Zhang Kuang was watching the news in Paris's apartment, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
The reactions of these people were all within his expectations.
No one would believe the World Cup predictions of an eighteen-year-old China player.
This is normal.
Zhang Kuang has never been a person who likes to show off.
He released those World Cup predictions not to prove how much he knows about football, not to gain limelight in the media, and not to be a "prophet".
He just told the answer in advance.
As for what this answer can be used for, that's another story.
One week before the opening of World Cup, Zhang Kuang pulled the beauties of France Study-Abroad Squad in the apartment of Paris and asked:
"Beauties, there is an opportunity to make money, do you want it?"
Matidal was the first to ask, "What opportunity?"
"Go buy a ball."
"Buying football? Betting on football? Didn't you say that players can't participate in betting?"
"I didn't participate." Zhang Kuang held the two balls with his hands, "You are the one to buy it. If you believe me, just buy it as I predicted, and I guarantee you will make a fortune. Of course, if you don't believe it, forget it, don't say I didn't tell you."
The scene was quiet for a few seconds. All they could see was that he quickly peeled off the hard shell of the coconut, revealing the snow-white pulp inside, and then he ate it with abandon.
"You said you predicted the outcome of the World Cup in the media, so let us just follow your prediction?
France is out of the group, Italy is out of the group, England is in the top sixteen, Brazil is in the top eight, Argentina is in the top eight, Germany is in the top four, Uruguay is in the top four, Netherlands is the runner-up, Spain is the champion?"
Arrogantly spit out the grapes. "Yes, just buy it like this, you can make a big bet."
Matilda's voice was hesitant. "Zhang, are you really so sure?"
"OK."
"What if it's wrong?"
"Then there will be no sincerity between us. You can stay away from me." The arrogant tone was as calm as if it was a sunny day.
The women at home discussed it for a while, and finally decided: everyone would invest one million euros in their pocket money.
Not much, but not much either.
If you win, treat it as earning some pocket money; if you lose, treat it as blind faith in Zhang Kuang's lesson. After all, it's hard for them to refuse Zhang Kuang's recommendation.
He shook his head arrogantly. Rich people are good. In order not to disapprove of his lover's enthusiastic recommendation, he spent one million euros to take care of his lover's face.
Okay, pretty good.
Next, he operated in the same way several times, making all the women who followed him place their bets.
The season is over.
I won the French Ligue 1 title, the French Cup, and the Golden Boot.
Now, it's time to get down to business.
The first thing is the contract with Manchester United.
In the office of the brokerage company in Paris, Jonathan placed the advance agreement file in front of Zhang Kuang.
"Manchester United is urging us very urgently." Jonathan said, "They hope to make the official announcement on time at 0:00 on July 1st. This is an advance agreement. You sign it first. When July 1st comes, the formal contract will automatically take effect."
Zhang Kuang picked up the file and scanned it.
The terms were similar to those he had seen before - a five-year contract with a weekly salary of £150,000 before tax, which had not been reduced.
But there is a new addition: a salary floating clause, that is, if there is a subsequent salary adjustment within the team, and the highest salary is higher than Zhang Kuang, Zhang Kuang's salary will automatically be raised to 95% of the highest salary, ensuring that his salary will always be among the top two in the team.
Another important thing is: the club will not interfere in private life. Manchester United also agreed, but of course there are additional conditions, that is, it must not cause important violations of laws or ethical standards, or cause negative publicity.
As for the liquidated damages he can trigger to leave the team after Ferguson leaves, these terms have not changed.
After reading it, Zhang Kuang felt that there was no big problem, so he picked up the pen and signed his name on the last page.
"Okay." He pushed the file back.
Jonathan put the files away and put them in the folder. "Manchester United will be very happy."
The second thing is to shoot commercials.
The three endorsement deals - Weibo, Anta, and Meizu - will all be completed during the offseason.
Zhang Kuang wants to go back to China.
The first is to shoot commercials. The domestic shooting team and venue are more convenient than Paris. The second is to go back to my hometown to see Coach Wu. I haven't seen him for more than half a year. I don't know how the old man is doing. Third, it is very interesting to go back and see China in 2010. It is like looking at history from the future.
