Chapter 115 An Agent

The next day during training, even Barrios came to find Zhou Yi: "Wizard, wizard. Are you free tonight?"

"I'm not free. Lucas. But if you're going to introduce me to your agent, then no thanks." Zhou Yi smiled and refused Barrios.

"Huh? Why?" Barrios hadn't reacted yet.

"Because I already have an agent," Zhou Yi said.

"So fast?" Barrios was surprised. "Didn't you just meet with them yesterday..."

"Yes, Lucas. I'm just such a decisive person! Sorry, you're late... Oh no, your agent is late."

Barrios had no choice but to congratulate Zhou Yi.

Afterward, people kept coming to Zhou Yi, and they were obviously all there to speak for their agents. But Zhou Yi turned them all down with the same reason.

Everyone was surprised at first, and then offered their congratulations.

In any case, Zhou Yi had found an agent, so he could concentrate on playing football, and the agent would take care of things outside of football.

After training ended in the afternoon, Zhou Yi once again signed autographs for a large number of fans outside the training base. Finally, he saw Schulze waiting by the side of the road.

"It's a pleasure to see you, Mr. Schulze." Zhou Yi took the initiative to extend his hand.

Schulze shook his head. "You can call me Tino, that's what my friends call me. Mr. sounds too formal."

Zhou Yi agreed. "That's right. When I was a kid, my mom always called me by my nickname, but as soon as she called me by my full name, I knew I was going to get a beating..."

"Haha!" Schulze laughed.

"So, shall we find a place to eat?" Zhou Yi suggested proactively.

"Good. I also brought the contract. Take a look, and if there are no problems, we can sign it."

"Okay."

※※※

In the restaurant, Zhou Yi, having finished his meal, placed Schulze's contract on the table and began to read it.

Actually, he didn't really understand it, so he just skimmed it. He mainly looked to see what percentage of commission Schulze was charging him, and when he found that it was the same as the ratio he knew, he didn't need to look any further. He closed the contract. "No problem."

"You finished reading it so quickly?" Schulze was a little surprised. He had spent the whole day making this contract.

"Actually, I didn't finish reading it, but I trust you, Tino. There's nothing to see," Zhou Yi said.

"But if that's the case..."

"Tino, if I could read the contract myself, why would I need an agent? So, from now on, I'll leave the contract matters to you."

"Uh..." Schulze found Zhou Yi's words so reasonable that he was speechless...

"So, let's sign it." Zhou Yi took out his Montblanc pen from his pocket, the same "meritorious" pen he had used to sign his youth team contract and professional contract.

"You carry a pen with you?" Schulze was surprised.

"I just knew I was going to sign a contract today." As Zhou Yi said this, he unscrewed the cap of the pen and signed his name on the contract, as casually as if he were signing a bill at a restaurant.

After Zhou Yi signed, Schulze also took out a pen and signed his name on the contract.

Thus, Tino Schulze officially became Zhou Yi's legal agent.

The first thing Schulze proposed as Zhou Yi's agent was that he wanted Zhou Yi to authorize him to talk to the club about a new contract.

"Your previous professional contract was for eight years, and you were too ambitious, Zhou Yi. A player with your talent, already eighteen years old, signing a contract for eight years is not in your best interest. We're not saying that we definitely want you to transfer away from Borussia Dortmund. But a contract of four to six years is reasonable, eight years is too long."

"I know, Tino. But at the time, I thought I could definitely make it, and if I did, I could change the contract. Surely the club wouldn't refuse to change it for me?"

"Generally speaking, they won't refuse to change it, but you have to consider all the possibilities before signing? What if your relationship with the club deteriorates during this time? What's the point of negotiating before signing the contract? On the one hand, it's to fight for your own best interests, and on the other hand, it's to avoid leaving similar security risks in the contract."

Zhou Yi nodded repeatedly at what Schulze said. "Yeah, Tino, you're the expert in this matter, so you can do it. As for me, I'll just concentrate on playing well, so that you'll have more confidence when you talk to the club."

"That's right, we'll be the best partners!" Schulze clapped his hands and said.

"Then come on, let's toast to the best partnership!" Zhou Yi raised his glass of juice.

