Fox in the Penalty Area

Beginning 1

"Yordy, haven't you packed your things yet?"

Sophia asked loudly in the corridor.

The son's aggrieved voice came from the front room: "But, Mom, why do we need to pack our things? We live very well in Madrid, why do we need to move away?"

Sophia sighed, walked to the door, and saw her son sitting on the floor of his room, with various things scattered around - he was not tidying up at all.

"Didn't we talk about it, Jody? Because your father is leaving Madrid Pirates..."

"This is what I can't understand the most. Why did dad leave the Pirates? He is still the absolute main force here, everyone likes him, and we just won the Triple Crown... Why should I leave such a good team? I I asked my father, but he didn't say..." Little Jody complained to her mother with a pout.

Sophia shook her head: "Your father has his own considerations...do you want me to help?"

Jodi shook his head: "No, Mom. I can do it myself..."

After saying that, he began to pack his luggage slowly - he rummaged through the clothes piled on the bed, and finally found a Madrid Pirates jersey, with his father's number "10" printed on it. But the name is not "Maxi", but "Jordi".

He held up the jersey and asked his mother: "Do I need to wear this jersey to attend my father's farewell ceremony tomorrow?"

Sophia smiled and nodded: "Yes."

After hearing this, Jody put the jersey aside, folded the other clothes randomly, and put them into the open box.

He was deliberately cluttering it like this, as if to express his dissatisfaction with having to move.

Sophia noticed her son's little move, but she did not scold him. Instead, she smiled and asked, "Where is your sister?"

"Helen? I don't know..." Jodi shook his head.

Just then, a dog barked and a little girl shouted from the yard downstairs.

Sophia moved to the window and looked down.

Then I saw my little daughter Helen playing with the golden retriever.

I saw her catching the golden retriever, holding it tightly in her arms, and then saying to herself:

"Bobby, we are moving. You must be reluctant to leave here, right? I always thought this was our home...it turns out it's not. I don't understand why dad wants to leave. Mom said it was dad's business, so let me Don't worry about it... But how could it be my dad's fault? We have lived here for nine years. All my classmates and friends are here. I like everything here... But now I just leave.

How could I not care? Bobby, are you right? You care about it too, right? "

"Woof woof woof!" The golden retriever in the girl's arms barked, as if answering the girl.

The girl said loudly as if she had found a soulmate: "Look! Sure enough! You think so too!"

"Mom, did dad decide to leave because he didn't like Hu?"

The son who was standing by the window at some point looked up at Sophia and asked this question.

"Don't make blind guesses." Sophia covered it up with a smile and said perfunctorily.

"But Dad really doesn't like Hu, doesn't he? Otherwise, why would he never invite Hu and the others to his home even though we are neighbors? People are saying that Dad and Hu are not friends..."

Sophia raised her hand and touched her son's hair: "They are not friends, but it does not mean they will hate each other. Do you still remember Hu's first goal in the final?"

Jodi nodded: "It's the barb relay!"

"Yes. If they hate each other, how can they cooperate like this? Your father didn't leave because he hated Hu, he just... wanted to take on a new challenge. If he stayed with the Pirates, he would have everything. "

"Isn't that nice?" Jody asked.

Sophia shook her head: "It's not good for your father."

※※※

"I know it's useless to say anything now, but I still want to ask... Maxi, considering that we have known each other for so many years, can you tell me the truth about why you want to leave the pirates at this time? Is it because of Hu?"

On the phone, agent Jim Castian spoke to Carey in a very sincere tone.

Kaili was silent for a while and then nodded: "That's right."

"Hey you..." Castian didn't know what to say. "Did you know that this time next year will be the World Cup? With your performance this season, your position in the Dutch national team is very stable. As long as you can continue to partner with Hu in Pirates, you will definitely be able to participate in next year's World Cup!"

The European World Cup qualifiers are not completely over yet, but judging from the Dutch team's current points, it is not too difficult to win the right to qualify for the World Cup.

Carey is very likely to participate in the World Cup for the first time in his career.

Of course, that's assuming he stays with Madrid Pirates...

In fact, the matter of Carey's contract extension with the club even alarmed the Dutch national team.

National team coach Joseph Drost made a special call to Carey and persuaded him to stay with the Pirates, at least for one more year.

