Chapter 443: Chapter 443
Entering January also meant the opening of the winter transfer window.
The window had just opened, and Real Madrid had already signed four players.
Gago, Higuain, Marcelo, and De Jong together cost a total of 47 million Euros.
On the morning of January 1st, Real Madrid had just announced the few new signings, and in the afternoon, Huang Kaiwen received a call from Calderon.
"Kevin, the negotiations with Porto are still ongoing, so we’ve only brought in De Jong for now,"
said Calderon on the other end of the phone.
"Mr. President, I understand, there’s no issue,"
Huang Kaiwen replied.
"Ramon, call me Ramon!"
"By the way, Kevin, can you attend the presentation ceremony for these players?"
"I’ll check my schedule, but I’ll definitely go if I’m free."
After saying this, Huang Kaiwen hung up the phone.
He did have the time.
But Huang Kaiwen really didn’t want to attend the presentation ceremony.
To be precise, Huang Kaiwen didn’t want to be associated with the transfers of players like Higuain.
Huang Kaiwen didn’t know how much was spent on De Jong, but according to Milan scouts’ estimates, De Jong’s transfer fee should not be higher than 3 million Euros.
The previous valuations of both Higuain and Gago were around 5 million each, and Marcelo was even cheaper.
Yet, these four people astonishingly cost Real Madrid nearly 50 million Euros, and the extra money was basically divided between Mijatovic, Calderon, and Mijatovic’s lackey Busero.
Huang Kaiwen did not want to get involved in such matters.
All the transfers during Calderon’s era were filled with doubts; with transfer fees higher than the seller’s asking price and sudden increases in agent commissions being the norm, such matters would eventually come to light one by one.
Therefore, Huang Kaiwen definitely wouldn’t show support for Calderon on the stage, no different than endorsing unfinished buildings. The Yellow Ball King didn’t want to still be cursed by fans during the Royal Somali era.
On January 3rd, Huang Kaiwen headed back to Madrid.
In the European transfer market, aside from Real Madrid, the other giants didn’t make much of a splash.
Manchester United and Bayern were in a tug-of-war over Hargreaves.
Having lost Ballack, Deisler, and about to lose Salihamidzic, Bayern, who agreed to a transfer fee of 20 million British Pounds, refused to let Hargreaves go in winter.
He could leave, but only in the summer.
Messi and Eto’o were seriously injured.
Barca President Laporta and sports manager Begiristan both denied that they would make any signings, with Laporta repeating the old mantra that Li Changlong would take up the scoring responsibilities.
"Barca’s divine striker," Li Changlong, was as mysterious as AC Milan’s Mr. X; no one knew when he would "return from injury."
Inter Milan was linked with plenty of names, having once taken Cambiasso, Samuel, Figo, and Solari from Real Madrid; they are now associated with Beckham and Cassano.
Overall, most giants were all thunder with little rain.
The biggest expense in the Premier League at present was Villa’s signing of Ashley Young for 9.65 million British Pounds.
Huang Kaiwen stayed at his home in Madrid, watching TV as the host incessantly analyzed the European winter transfers.
He didn’t know about other teams, but all the news about AC Milan was nonsense.
Claims like AC Milan preparing to swoop in on Inter Milan to sign Messi, or that AC Milan was interested in West Ham player Tevez.
Without Huang Kaiwen’s approval, such signings would be impossible.
The biggest issue for AC Milan now was the lack of forwards; finding good forwards in winter was not easy.
"I’ve found the key; from now on, Real Madrid’s performance will remain stable,"
said Capello, just having left the airport, to the camera.
He looked somewhat haggard, but his spirit was very good.
Huang Kaiwen suspected that Capello’s wife might be pregnant again; otherwise, it would be difficult to see Capello smiling so happily.
Albert walked into the house with Ronaldo.
Ronaldo grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, sat down on the sofa, and said, "Kevin, I’ve decided to transfer."
"Capello doesn’t really like me, and I don’t really like him either. Staying doesn’t do any good,"
Ronaldo said, shaking his head while watching Capello on the TV.
Since he decided to undergo surgery, Capello’s attitude towards him wasn’t great.
As an extraterrestrial on the pitch, he could not accept such ordinary treatment.
"Then you might consider AC Milan,"
Huang Kaiwen said. "Milan needs forwards right now."
"I’ll think about it, but Inter Milan fans might not be happy,"
"You really can consider Milan. Milan’s strength is strong, and most importantly, because you missed this season’s Champions League due to surgery, you can still play in the Champions League with Milan. If luck is on your side, you might even win a runner-up medal with Milan,"
Huang Kaiwen said seriously.
Ronaldo gave Huang Kaiwen a punch and grinned, "You’re quite confident, aren’t you?"
Huang Kaiwen spread his hands, smiled, and said nothing.
In the matter of honors, did he, Huang Kaiwen, need to worry?
After sitting for a while longer, as Ronaldo was leaving, he said earnestly, "Thanks for helping me contact the AC Milan team doctor before; I will seriously consider joining AC Milan."
Huang Kaiwen nodded and said as he saw Ronaldo out.
Ronaldo joining AC Milan would be a win-win.
Before the UEFA Champions League rules changed, a player could only represent one team in the Champions League during a single season.
Because he underwent surgery with the AC Milan team doctor, Ronaldo’s condition improved significantly. To recover to the greatest extent, he missed Real Madrid’s Champions League matches, which meant he could still play in the Champions League with Milan.
This season, Huang Kaiwen’s good friend Kaka was on fire, already being phenomenal in the Champions League.