Barak thought about it all night at his home in Germany, tossing and turning and barely sleeping.
At dawn the next day, he called his agent, Michael Becker.
"I thought about it all night, Misha. I'm still not willing to leave like this. I want to win the Champions League. I really want to..."
The last time Ballack was closest to the Champions League was in Leverkusen. In the 2001-2002 season, Leverkusen went all the way and miraculously entered the Champions League final and met Spain's Real Madrid.
In the final held at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Leverkusen played very tenaciously.
Although they conceded a goal first, they used set kicks in the second half to equalize the score with Lucio's header.
As a result, in the subsequent game, the most exciting and greatest goal in the history of the Champions League final was born.
Zidane's flying fairy!
When Zidane shot, the person behind him who acted as background was Ballack. He stood about two meters away from Zidane and watched helplessly as Zidane kicked this difficult cross into the goal of LeBron James.
Wolkusen's goal.
Despite this, Leverkusen is still tenacious.
They launched a fierce offensive in the final stage of the game and almost scored several goals.
But their offensive finally succeeded in a child named Igor Casillas.
Bayer Leverkusen hated Hampden Park.
Later he moved to the more powerful Bayern Munich.
But Bayern Munich couldn't even reach the Champions League final.
In the summer of 2006, he switched from Bayern Munich to Chelsea. An important purpose for him to go to Chelsea was that in the 2005 Champions League final, Chelsea led by Mourinho defeated AC Milan and won the first Champions League in the club's history.
champion.
He believes Chelsea can help him realize this wish.
After four seasons at Chelsea, the 2008-2009 seasons were the seasons Ballack came closest to winning the Champions League.
Chelsea were in excellent form in the Champions League that season.
Until they met Guardiola's Barcelona in the semi-finals.
Chelsea visited Camp Nou in the first round. Facing the extremely powerful Barcelona at the time, and in an away game, many people thought that Barcelona would definitely defeat Chelsea. Maybe the first round would end the suspense of the two rounds of the semi-finals...
As a result, the tenacious Chelsea drew with Barcelona in the away game and did not allow Barcelona to score!
0:0!
This score made people full of expectations for the second round, especially Chelsea fans.
Barak is also full of expectations.
He firmly believes that this time he can reach the Champions League final with the team again and successfully win the cup.
But everyone knows the rest of the story.
Chelsea used the method they are good at at their home court and almost defeated Barcelona. They took an early 1:0 lead.
They also had an advantage in the game. If the referee Herning hadn't made many decisions in favor of Barcelona, the game might have lost its suspense.
As a result, just when the game entered injury time, the situation on the court suddenly changed!
At that time, Barcelona's coach Guardiola was preparing to walk towards Chelsea coach Hiddink, reaching out to him, intending to shake his hand. Congratulations to his team for advancing to the final.
As a result, Iniesta's long shot from outside the penalty area penetrated Chelsea's goal!
The game turned around miraculously!
If this score remains until the end, Barcelona will eliminate Chelsea by virtue of their advantage of more away goals!
In fact, at the last moment, Chelsea also hoped to change the score.
In the 94th minute, Chelsea received a corner kick.
After the corner kick was taken, Ballack volleyed 14 meters in front of the goal. The football hit Eto'o's left upper arm. The referee Herning once again turned a blind eye.
Then the game ends.
At that time, an angry Ballack chased the referee Herning, opened his arms in front of him, and roared at him with a ferocious face.
And Herning turned a blind eye.
In the end, Barcelona relied on this controversial draw to eliminate Chelsea, and then achieved the great feat of winning the Triple Crown and the Sixth Crown.
Ballack can still clearly remember his anger when he saw the football blocked by Eto'o with his arm, but the referee turned a blind eye.
He was so angry that he almost had the urge to punch the referee.
Because he knows that this is his closest chance to the Champions League after 2002.
He has this feeling, as long as the team can eliminate Barcelona. In the end, it will definitely beat Manchester United in the final...
but……
Everything was blocked by the referee.
He was worried about it.
This matter was like a thorn stuck in his throat, and it would hurt from time to time to remind him.
If he retires like this, he may never let go of this matter.
He feels that only by winning the Champions League can he feel at peace.
After hearing his words, Becker already knew the answer. He asked: "But there is a big difference between our salary requirements and their salary limits..."