Because even a fool can see that he and Hu Lai work together well. If Carey can continue to play for the Pirates, there will be no shortage of game opportunities and he can maintain a very good competitive state.

This is good for the Dutch national team.

So Drost hopes that Carey can maintain his form with the Pirates until he participates in the World Cup.

When the World Cup is over, he can go wherever he wants, and Drost won't care anymore.

In his words, Drost revealed his concerns about Carey if he does not stay with the Madrid Pirates. Although he did not say it clearly, after analysis by agent Jim Castian, he believed that this was a "threat" from the national team coach:

If Carey does not renew his contract with the Madrid Pirates, it is difficult to say whether Carey will be included in the Dutch national team's World Cup roster next year.

Everyone knows that the biggest regret of Maxi Carey's career is that he has never participated in the World Cup - in the World Cup in the United States and Canada three years ago, he was injured and withdrew before the start of the game, and he never actually participated in the World Cup.

So using the World Cup to put pressure on Kyrie will always make him give in, right?

But Carey didn't budge.

"That's the problem, Jim." Carey said to the agent on the other end of the phone. "Everyone thinks that as long as I stay with the Pirates, I will definitely be able to participate in the World Cup. At the same time, they are worried that after I leave the Pirates, I won't be able to maintain my form. I can’t even make the national team’s World Cup squad... The implication is that if I leave Hu, I won’t even be able to participate in the World Cup?”

"this……"

Castian was speechless.

Hearing Kaili say this, he suddenly remembered what kind of temper the "MAX" in front of him was.

Let him stay down and be a kid...how is that possible!

"But who am I? I'm Maxi Carey," Carey continued. "Three years ago, when I led the Dutch national team to the World Cup, where was Hu? What does it have to do with him whether I can participate in the World Cup? You are worried that I will not be able to participate in the World Cup if I don't renew my contract with the Pirates. Don't you think that I Do you mean you can’t do it without Hu?”

"..." Castian continued to be silent, unable to say anything to refute Kaili.

Because deep down he really thought so.

I feel that Kyrie, who was seriously injured twice in a row, is the same person as Kyrie before he was injured four years ago. Now Kyrie's style of play has changed since he was injured, and his position and role on the field have also changed. He really needs Hu Lai.

This is a completely objective fact.

But Castian didn't say anything because he knew that with Carey's temper, if he said this, he might not be able to work as an agent anymore.

"I thought I didn't need to prove myself anymore. But I didn't expect that at the age of thirty-four, I would have to go on the road again to prove myself... But it doesn't matter, Jim, it doesn't matter. Life is just one game after another. During the game, I will once again prove to the world that Maxi Carey is Maxi Carey and he is not anyone’s foil. Even if I go to a brand new team, I can still participate in the World Cup!"

After hearing Kaili's categorical words, Castian let out a long sigh.

"As expected of you, Maxi... This is indeed something you can do."

"Thanks for the compliment, Jim." Carey laughed.

"Then please explain to me again why you rejected the contract offered by Insubre? Didn't we make a good deal before?"

"Uh..." Kaili's laughter became awkward, "That's because I suddenly thought of a better place to go."

"A better place? Why don't I know?" Castian asked.

"Because this is what I just thought of yesterday..."

"Is there anything better than Insubre? They promise to play the main force and give you the core after you go. And it is a real giant. Is there a better choice than them? Please forgive me for speaking more bluntly, Maxi. Whether it's the Blue and White Munich or the Turin Bulls, they are not interested in you. It's really embarrassing at your age..."

Kaili didn't care what his agent said. He chuckled:

"Just after the Champions League final, I got a call from Tony Clark."

There was a sound of breathing on the other end of the phone, but there was no follow-up.

※※※

"We are gathered here today to say goodbye to a true legend..."

The host said affectionately.

Alexandra Serrados stood next to him in a suit and ties, pursed her lips tightly.

"Please note my choice of words - 'true legend' - all kinds of hyperbolic epithets are thrown around in football today. But Alessandra Cerrados deserves it. . He has been a player in the Kings echelon since he was a child. From the time he entered professional football to the time he left, he has only played for the Kings of Madrid throughout his life. In today's impetuous and materialistic society, 'loyalty' is increasingly rare... "

After the host emotionally introduced Cerrados' career achievements, the microphone and stage were handed over to Cerrados alone.

