Chapter 17 Vacation

Buffon didn't mention anything else, just asked Li Kang where he planned to vacation during the summer transfer window.

They chatted for about ten minutes.

The Juventus goalkeeper's eyes wandered, and just as he was about to end the video call, he casually mentioned, "Li, career planning is important. You need a stable defense and a group of older brothers... beep beep beep!"

The signal on Lei Island wasn't very good.

Li Kang checked the time, sent a message to Buffon, and prepared to turn off his phone.

His notification bar was full of messages from girls.

He didn't hesitate at all, reading through them one by one before deleting them silently.

A system notification sounded.

[Task Complete: The Fear of France!]

[Task Response: You are about to conquer Europe!]

[Task Reward: European Tour – Dark Gold Treasure Chest!]

Li Kang didn't bother looking at the prize pool. He needed to rest.

[Treasure Chest is opening...]

[Congratulations! You have obtained: C Ronaldo "Golden Edge" Module (Fragmented)!]

[White Jersey, Golden Edge, Explosive Brilliance!]

[Extreme Winger, Capable of Anything!]

["Golden Edge" Module: Extremely low probability of random activation; effects unclear.]

A Golden Edge Ro module?

Perhaps limited by the quality of the Dark Gold Treasure Chest... only a fragmented version was obtained.

No.

Was this module so powerful that even a Dark Gold Treasure Chest with the "European Tour" prefix couldn't yield a complete one?

After the chest's light faded.

Li Kang didn't notice any changes in his body.

Nor did any new memories surface.

...

The next day.

On the beach.

The little assistant, wearing sunglasses, lay back on a deck chair, with a middle-aged man sporting a thick beard beside him.

The two were enjoying the sea breeze, the sun, and the bikinis.

Experienced paparazzi would certainly recognize the middle-aged man as Morata's agent, Lopez.

"Mr. Lopez, why did Juventus reject Manchester United's 60 million offer? For Morata... I'm sorry, I'm not denying his strength."

Lopez struggled to light his match, a look of regret on his face. He turned over and said, "Juventus sold Pogba to Manchester United for a hundred million. They're not short on cash right now."

"The best option for Morata at the moment should be returning to Real Madrid!"

"Just look at Manchester United next season: Mourinho, Ibrahimović, Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Bailly... what an interesting new configuration."

The little assistant was puzzled. "Since Manchester United is a strong contender for the Premier League title next season, why..."

Lopez waved his hand, interrupting him. "No, Manchester United will encounter many problems during the break-in period of their new lineup. I'm not optimistic about the Pogba-Mourinho combination."

The little assistant suddenly understood and continued to ask, "Then which club do you have high hopes for?"

"Chelsea!"

"Why? They haven't made any big moves in this summer transfer window!"

Lopez propped himself up, sat cross-legged on the canvas, took a sip of lemonade, and said, "Chelsea's squad doesn't have any problems. They just need to add a fullback, a replacement for Ivanović!"

"If the new coach's system aligns with the existing squad, then they will be the most terrifying team in the Premier League, without any weaknesses. They are in a league of their own!"

The little assistant frowned. "What about the second tier?"

"The second tier is Pochettino's Tottenham, and Arsenal if they don't experience an injury crisis!"

"The third tier is Klopp's Liverpool, Mourinho's Manchester United, and Ronald Koeman's Everton!"

The beard blew in the sea breeze like cotton candy.

The little assistant retorted, "You left out Guardiola's Manchester City!"

For the time being, Manchester City's offer was the highest... making it the most likely club for Li to join.

Lopez laughed heartily:

"Want to make a bet? All of Europe doesn't believe that Guardiola's Manchester City will win any championship in their first season, whether it's the Premier League or the Champions League!"

"He might not even surpass his predecessor Pellegrini's Champions League performance. Maybe they'll even get knocked out in the Round of 16 against Monaco!"

"Manchester City hired him not only for immediate glory and fighting strength, but to instill a football culture into this 'European New Money' team, shape its playing style, and improve the youth training system... just like what Cruyff did for Barca back then."

"The Abu Dhabi consortium is very patient; they want to build a true powerhouse!"

"This ideal cannot be achieved in the short term."

"Manchester City's rebuilding isn't centered around the players, but around Guardiola."

"His tactics require players to have a strong understanding. Players who don't fit, no matter how good they are... will become victims, like Ibrahimović, Yaya Touré, Hleb, Eto'o, and Fàbregas who were driven away from Barca back then!"

"Right now, the Manchester City dressing room is a mess!"

"Joe Hart is the first to be purged. He's a Manchester City legend, a four-time Premier League Golden Glove winner, a veteran of the Etihad! Who will be next? The rebuilding will take at least two seasons. Will the remaining Manchester City veterans, sensing that they don't meet Guardiola's requirements, still be willing to die for him?"

"Football is a team sport."

"No way? Is Li going to jump into this muddy water!"

"I'm looking forward to seeing him argue with Guardiola."

Lopez laughed louder and louder.

The little assistant angrily threw a towel at his face.

"Wherever Li goes! That's where the championship will be!"

During their pleasant time on Lei Island, the two forged a deep friendship of food and drink, but they couldn't always maintain their etiquette.

...

Meanwhile.

Guardiola was in a terrible situation.

He welcomed Bravo with anticipation, but only used a phone call to inform Joe Hart, "You are not on my starting list for next season."

The legendary goalkeeper's agent exploded, furiously blasting Manchester City's new coach in front of reporters: Even if you discard a player, you shouldn't do it over the phone. It's disrespectful to a meritorious veteran.

Joe Hart couldn't stop him.

He himself could understand Guardiola's thinking.

Immediately afterward.

Ibrahimović and Raiola couldn't sit still either.

The past grudges from their time at Barca were once again brought up by the media.

"Barca bought a Ferrari, but Guardiola drives it like a Fiat."

"As a coach, Guardiola is fantastic, but as a person, I have no comment. That's another matter! He's not a man; there's nothing to say!"

"I didn't lay a hand on him in Catalonia. I'll beat him up every time I see him in the future!"

Then came Eto'o!

"Mourinho went to Manchester United? Is the Manchester Derby going to continue the Spanish Clásico? I can't compare these two famous coaches. One couldn't win the Champions League with Bayern Munich, and one could win the Champions League with Porto."

And then there was Dante from Wolfsburg.

"He basically didn't talk to me. As a player, I didn't know what situation I was in at that time."

"Some coaches are world-class from a tactical point of view, but their level of being a human being is really not that good. Guardiola is like that."

At the same time.

Yaya Touré was also a little restless.

Once the world's best defensive midfielder, he was driven out of Barca by Guardiola back then and went to the Premier League.

Now the two had reunited at Manchester City, and he had made up his mind to look for a new club.

"He has issues with African players... I don't understand it very much."