He called Coach Wu.
The phone rang several times before I picked up.
"Hello?" Coach Wu's voice came from the receiver, hoarse and familiar.
"Coach, it's me. Zhang Kuang."
There was silence on the other end of the phone for two seconds.
"I know it's you." Coach Wu said, "Do you still know how to make phone calls?"
He smiled wildly, "Coach, my season is over and I want to go back to China. I can shoot some commercials and see you by the way."
"Go back home?"
"Yes, I'll go back and see you. Are you feeling well?"
Coach Wu was silent for a few seconds.
"If you don't have to come back, don't come back," he said.
Zhang Kuang was stunned for a moment. "Why?"
"What is your status now? You are a Manchester United player. Have you signed the contract?"
"Basically implemented, the contract will be officially signed on July 1st."
"That's right." Coach Wu said in a serious tone, "You are now Manchester United's player, and the whole world is watching you. What are you doing back at this time? Shooting commercials? Watching the old man? Have you achieved results?
What kind of dignity is it to be a French Ligue 1 champion and a French Ligue 1 Golden Boot? If the Central Five hadn't supported you, how could you have such great influence?"
Zhang Kuang opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but Coach Wu didn't give him a chance.
"You won the French Ligue 1 championship, which is French Ligue 1. Now that you come back, what will others say? They will say that you came back to show off, and they will say that you came back to make money.
You go to Premier League, go to Manchester United, win the Premier League championship, and win the UEFA Champions League championship. When you come back then, that will be the real homecoming, the return of the God of War..."
"Coach, I just want to see you..."
"Look at me? What's so good about me? What can an old man look at?" Coach Wu interrupted him, "I'm fine, I can eat, sleep and curse others."
Your most important task now is to gain a foothold in Premier League and score more goals in Manchester United. When you win the UEFA Champions League championship, come back. When you come back, no one dares to say a word."
Zhang Kuang was silent. Is it necessary to be so strict? As for that? Isn't it just a return to a country? It's like the return of the God of War or the arrival of the Immortal Emperor. You have to gather a certain amount of momentum before you can go back?
Zhang Kuang was made to laugh and cry, forget it, forget it, just listen to the old man's words.
"Remember," Coach Wu's voice slowed down a bit, "You are a player who came out of China. What you carry is not your own face. When you get to Manchester United, play well and don't embarrass China people."
"I remember, coach."
"Okay, hang up."
The phone was disconnected.
Zhang Kuang looked at the phone screen and was depressed for a while.
Coach Wu is still the same Coach Wu.
Since I'm not allowed to go back, I won't go back.
He asked Jonathan to call three advertisers and ask them to bring the filming team to Paris.
The three brands are very cooperative - Zhang Kuang is now the most popular athlete in China, bar none. Weibo readily agreed to his offer of 8% equity and free endorsement for five years. Anta The annual contract of 3 million euros between and Meizu was also signed very quickly. Zhang Kuang used the money to buy Apple Inc.'s shares, and also asked his agent to help him allocate some of it to the new shares of Tesla that were listed on June 29.
Keep 300,000 euros for yourself, that's about it. Anyway, there is still a signing fee of 5 million pounds for signing Manchester United on July 1. When the time comes, he will continue to buy stocks. At that time, he will have to allocate some BYD stocks, and then buy a small amount of Bitcoin. Buying about 10,000 is enough. If there are more, he will be easily targeted.
From June 3rd to June 8th, Zhang Kuang finished shooting three commercials in Paris.
The filming process went very smoothly because Zhang Kuang is not a "difficult" star. He could understand everything the advertising director said. Once he understood it, he could do it, and he could get through it once he did it.
There is no need to retake the shot repeatedly, adjust the mood, or find the angle.
Even the advertising director couldn't help but sigh, "If every star was like Zhang Kuang, our industry would be easy."
After filming the commercial, my crazy life became very simple.
Every day life consists of practicing, eating, sleeping, and meeting women.