Schulze raised his wine glass. "Cheers!"

※※※

Volker Struth received feedback from Götze that Zhou Yi had found an agent that night.

"He's already decided who it is?" Struth was very surprised. When he heard Zhou Yi say he wanted to consider it, he thought it would take at least a week to consider, but he didn't expect Zhou Yi to make a decision in just one day! "Did he say who it was?"

"He didn't say."

"Well... okay, thank you, Mario."

"It's okay, Volker. I'm sorry I couldn't help."

"In the end, it depends on his personal wishes," Struth said. "Although it's a pity to miss out on him, there's nothing I can do. Let's leave it at that."

Struth gave up on the idea of being Zhou Yi's agent.

But at this time, he would never have imagined that it wouldn't be long before he would see Zhou Yi's name again in the company's emails...

※※※

While Zhou Yi was still dealing with and choosing among agents, Klopp was facing a very serious problem.

Şahin's injury had been identified after returning to Dortmund. He had a longitudinal fracture of his right toe bone, which was caused by a tackle from Hoffenheim player Maiksuel. But the good news was that the toe bone had not been displaced, so he wouldn't have to rest for too long. But even so, he would have to be out for at least three weeks.

And the last matches of the first half of the Bundesliga season were basically within this time.

The Dortmund league's final result for the first half of the season depended on their performance in these three weeks.

Who should replace Şahin's position and role during his absence due to injury?

Now Klopp had a ready-made candidate, and that was Zhou Yi, who had performed well in the last match.

But he had some concerns.

After all, coming on as a substitute and starting were two completely different feelings, and they also had different requirements for the players.

Moreover, it was hard to say how long Zhou Yi's stamina could last after starting.

Another problem was that he could have a surprise effect when he came on as a substitute. But after his excellent performance in the last match, his opponents would definitely strengthen their defense against him. If he started, when both sides had excellent stamina, his advantages might not be obvious...

So, should he still let him start?

Klopp told assistant coach Buvac about his doubts.

Buvac was surprised after listening. "I thought you unconditionally believed in that kid, Jürgen. I didn't realize you would consider so many things?"

"Isn't that normal?"

"But I think you're overthinking it, Jürgen," Buvac said. "First of all, Zhou Yi only came on as a substitute for more than twenty minutes, which isn't enough time for opponents to pay too much attention to him. People will think that the kid's performance has an element of luck, after all, he came on as a substitute. Secondly, are you planning to keep Zhou Yi on the bench and let him come on if we can't break the deadlock?"

Klopp nodded.

"Then why must we put our team in a disadvantageous situation? Why don't we let Zhou Yi start from the beginning and create a favorable situation for us?"

Klopp looked at Buvac and suddenly thought of something. "Željko, when did you become a supporter of Zhou Yi?"

Buvac laughed. "His performance in the last match impressed me. Everyone says that Şahin is a genius, but Şahin didn't have such an amazing performance in his first league appearance. Everyone says that Götze is a once-in-thirty-years genius that we cultivated, but do you remember what Götze's first league appearance was like?"

Klopp nodded. "In short, you're now a fan of Zhou Yi, right?"

Buvac smiled a little embarrassed. "That's right, I'm a fan of Zhou Yi!"

Klopp made a "shush" gesture. "Then don't tell him, lest the kid gets arrogant."

※※※

Before the fifteenth round of the league against Nuremberg, Klopp announced the eighteen-man squad list.

Zhou Yi was undoubtedly selected.

In fact, being selected for the squad list was no longer something Zhou Yi should be considering. What he should be considering now was whether he would start or come on as a substitute in this match...

Even when he called home to tell his dad the news, his dad, Zhou Jianliang, asked, "Starting?"

"I don't know, Dad, Klopp's habit is to announce the starting lineup before the match starts," Zhou Yi said.

"But Şahin is injured..."

"Cough, Dad. Şahin's injury and whether I start or not are not directly related."

"Okay, but you'll definitely play in this match!" Zhou Jianliang finally said. "Anyway, I'll be sitting in front of the TV from the start of the match, and I'll be able to see you no matter when you come on!"

"Then I'll try to make you wait less, Dad."

"Okay, that's really filial!"