Chapter 162 A Death Group

Naples' "unexpected" victory over Manchester United at home wasn't enough to elevate them to second place in the group, as Valencia also defeated Glasgow Rangers 3-0 at home. Both teams had five points, but Naples ranked third due to a lower goal difference.

Nonetheless, it was still a remarkable improvement. The victory not only rekindled Naples' hopes of advancing from the group stage but also further stirred up the situation in Group C.

Manchester United, having lost the game, remained at the top of the group with seven points, but Valencia and Naples, both with five points, were closing in.

Glasgow Rangers were currently at the bottom with only four points. However, they couldn't be counted out yet. With two group stage matches remaining, they would first face Manchester United at home, where they still had a chance of winning, and then challenge Naples away in the final round.

If Glasgow Rangers could defeat Manchester United at home, the group would be in complete chaos, and even the previously dominant Manchester United would be dragged into the mire. Meanwhile, if Valencia and Naples fought fiercely to a draw at home, Glasgow Rangers might benefit as the dark horse.

Naples' next group match was away against Valencia. Since the two teams had the same points, this match might be the real key to Naples' chances of advancing from the group, while their match against Manchester United was just a turning point without decisive significance.

If Naples could defeat Valencia away, then facing Glasgow Rangers at home in the final round wouldn't be a problem.

If they carelessly lost to Valencia, widening the point gap between the two teams to three, they would have to rely on others in the final round.

After the match, some media outlets commented on Naples' victory in one sentence: "Truly worthy of being the Group of Death."

This simple sentence perfectly summarized the entire situation in the group.

※※※

Chen Hero was so happy about the team's home victory over Manchester United that he forgot to check the news about the Liverpool acquisition online again.

But he soon wouldn't need to check, because before long, he received a call from Chen Xing.

"Aha! Hero!"

Chen Xing's voice on the phone was full of energy, and his laughter was even more clearly audible.

Chen Hero's heart skipped a beat.

"I have good news to announce to you! After a month of wrangling with the Americans! Your big brother here! Has finally settled everything. We just completed the signing ceremony. From today on, Liverpool's surname is Chen! Hahaha!"

Chen Xing laughed happily.

Chen Hero was silent.

This news was good news for Chen Xing, but for himself... it was complicated.

It meant that he really had to go to Liverpool next season.

Of course, onlookers could give Chen Hero ideas, saying that he didn't have to go if he didn't want to, and no one could force him. Anyway, the bet at the time was just a verbal agreement. There was no written contract, and it would be easy for Chen Hero to go back on his word.

But Chen Hero had never considered such a thing.

If you promise someone, you have to do it. Even if it's a bet made in the heat of the moment.

After delivering the good news, Chen Xing didn't hear Chen Hero's voice and was a little strange: "What's wrong? Aren't you happy for me?"

"Uh, no. I'm thinking about how to leave Naples and go to Liverpool..."

Chen Xing was stunned by Chen Hero's answer, and then he remembered the bet he had made with Chen Hero.

"No way? You still remember?"

"Don't you remember?"

"I thought you were kidding, I forgot all about it!"

Chen Hero coughed.

"I said, Hero. I also know that it's unrealistic for you to leave Naples right now, so don't take this bet to heart. Just keep playing well in Naples. Your Brother Chen just wants you to consider Liverpool first when you want to leave Naples..." Chen Xing planned to persuade Chen Hero.

He had cared about this bet at first, but later he felt that it was impossible. How could Naples' top scorer just leave like that? Just treat it as a joke!

So he didn't take it seriously.

Who knew that Chen Hero had been remembering it all along.

"No, Brother Chen. There's a Chinese saying, 'A promise is a promise, even wild horses cannot drag it back..."

"Ahem, that sentence is called 'A gentleman's word is his bond'..."

"Whether it's 'Old Man' or 'Gentleman', that's the gist of it. If you promise someone something, you must do it, or don't promise it in the first place. I said I wanted to win the top scorer award, and I will win the top scorer award, even if I can only play eleven games in a season. I said I wanted to win the Champions League top scorer award this season, and I will definitely win it, just you wait and see. Therefore, since I promised you that I would go to Liverpool when you successfully acquire Liverpool, I will definitely go to Liverpool. This is not a joke."

Chen Hero spoke decisively, as if it were as natural as eating and breathing.

Which left Chen Xing speechless for a moment.

"Sigh, that... this..." Chen Xing stuttered. "You're now the... the hottest star in Naples, how can you leave the team? Even if you want to, I don't think the club and the coach will let you leave..."

Anyway, he felt that it was too difficult. If it were in two seasons, Chen Hero would leave Naples, he had no doubt about that. Just because of his terrible and tense relationship with the Naples fans... But now he was in good shape, how could Naples let him leave?

"I'll talk to that old man De Laurentiis about this." Chen Hero said. "Anyway, don't worry about it, Brother Chen. You successfully acquired Liverpool, which is considered fulfilling your part of the promise, now it's my turn."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Ang asked Chen Xing next to him, "What's wrong?"

Chen Xing sighed: "I got to know him and got along with him at first because I wanted to take a roundabout route to get close to that charming female bodyguard. Now I suddenly feel that my former self was quite despicable..."