His "France Study-Abroad Squad" lineup has expanded to 12 members during this period, so the base has to be divided into several places. Zhang Kuang rented a villa in Paris specifically for his gatherings with France Study-Abroad Squad.
During this period of time, he has been living there, so busy that he never stops working every day.
As for practicing?
Does he need to practice?
In addition to the team studying in France, Zhang Kuang has also been getting together with the four plump and rich women that Humbart introduced before from time to time.
Those four women are really top-notch, and no one would be willing to let them go.
As for Humbart, he is still helping Zhang Kuang "find candidates."
Ukraine's, Poland's, Russia's, Romania's - every few days I send a few photos and ask "How do you like this one?" "Do you want that one?"
Zhang Kuang sometimes says "OK" and sometimes says "Let's see". He doesn't want to make his life too messy, but he also doesn't want to make himself too miserable. Enjoy when you should enjoy and work when you should work.
So now there is no competition, and there is no training camp. It is not working time, so there is no need to work, it is time to enjoy.
This is his life creed.
The only thing that makes Zhang Kuang feel a little regretful is that the four female reporters have gone to South Africa. Marina, Camille, Lucy, Gilia, they all have to report on World Cup.
Zhang Kuang originally wanted to get together with them before going to Manchester. After all, these four people are the "smartest women he has ever slept with."
Their interviews were written quickly and well, and they were able to ask the questions he wanted to answer every time. This kind of tacit understanding is not something that just any reporter can have.
It's a pity that they are all gone. Next time, I guess it will have to wait until he comes back from overseas training with Manchester United.
Talking about training is also a headache. The training is closed. How should he practice?
On June 11, South Africa World Cup officially opened.
The program of World Cup is exactly the same as the one in Zhang Kuang's memory.
On June 15, France National Team drew with Uruguay 0:0.
On June 18, France National Team lost to Mexico 0:2.
After two games, France National Team's locker room exploded.
Anelka insulted head coach Domenech in the locker room and was directly expelled from the national team by France Football Federation.
Then, stop training.
Then, the players released an open letter.
Then, media all over the world were reporting on France National Team's internal strife scandal.
The headline title of "L'Équipe" changed from "How far can France National Team go" to "The shame of France Football".
France's commander-in-chief Sarkozy also intervened.
France The Sports Minister rushed to South Africa urgently.
Everything is a farce.
On June 22, France National Team lost to South Africa 1:2.
Finished at the bottom of the group and eliminated in disgrace.
Media all over the world were shocked - the runner-up of the last World Cup? Was he eliminated just like that?
Then, someone remembered Zhang Kuang.
A reporter from "L'Équipe" uncovered a report from more than a month ago - Zhang Kuang said in an interview with TF1: "The France National Team team will be eliminated."
At that time, everyone felt that this young man China was talking nonsense.
Now--
What he said came true.
"L'Équipe" urgently published a new article with the title. "He was right - the first part of the World Cup prophecy of Zhang Kuang came true".
The article read, "A month ago, when Zhang Kuang said the words 'France National Team group will be eliminated' when Paris was interviewed by three TV stations, everyone laughed. He was criticized by many people at that time."
No one believes him. No one thinks that an 18-year-old China player is qualified to evaluate France Football. But now, France National Team is really out of the group. We have to admit - Zhang Kuang is right."
France fans have mixed reactions.
Some people were angry, some were frustrated, some were silent, and some began to search the Internet for the complete interview video of Zhang Kuang.
And France Study-Abroad Squad cheered.
"Win, win, win!! France is really out!!"
"What I bought was France was eliminated in the group, the odds were 3.5!! I invested 1 million euros and won 2.5 million!!"
"I won too!! Zhang, I love you!!"
Zhang Kuang looked at these messages, smiled, and did not stop practicing.
This is just the beginning.
On June 24th, Italy played its last group match against Slovakia.
Italy must win to qualify.
In the first half, Slovakia scored one goal first, and Italy tied the score.
In the second half, Slovakia scored two goals in a row, while Italy only recovered one.
2:3.
The final whistle blows.
Defending champion Italy was eliminated from the group.
The world's media was once again shocked.