Chapter 723 Arms Race

It is said that if a man does not think ahead, he will have immediate worries.

Ye Qiu has always felt that when doing things, he should be down-to-earth and focus on the present, but he should look at the long term. These are two different things.

When Ye Qiu took out funds and bought a six-story office building in the South Pier of the financial district, many people thought that he must be crazy, because the London financial district was in a very depressed situation at that time. It was an understatement to say that the building was deserted. After all, the impact of the entire European debt crisis on the London financial district was too great.

In just two or three years, the London financial district has slipped from the highest rent in Europe to the sixth place. If it is said that it lost to the Golden Triangle area in Paris, there is nothing to say, but if even the average rent in Moscow, Geneva, Dublin and other areas is higher than London, it is really unreasonable.

Ye Qiu is very clear that the downturn in the London financial district is only temporary, especially with the stimulus of the 2012 Olympic Games, coupled with the gradual easing of the EU from the European debt crisis, London, as one of the world's largest financial centers, will definitely continue to play a huge role, so the return of the London financial district to the peak is almost a suspense.

So he asked someone to make an investment report that was highly praised by the outside world and even the London City Government. After that, Tottenham Hotspur, Yezi Technology and Huangtian Group entered the London real estate market in a big way, especially Tottenham Hotspur, because the team had just started and needed money in many places, especially the construction of a new stadium.

So, there were many criticisms of Ye Qiu at that time, saying that instead of investing money in real estate, it would be better to use the money to keep the stars in the team, improve the salary of the stars, and ensure the combat effectiveness of the team.

But these are two different things. Investing in real estate is a long-term plan, and Ye Qiu thinks it is a profitable project. But using money to keep the stars in the team will not only not make a profit, but will also bring great financial pressure to the team. Are the two comparable?

A few years have passed. With the approaching Olympics, the London financial district has regained its vitality. More and more large companies and young entrepreneurs have poured into the city. The demand for office buildings has begun to explode since the second half of 2011. Now, office building leasing in London is very popular and rents are rising steadily.

The real estate projects invested by Tottenham Hotspur have increased their value several times, if not by a hundred times.

Just like the six-story office building rented to Messi's family to open an Argentine restaurant, because of its good location, the subway exit in the core area of ​​the financial district is just across the pedestrian bridge, and the transportation is very convenient, so the rent of the ground floor shops has reached more than 1,300 pounds per square meter. Even if Messi's family is given a discount, it will still be over 1,000 pounds.

Every year, Tottenham Hotspur's rental income from this six-story office building is as high as about 3 million pounds.

In addition, Ye Qiudang has used the name of Tottenham Hotspur Real Estate Company to buy several real estate projects in London, including an office park in the western suburbs of London. At present, they have basically been put into the rental market. According to the evaluation of the real estate company, by 2014, Tottenham Hotspur Real Estate Company's annual income will exceed 20 million pounds.

In other words, the rental income from these real estates alone is enough to ensure that Tottenham Hotspur will introduce a powerful first-line star every year in the future, and this is the income every year in the future.

This is what Ye Qiu said when he defended himself. He didn't want to be Tottenham Hotspur's Florentino. He wanted to build a century-old foundation in Tottenham Hotspur that the great Bernabeu chairman built in Real Madrid!

With Stratford Stadium, these real estate projects, and Tottenham Hotspur's own healthy operation, who dares to say that Tottenham Hotspur does not have the foundation of a top century-old giant? Which top giant can have such a stable financial income as Tottenham Hotspur?

So, when Ye Qiu and Roland, together with Drogba and Nesta, went south from Theobald to this Messi Argentine restaurant in the London financial district, Drogba told Nesta that the whole building belonged to Tottenham Hotspur, and the Italian central defender was very surprised.

But after the surprise, he was replaced by a face full of admiration, because the location here is so good.

Take Messi's Argentine Restaurant for example. This restaurant is just one of the shops on the ground floor, but the business is so good that you can see that many white-collar workers who obviously work in the financial district come here to eat, and some people even walk here directly.

It was dinner time when Ye Qiu and his four companions came. There was a long queue outside the restaurant, and most of them had made reservations in advance, which shows how good and popular the business is.

"I heard that you also have a share in Messi's restaurant?" Drogba asked with a smile. He also opened a restaurant in Abidjan, the capital of Côte d'Ivoire, and handed it over to his brother to manage it. It is doing well.

Ye Qiu shook his head, "I am a landlord. This restaurant belongs to Messi and his second brother. The two of them have half of the shares, but most of the funds are paid by Messi. I am responsible for giving a certain discount on the rent. The advantage is that you don't have to pay for food here!" After saying that, he laughed himself.

Rodrigo's cooking skills are indeed quite good, especially barbecue. Ye Qiu always salivates every time he thinks of it. He and his wife and children will occasionally come here to eat, or sometimes they will choose this place to entertain some guests, helping Rodrigo to make his own name.

