interested in me. I only have one requirement, and that's that they have to guarantee my playing time. If they can't guarantee that, I won't go."

"Anno is right. What he needs now is match accumulation. If he goes to some club and stays on the bench the whole time or gets sent down to the youth team, he might as well stay at Sao Paulo FC. At least we can guarantee that he can play matches whenever needed."

Vizoli agreed completely with Chen Anno's thoughts. This old man, who had worked at Sao Paulo FC for more than ten years, was absolutely considering things from Chen Anno's interests.

Wagner nodded as well. "All right, then I'll negotiate based on that basic condition."

After saying that, he turned to look at Suarez. "Sergio, I hope the club won't make Anno's transfer too difficult when the time comes. Of course, I'll also try to secure favorable terms for Sao Paulo FC, such as a sell-on percentage and so on. After all, Anno's ownership isn't as complicated as Neymar's was back then."

"Of course!" Suarez stood up and shook Wagner's hand. "Wagner, we're old friends too. We absolutely trust your character."

Whether Chen Anno would smoothly complete a transfer and thus gain the chance to step onto a higher stage still could not be determined.

After all, those giant clubs really wouldn't dare casually guarantee Chen Anno's requirement.

One had to know, the more elite the giant club, the stronger the team, the fiercer the competition for playing time.

Even a regular substitute spot would be fought over until heads were broken and blood flowed.

A seventeen-year-old boy who had not even played many official matches—they really might not necessarily be able to agree.

But to Chen Anno, that did not matter.

They would not agree? Then he would work hard and prove himself!

He could prove himself just as well at Sao Paulo!

If he could catch the ride to next year's World Cup and put in an outstanding performance on that stage...

By then, the initiative would truly be in his own hands.

On July 8, Chen Anno traveled with the team to Santos.

Both places were under the jurisdiction of Sao Paulo State, so this time the team could simply take a bus.

"Hey... Anno, I heard a lot of big European clubs have been wanting to buy you lately?" Aloisio, who was sitting beside him, bumped Chen Anno with his shoulder, a trace of envy in his eyes.

Chen Anno smiled and shook his head. "Nothing's certain yet."

"Uh... Anno, you spent the past two years in China, right?" Aloisio asked again.

"Hmm?" Chen Anno was a little puzzled and turned to look at him.

"Ahem... here's the thing. My agent told me a Chinese Super League club is kind of interested in me... Well, mainly, the salary they're offering is pretty good, so I wanted to ask you."