Barak gritted his teeth and said, "I'll cut my salary again! If they can't accept six million, I'll cut it by half again!"
Becker shouted: "Are you crazy, Michelle?"
"I'm not crazy, Misha."
"You've cut it in half! With your status, the captain of the German national team, your annual salary is only three million euros? No one would believe it if you tell me!"
"I don't need others to believe in me. I just want the Champions League title."
"But Lazio may not be able to win the Champions League. Have you forgotten Chelsea? They won a championship in 2005. When we came in 2006, didn't we have the same idea as now? What's the result? Four years! For four years,
They haven’t even made it to the finals!”
"I believe Lazio and Chelsea are different. And it's a gamble in itself. No matter what I choose, it's a gamble. But I think Lazio has a higher winning rate, and that's my choice, Micha. I know the salary.
It’s too low, and your income will be damaged... But we have been working together for eleven years, and I hope you can support me as a friend, Misha."
After hearing what Barak said, Misha Becker was silent for a long time, and finally said with a wry smile.
"You've already said this, what else can I say, Michelle? Well, I'll call Chang again."
※※※
After Chang Sheng received Becker's call, he didn't take it seriously.
He knew that it was impossible for Barak to come.
Although Ballack is a suitable rotation player, if he is willing to come here to do rotation, don't be ridiculous!
He might as well go back to Leverkusen.
At least Leverkusen can give him an annual salary of 6 million a year.
He began to consider other suitable candidates.
But at this time, he received another call from Barack's agent, Becker.
"Three million euros, Chang. Michel is willing to cut his salary to three million euros and hopes to join Lazio!" Becker said through gritted teeth.
Chang Sheng and his friends were shocked.
Barack's annual salary of three million?
Did I hear it correctly?
Is it really three million?
If this is three million...then you can really consider Barak!
At least you don't have to pay transfer fees to other teams, and the salary isn't too high.
After selling Cazorla, Motta and Giroud, Lazio has freed up more than 20 million euros in the salary budget.
This amount of money is more than enough to cover Barack's annual salary!
Three million a year. Only six million in two years. It’s really cheap!
"Did I hear you correctly? Is this the result of your careful consideration, Mr. Becker?"
"Yes, we thought about it seriously for one night. This is our condition, Mr. Chang."
Ballack joining Lazio also has a positive effect, that is, it can further enhance Lazio's team image and have higher commercial development value. At least in terms of selling jerseys, it can sell a lot more.
Anyway, he was once one of the top three midfielders in the world.
At his peak, it would be no exaggeration to say he was the best midfielder in the world.
He is old now, but his fame is still there.
So Chang Sheng said: "Okay, come to Rome and let's talk about the specific contract."
※※※
Then Becker called Ballack: "It's done, Michel. We can go to Rome to negotiate the contract with them now!"
"Thank you, Misha." Barak breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're welcome, Michelle. The risk you take on this matter will be greater. If you still don't win the Champions League after two years, then your losses will be huge. Six million in six years!"
Barak smiled and said: "I know, but I am willing to admit defeat."
※※※
Soon the media photographed Ballack and his agent Becker appearing at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport.
This surprised the Italian media.
I had never heard of the Roma duo and Barak being linked together before.
Ballack should go to Madrid...
What to do in Rome?
The mystery was revealed two days later.
The official website of Lazio Club published the announcement in a prominent position.
Announced that they have signed free agent Michel Ballack for two seasons!
Everyone suddenly felt very messy.
There was no sign that Ballack would come to Lazio before, so how come Lazio quietly brought Ballack here?
Moreover, Ballack’s annual salary at Chelsea is 8 million euros, and everyone knows this.
Lazio's maximum salary is four million, and everyone knows this.
How was the huge gap between the two bridged?
Did Lazio break the salary cap limit for Ballack?
What do the other players in the locker room think?
Ballack, a foreigner, dares to ask for an annual salary of more than 8 million euros without making any achievements. What should we, the people who have made great contributions to Lazio win the Champions League through life and death, do?
Isn’t it worth an annual salary of eight to nine million, or even tens of millions of euros?
The media, which has always had no excuse to criticize Lazio, finally found an opportunity this time.
They think Chang Sheng and Lotito, who have always been shrewd, were confused this time and made a bad move! (To be continued...)
ps: The fourth update will be sent.
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