But this is just a casual move by Ye Qiu. This Argentinian restaurant has become a well-known restaurant in London. They have rented a shop in Zhenhua Building to open an Argentinian restaurant. That will be the head office at that time. , this place has become a branch instead, mainly because the location there is indeed better and more atmospheric.

Although it is close to the financial district, it is on the south bank. It is connected to the north bank by a pedestrian bridge. The most advantageous thing is the subway exit, but compared with the Olympic Park, it is still much inferior.

The advantage of being a charterer is that Ye Qiu doesn't have to wait in line while others do.

He walked directly in with three people, and the waiters in the store all knew him and immediately took him to one of the luxury boxes. This was a box specially prepared for Tottenham Hotspur and only entertained Tottenham Hotspur. Stinging people.

Don’t think that this is to take care of Tottenham Hotspur. This is actually a hype stunt played by the Messi family. Just this box saves them no one knows how much advertising costs they have every year. Countless fans come to London. If you want to have a meal here, you might have a chance to meet Tottenham Hotspur players, or even Ye Qiu and Messi.

What Ye Qiu didn't expect was that as soon as he sat down and ordered, Macy came in. It turned out that he had returned to London from vacation early and happened to come to the store to see if there was anything he could do to help.

"Hi, Leo!" Nesta stood up and reached out to Messi politely.

"Hello, Alessandro, welcome to join Tottenham Hotspur!" Messi also smiled and shook hands with Nesta.

Drogba and Messi are very familiar with each other. They hung out together when they were at Chelsea. They have always been rivals before. Last season, they were fighting to the death. Messi was still fighting with Nesta on the court. They have competed against each other and are now teammates. The first meeting is very important.

Messi shouted outside, and the waiter came in again, "Tell the big boss that Mr. Ye Qiu and several distinguished guests are here, and he has to cook his own special dishes and show off his best skills! "

The waiter quickly ran to the kitchen, while Macy sat down next to Ye Qiu with a smile, "Boss, I have to treat you to this meal today!"

Someone was vying for a treat, so Ye Qiu certainly wouldn't refuse and nodded with a smile.

Messi currently earns more than 40 million euros a year. Tottenham Hotspur has secured more than 40 sponsorship contracts with world-famous brands for him. Coupled with salary and bonuses, Messi has become one of the most influential figures in football. It is a veritable money-maker, even more than David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Therefore, the money spent on treating guests to dinner is a waste for Messi!

"Where's Jorge?" Ye Qiu asked casually.

"He is busy in Argentina now. The resort in Rosario is about to open. My dad also specially told me to invite you to travel there at any time. The scenery there is really great!"

Ye Qiu chuckled, "Okay, go when you have time!"

The five people sat together, and the topic shifted from Jorge to the pregnancy of Messi's girlfriend Antonella. This matter had been widely reported by the media after the Champions League final, so Drogba casually said After asking a few questions, I finally returned to football, which is understandable, after all, everyone here is a football person.

However, Nesta was a little surprised, because he found that Messi, Ye Qiu, and Roland were very open-minded about topics. Although Drogba was new here, he was also outspoken when discussing some sensitive topics. Not shy.

For example, when talking about the team's frontcourt tactical combination, Ye Qiu mentioned that Drogba and Messi are like two completely different extremes, and both extremes represent no solution. Great, one has superior skills, and Cavani is right in the middle of the two, very comprehensive.

But Drogba said that he actually has a very delicate side. He believes that he can also handle some delicate tasks. However, he said that the biggest change in his body in the past few years is the decline in speed. He is no longer at his peak. His explosiveness and impact were so powerful that his words were filled with the lamentation of a veteran.

Messi was joking like an ant challenging an elephant, saying that he wanted to challenge his shooting skills, and also said that whoever loses should do what he did at Chelsea, stripping naked and lying on the goal line, allowing people to kick from the penalty spot. Take the free throw.

From the atmosphere of this conversation, Nesta could feel the respect and love Drogba and Messi had for Ye Qiu.

Perhaps, this is why Drogba gave up Chelsea's high salary to stay and joined Tottenham Hotspur.

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While Ye Qiu and the others were having a good meal at Messi's Argentinian restaurant, Peter Kenyon was busy making phone calls at White Hart Lane. After all, it was already July and the team training was only a few days away. He had to finalize the right back Ye Qiu wanted during the team's training camp, as well as the team's multiple transfer deals.

He first called Everton chairman Bill Kenwright to inquire about the possibility of Seamus Coleman's transfer. The latter was a bit anxious now because Manchester City wanted to poach their rookie Rodwell. .

Of course, for Everton, no player is for sale. The key is that you have to show sincerity, which is the price.

Everton's right wing is veteran Hibbert, a player whose main position was shaken by Coleman's arrival. Coleman's frequent injuries last season secured him as a main player, but in Moyes' eyes, he still believes that Coleman is the future of the team, after all, the Irishman is only 23 years old.

