Chapter 500: Chapter 500

Pellegrini’s mood is terrible right now.

He’s not upset because of what’s happening with the team.

What really bothers him is being kept in the dark by the club’s higher-ups!

Honestly, whether it’s Nasri secretly giving Tang Long’s paparazzi photos to The Sun, or the several dressing room leaders jointly requesting Nasri’s contract termination, isn’t the head coach Pellegrini supposed to be the first to know when these things happen to the team?

Why did Agüero, Kompany, Joe Hart, and others bypass me and report directly to the CEO?

This is one thing Pellegrini can’t get over;

The second thing is, why did you, Belgistan, keep it from me after learning about it? Why didn’t you call me right away to discuss it? Are you trying to render me, the head coach, powerless?

Pellegrini feels his authority within the team is fleeting, becoming just a spectator in this matter.

This old coach’s self-esteem has been deeply wounded, and he remains silent in stubbornness, just watching Belgistan with a gloomy face.

Finally, he uttered one stiff sentence and turned to leave.

"I’m not getting involved in how you handle this matter at all. As for Nasri, I don’t care, anyway from today I won’t use him, that’s it."

Belgistan closed his eyes, rubbing his temples with both hands, letting out a long sigh.

He isn’t worried about this Pellegrini, as this old man was just a backup choice when Guardiola didn’t come to Manchester City.

Guardiola’s coaching contract with Bayern will also expire at the end of this season.

Early in the season, Belgistan had an in-depth communication with Guardiola about his future coaching career.

The two reached a private agreement that after the season, Guardiola would officially replace Pellegrini as the new head coach of the Blue Moon!

Last week, they spoke on the phone again, happily discussing this point;

They even anticipated potential targets for the next summer transfer window.

Belgistan is worried about whether the British media will unite to continue stirring up this hot topic!

Manchester City is controlled by the Abu Dhabi Consortium, which is already a sensitive topic in the conservative United Kingdom.

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Many people are waiting for Manchester City to have issues, they’re eager to watch the spectacle!

Ongoing public attacks will severely affect the Abu Dhabi Consortium’s business environment in England, which also contradicts the City Group’s intent to expand its global commercial influence.

Belgistan is on edge, even the ringing of his phone makes his heart skip a beat.

Who knows when a call from the boss might come, asking how he plans to respond...

Belgistan feels a bit indecisive about how he’s handled this matter, acknowledging his lack of decisiveness.

"Belada, I should have listened to you earlier, this Nasri, always biting the hand that feeds him, should never have come to us five years ago if I had known it would be !"

Seeing his superior taking the initiative to be friendly, the seasoned workplace veteran Belada went along smoothly.

He smiled and said, "Mr. Belgistan, you can’t entirely blame yourself for this matter. If higher-ups question you about your stance in this situation, I know how to respond appropriately to those from the Middle East."

Belgistan was visibly pleased, leaning forward slightly.

"That’s the best, you’re the commercial director, and you’re the best at dealing with those tricky Middle Easterners."

Belada nodded slightly, then shifted the topic—

"Nasri cannot stay for even a moment longer. His action of secretly interacting with the unscrupulous British media, slandering our player with the highest transfer fee in Manchester City’s history, Tang, and bringing shame to the club’s reputation, I’ll make sure he receives a strong lesson, one he’ll remember for a lifetime!"

As expected by Manchester City CEO Belgistan, the news from The Sun was like a bombshell, causing a stir in the British football world, with other major media also quickly following up and reporting on this shocking event!

The Times, known for its serious and in-depth reporting style, sent experienced sports journalists to investigate thoroughly.

They not only got in touch with some anonymous sources inside the Manchester City Club.

In their report, they described in detail the potential impact of the Nasri incident on Manchester City’s dressing room atmosphere, quoting an unnamed former Manchester City player:

"Harmony in the dressing room is crucial for the team’s performance. Once this balance is broken, it’s like throwing a giant stone into a calm lake, the consequences are unimaginable!"

At the same time, senior media professionals from The Times also analyzed how Manchester City’s subsequent matches might be affected by this internal crisis, covering everything from tactical arrangements to player mentality, presenting a scene of Manchester City weathering the storm for the readers.

"Manchester City, having just achieved two consecutive victories, suffered another blow! The facts prove that a group brought together by the lure of money, they know nothing of unity, will do anything for their personal gain!"

The right-wing conservative traditional media, the Daily Telegraph, usually remains silent when Manchester City wins;

But once negative news about Manchester City emerges, they jump out to add fuel to the fire, afraid that Manchester City won’t fall into chaos!

The Daily Telegraph used its trademark multi-angle reporting technique, starting from Nasri’s past behavior and interpersonal relationships.

They dug out some controversial moments after Nasri joined Manchester City, including previous minor frictions with teammates, trying to piece together an image of a "problematic player".

They also questioned Manchester City’s management’s hesitance in dealing with this matter, considering it might lead to a further escalation of the issue.

"Middle Eastern oil tycoons brought truckloads of checks, but they didn’t bring a modern management system nor excellent managers. This turmoil shows how backward Manchester City’s dressing room management level is, far from their city rivals, Manchester United!"

"As for Tang, the report from The Sun makes it easy for us to deduce that a certain player involved in that secret meeting pointed out, although the meeting was initiated at Kompany’s house, Tang is likely the true mastermind behind the scenes!"

"He united the entire team, openly demanding the club terminate the contract with a player under contract!"

"What an arrogant approach, does he think Manchester City is his club alone, that he can manipulate this club, founded in 1880, at will?"

"Nasri’s action may indeed be unseemly, but this Chinese person also showed the uncivilized nature of the Easterners; such a player is unworthy of growing into a real star!"

The BBC Sports Channel covered this incident prominently in its primetime sports news on the same day.

They invited several football commentators for onsite discussions, with each of them expressing their views.

Manchester United legend Neville regarded this as a microcosm of Manchester City’s internal factional battles!

"Factionalism exists in any team, but clearly, this problem is more severe at Manchester City!"

"I even feel they are not a football team but an Italian Southern mafia gang. Premier League champion? I can hardly imagine such a team laughing last in the competition with Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal!"

"I, Neville, say it outright, with this incident, Manchester City will collapse after Christmas!"

BBC Sports also launched a poll on its website, asking fans whether they think Nasri should leave Manchester City immediately, sparking heated discussions among fans!

A large number of fans left comments online, sharing their views on the incident. Some fans were outspoken, demanding Nasri be severely punished, while others urged calm, emphasizing that the team’s decisions shouldn’t be swayed by public opinion without concrete evidence.

Amidst the storm of public debate, Manchester City started their home game against Hull City in the 15th round of the Premier League...

(Just one Chapter today, my two-year-old daughter has had a fever for two days, it hasn’t subsided, I’m distraught and unable to write.)