He held the microphone and did not speak immediately. Instead, he pursed his lips and tried to calm down his emotions.

As he remained silent, the packed Crown Stadium erupted in deafening applause and cheers.

Amidst the cheers and applause, Cerrados finally couldn't hold back the tears that came to his eyes. He raised his hand to wipe away the tears.

It wasn't until a long time ago that he finally calmed down and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

Then he said:

"I gave my word to the distinguished Mr. Benetto..."

He looked at Juan Benetto, president of the Madrid Kings Club, who was standing on the turf in the audience.

"I will try my best..."

Before he finished speaking, he choked again.

"Try to... finish this sentence in a normal... normal tone..."

"But I...failed..."

Cerrados once again raised his hand to wipe away his tears.

Chairman Benetto, who was looking at him from the audience, applauded and encouraged him.

So he took a deep breath again to calm down before continuing:

"I spent my childhood, teenage years, youth, and my entire career with the Kings... I am extremely honored to be a part of the history of this franchise. I will never forget the first time in my career that I wore the Kings. The mood I felt when I put the jersey on the court, because until now, every time I play for the Kings, I still feel that way. I have never been tired or tired..."

Cerados' mood finally calmed down a lot, and he no longer had to stumble over such a long sentence.

"Sir Borja once called me and asked me to play another season and participate in next year's World Cup. He told me that the Spanish national team needed me... but I told him that I was not willing to play for a team other than the Kings. Play football..."

The audience burst into thunderous applause.

"It's a great honor to retire with the Kings, and it's far more important than going to another team to play for another year."

"Today, I say goodbye to everyone at the Crown Stadium. I will end my career, but I will not say goodbye to the King. This heart of mine..." Cerrados placed his right hand on his heart.

"Will always beat for the King! Hail, King!"

He raised his arms and shouted.

"Hail! King!! Long live! King!!"

The Crown Stadium responded to their "Prince" with a roar.

Alexandra Serrados had no regrets at all, or if she had any regrets, she was put down amidst the deafening shouts...

※※※

"I know that choosing not to renew my contract with the club is unbelievable and not understood... but Maxi Carey is a very willful person, and you all know this, and the club has always been very tolerant of me. So I'm sorry, please tolerate my willfulness for the last time..."

Facing the club executives, special guests, and media reporters in the audience, Maxi Carey smiled.

This is a dedicated space at Pirates Park Stadium - it is the largest box in the stadium during normal times. During the transfer window, it is used to hold welcome ceremonies and press conferences for new players who join the team.

Through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows at the back, you can see the stands and green field of Pirates Park.

At the same time, this is also the place where players and the team say goodbye.

Here, we welcome and send off many people.

There were no fans in the mountains and there was no touching cheering scene. Maxi Carey's farewell ceremony was kept to a very small scale.

And this was actually requested by Carey himself.

"I am very grateful to the club for everything they have done for me, including extending my contract as soon as possible after I was injured... When I came, they all said that the Pirates are a very humane club and an anomaly among the giants. . I have felt this through my own personal experience, so I know that if I don’t renew my contract with the club, I owe it to the club... Just think of me as a heartless person. You can scold me as much as you want in the media, I I promise not to talk back."

Kairi said jokingly, raising an eyebrow.

But few people present laughed.

"Farewell is not an easy thing, but it might be better if you treat it as a new start. Although I am thirty-four years old, I will not say goodbye with tears like the guy next door. I will continue to play football. Go down. But don’t worry, I won’t go against Pirates in the league... So, yes, I will leave Spain."

"But if... I mean if, if one day, we meet again in the Champions League, then I will not show mercy."

Maxi Carey smiled slyly.

"The above is what I want to say to everyone, so...goodbye, friends."

After saying that, he waved goodbye to everyone present, then walked straight off the podium and walked towards the door without looking back.

Completely ignoring the reporters who stood up to ask questions.

"Where are you going, Maxi!"

A reporter asked loudly.

Kaili neither paused nor answered, as if he didn't hear, he simply opened the door and walked out.

Leaving those stunned people behind.

This is how he bid farewell to the team he played for for nine years.

(End of Volume 6 "Top of Europe")

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PS, there will be an end-of-volume summary later.