※※※

After talking to Chen Xing on the phone, Chen Hero seemed to have convinced himself in the process, and he made up his mind—to leave Naples and go to Liverpool.

So he started making phone calls, first to his father.

After all, this matter concerned the future of his career, and he wanted to tell his dad.

He was developing very well in Naples now, could score goals, was the coach's favorite, and was also the team's number one star. It seemed that his entire career in Naples was on the rise, and leaving now would be like forcibly interrupting this process.

Any transfer is a risk for the player himself, even for those world-class stars. There are many examples of players who did well at their old clubs but couldn't get along at their new clubs.

Chen Hero was not a prophet, and he didn't know if transferring to Liverpool would definitely be better than or the same as being in Naples.

But this step always had to be taken. Besides, he had wanted to leave Naples for a long time, it was just a matter of sooner or later.

"So you lost the bet?" After listening to Chen Hero's account of the bet he made with Chen Xing, Chen Tao had already guessed his son's intention, even though he hadn't said the purpose of his call yet.

"Yes, I plan to fulfill my promise."

Chen Tao didn't know much about football, let alone the situation in European football. But for him, this matter had nothing to do with the situation in European football, and it didn't matter which was better, Liverpool or Naples.

"A person without credibility cannot stand, I have nothing to say about your decision. Anyway, this is your path." He said simply on the phone. His son was already twenty-two years old, he couldn't always exert his influence on everything, could he?

Constantly saying "Son, why can't you grow up?", but refusing to truly let go. Chen Tao couldn't be such a father.

Although his father didn't say much, Chen Hero could already feel his father's affection for him. The relationship between the two men had really warmed up rapidly since that trip to Europe.

"Thanks, Dad."

Chen Hero's words were also simple.

※※※

After reporting the situation to his father, Chen Hero called his agent, Decra.

He still needed to listen to his agent's opinion on his career planning, not to mention that Decra was not just an agent.

"Going to Liverpool?" Decra frowned.

"Yes, I have to go. Next season. Is there a problem?" Chen Hero heard a hint of hesitation in Decra's question.

"No, I'm just a little surprised." Decra said.

Chen Hero had never told Decra about the bet he made with Chen Xing.

"Also, I don't think Naples will let you leave."

"I'll talk to De Laurentiis."

"Are you confident in persuading him?"

"Let's try. You asked me if I was confident in winning the Russian Premier League top scorer award after only playing eleven games, and I also said let's try. You always have to try to know if it works, right?"

After hearing Chen Hero's words, Decra had no objections: "Okay, just leave the technical aspects to me. Since you and that new Liverpool owner are brothers, I think it will be easy to talk about treatment and so on. And the Premier League is currently the number one football league in the world, with the highest level of attention and commercialization. Going to the Premier League will also be good for the development of your commercial value. Liverpool, as a giant, is also a good choice..." Decra analyzed.

"By the way, I suddenly thought of something. I heard that you need a work permit to play in the Premier League, and that requires a certain number of appearances for the national team..." Chen Hero had indeed just thought of this, and he had been neglecting it all along.

If he couldn't go to Liverpool because of the work permit, would it be a good thing or a bad thing for him?

"Oh, that's not a problem. The Premier League has a special talent clause. And there's also a rule - players who have proven their ability in top European leagues don't need to be restricted by the national team appearance requirements for work permits. You're a two-time Serie A top scorer, the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Cup after the reform, the Champions League top scorer... I think so many honors are enough for you to successfully apply for a work permit."

Decra explained.

※※※

After hanging up Decra's phone, Chen Hero held his phone and thought for a while before calling De Laurentiis.

The voice on the other end of the phone was very energetic, just like the consistent impression De Laurentiis gave to the outside world.

"Calling me so late, what's the matter, Hero?"

"Uh, well, I wanted to invite you to dinner, a simple meal, at my house. I don't know if you're free, sir?"

"Oh? Inviting me to dinner? That's not common... When?"

"November 8th, is that convenient?" Chen Hero thought for a while. There was a league match on November 7th, Naples at home against Parma. He decided to invite De Laurentiis to dinner after playing this league match.

"I don't know, Hero. You know I'm quite busy... But if you're inviting, I'll have my secretary check my schedule tomorrow and then give you a call. How about that?"

Chen Hero also knew that it was a bit presumptuous to suddenly call and ask to invite the boss to dinner. But besides this trick, he really couldn't think of any other way.

"No problem for me."

After hanging up the phone, Chen Hero suddenly noticed that Cabrerea was still sitting in the living room, on the sofa next to him.

If he went to England, he wouldn't need a bodyguard anymore, unless he took the initiative to provoke Liverpool fans, but he wasn't an idiot, and he wouldn't do such a thing...

Then what about Christine?

Cabrerea knew about his bet with Chen Xing. She knew the whole story, the cause and the effect. But she had never mentioned this matter. Which made Chen Hero not know what Cabrerea's attitude was towards him leaving Italy.

Would she be reluctant to see him leave?

Or would she be relieved, feeling that he was finally leaving?

"You haven't gone to sleep yet?" He pretended to be surprised.

Cabrerea stood up: "I'm going now."

After saying that, she turned and went upstairs.

Looking at her graceful back, Chen Hero was silent.