As a Mainz player, team sponsor Nike naturally hoped Wang Shuo would wear Mainz’s sportswear.
Preferably the items with the prominent swoosh logo.
Moreover, the photoshoot’s backdrop was at Bruch Road Stadium, which was also within Nike’s sponsorship domain.
But as Wang Shuo’s personal sponsor, Adidas wasn’t having it.
Since it was a half-body shot, his feet wouldn’t be in the picture, so his shoes naturally couldn’t be featured.
Adidas argued that since this was an award for the player, he should represent his personal sponsor and wear Adidas apparel.
For this matter, Adidas dispatched soone to drive all the way from their global headquarters to negotiate with Nike.
Wang Shuo discovered that despite Adidas and Nike being bitter rivals who fought tooth and nail for market share...
But that was all high-level corporate strategy.
Down on the ground, their employees, even so at the director level, actually had pretty good personal relationships.
When they t, they were all smiles, laying out their demands and negotiating amiably.
In the end, they basically agreed: Nike, as Mainz’s sponsor, would take precedence, but the logo on the apparel couldn’t be too large.
Adidas was allowed so accessories, like wristbands or headbands, so in the end, Wang Shuo wore an Adidas wristband.
The logo on it was about the sa size as Nike’s.
To make the Adidas logo more prominent, Wang Shuo had to roll up his sleeves.
After a long ordeal, Massimo Frankie was finally able to take the photos.
Wang Shuo noticed that Massimo Frankie and his team seed quite used to this sort of thing, as if they encountered it often.
"Wang, I have to head back now. My colleagues and I will be waiting for you in Turin."
"Alright, thank you, Massimo!"
After seeing Massimo Frankie off, Wang Shuo let out a heavy sigh of relief.
The European Golden Boy Award was in the bag!
But he made a point to check his scout system, only to find it hadn’t sent any notifications or rewards.
Wang Shuo felt that an Achievent like the European Golden Boy Award should definitely co with a reward.
However, considering the system’s usual bureaucratic strictness, he figured it would probably wait until he officially accepted the award in Turin, after everything was set in stone.
Elsewhere, Strutz, Heidel, and Klopp were discussing matters in high spirits.
Especially Heidel.
Clearly, he felt that his gamble had paid off.
If he had sold Wang Shuo to Bayern for 5 million euros back then, this joyous occasion would have had nothing to do with Mainz, and the club wouldn’t have reaped any of the benefits.
Now, even in the Bundesliga—a league known for value and low transfer fees—Heidel wouldn’t even glance at an offer with fewer than eight figures.
The difference was night and day; they had struck absolute gold!
"Wang, keep up the great work! Whether or not we can beco the winter champions during the second half of the season—it’s all on your shoulders!"
Heidel was grinning from ear to ear.
His words also implied that Wang Shuo would definitely be staying with the team through the winter break.
This wasn’t surprising. If he sold Wang Shuo right after he won the European Golden Boy Award, how could Heidel possibly face the fans?
But with Wang Shuo staying, it ant soone else would have to go.
This left a sour taste in Wang Shuo’s mouth.
After all, when he had first joined the Mainz first team, besides captain Nowitzki, Subotic had been the first person to speak to him.
...
On the day before Matchday 17 of the Bundesliga, an away ga against Bochum, the team followed its usual routine, gathering and checking into the designated hotel. Wang Shuo was rooming with Subotic.
"I’m leaving."
Subotic said quietly to Wang Shuo from his bed.
"When?"
"After the Bochum match. I leave the day after we get back."
"So soon?"
"I have to move, there’s a lot to take care of, and Christmas is right around the corner."
Wang Shuo was calm. He had guessed this would happen long ago and had already co to terms with it.
"Where to?"
"Dortmund."
"For... how much?"
"Not much. Only 7 million euros," Subotic said with a wry smile.
’That really isn’t much,’ Wang Shuo thought.
But this was the reality of the Bundesliga.
Aside from Bayern, getting any other Bundesliga team to pay a 10-million-euro transfer fee was like cutting off a piece of their own flesh.
Furthermore, there were financial restrictions imposed by the German Football Association and the German Professional Football League.
All teams had to live within their ans, and their transfer budgets were under strict control.
Under the 50 1 rule, a club couldn’t just burn through cash if it didn’t have sufficient revenue.
It was precisely due to these layers of restrictions that transfer fees in Germany had always been relatively low.
"Don’t worry about it. Dortmund isn’t far from here, anyway," Wang Shuo said, trying to sound casual.
Subotic nodded. "The terms they offered are better. My annual salary will be 1.5 million euros, almost double what I make at Mainz."
’That really is a lot,’ Wang Shuo thought.
"Besides, Dortmund is a big club. I think by playing there, it’ll be easier for to get noticed by Antic."
Subotic still hadn’t given up on his dream of joining the Serbian National Team.
Wang Shuo completely agreed with his reasoning.
"In that case, if we face each other on the pitch in the second half of the season, you can’t go easy on . As long as you don’t injure , you better hit with every little trick you’ve got."
’This is all Passive Value!’
’If you’re really my brother, you’ll kick a few extra tis!’
Subotic burst out laughing. "I’d be more worried about you not kicking too hard, to be honest."
"But seriously, Wang."
Subotic suddenly turned over, his eyes sharp and intense as he stared at Wang Shuo.
"You’re the most incredible, most unbelievable player I’ve ever seen. The speed of your improvent, especially, is just... it’s beyond belief."
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