Bill Kenwright quickly called Moyes, but the latter obviously did not intend to sell Coleman. He sternly rejected Tottenham's inquiry and told Bill Kenwright that with time, Coleman could be sold at a higher price than now, because Tottenham's current maximum is 10 million euros, not as good as Rodwell.

Perhaps feeling a little dangerous, Moyes personally called Coleman again to tell him that Tottenham was interested in him, but he persuaded the Irishman with reason and emotion, and finally convinced the Irishman. The latter promised to stay at Everton, and Bill Kenwright also called Peter Kenyon back to reject Tottenham's transfer application.

While Coleman hit a wall, Barcelona's pursuit of Alba and Alves has never stopped. The reason is simple. Real Madrid also wants to introduce these two stars. Although Real Madrid currently has Arbeloa on the right and Vargas on the left, Florentino's Galaxy Battleship Phase II has always been committed to superstars while promoting localization and rejuvenation.

So the introduction of Alves to strengthen the strength of the right side and the introduction of Alba to strengthen localization and rejuvenation are very consistent with Florentino's team building philosophy and the current needs of Real Madrid. Therefore, Real Madrid is very aggressive in pursuing these two players from Tottenham Hotspur.

Before the European Cup, Alba's value was around 14 million euros, but with his outstanding performance in the European Cup and his firm foothold in the Spanish national team, Alba's value soared to 30 million euros, which is already a very amazing sky-high price for a full-back.

But it is hard to find a good full-back. In addition, the current transfer market is full of bubbles, especially in the Premier League, where there are many wealthy teams. Money is not a problem at all. The value of players has soared, and the value of these two players has also risen.

Regarding Peter Kenyon's proposal on the phone to transfer young player Montoya to Tottenham Hotspur as part of the transfer fee, Barcelona's technical director Zubizarreta did not refuse, because after the introduction of Alves, Montoya's position in the team is a substitute, and the transfer expenditure of introducing two full-backs will be very staggering. If Montoya can be used to reduce some transfer fee expenditures, it would be good.

But soon, the two sides were deadlocked on Montoya's transfer price. Barcelona believed that the young player was worth at least 10 million euros, while Tottenham Hotspur only allowed Montoya to be used as 4 million euros of Alba's transfer fee at most. There was a huge gap of 6 million euros between the two sides.

The outside media also began to receive the news. The Daily News in Catalonia was the first to disclose the news, believing that Barcelona might use young player Montoya to exchange for Tottenham's rookie Alba, but soon, Tottenham officially denied it, saying that the team had no specific action.

But soon, AS also took the lead in disclosing exclusive news, saying that it had received accurate news from a senior Tottenham executive that Tottenham's real target was not Montoya, but Carvajal of Real Madrid B.

AS also vowed that it had received very positive intelligence that Real Madrid had offered Alves 35 million euros, and Florentino wanted to package Tottenham's two full-backs at a sky-high price of 70 million euros to weaken Barcelona.

The arms race between the two Spanish giants has become completely fierce. Real Madrid and Barcelona both regard the transfer of Alves and Alba as a powerful weapon to strengthen themselves and weaken their opponents, especially Real Madrid, which finally won the league championship from Barcelona last season. Now it is natural to further add insult to injury.

Although Barcelona President Rosell is very calculative, the current situation has forced him to bear the pain and bleed heavily, especially in order to be able to dig two full-backs from Tottenham Hotspur. The team quickly made a decision. Dutch center forward Van Persie transferred to the Red Devils Manchester United at a high price of 30 million euros.

At the same time, Zubizarreta's transfer offer for Alves and Alba sent to White Hart Lane was also increased again. The package price of the two players increased from the original 65 million to 70 million euros.

Obviously, Barcelona at this time can be said to be selling everything. If this transfer deal is completed, plus Alexander Song, who was introduced from Arsenal for 19 million, Barcelona's transfer fee this summer will be nearly 100 million euros, which is also a rare big deal in the past few years.

But Tottenham did not make a decision quickly, but put it on hold for the time being. However, newspapers such as The Times, The Guardian and The Daily Mail soon reported an inside story, revealing that Barcelona had made a final offer to Tottenham, with the transfer fee for the two players reaching 75 million euros.

The Spanish media quickly responded, believing that it was absolutely crazy to introduce two full-backs at such a price, but quite a few people also believed that this was not just a question of the value of the players, but was related to the open and secret struggles between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

It's very simple. These two players going to Barcelona means strengthening Barcelona and weakening Real Madrid, and vice versa. So money is no longer a problem at this time.

Isn't this the so-called arms race?

In Ye Qiu's previous life, Alves's sky-high transfer from Sevilla to Barcelona was born in this way, wasn't it?

But when the outside media was hyping it up, Ye Qiu brought his assistant Mauro Tassotti to visit Raul's home in Madrid. When reporters photographed Ye Qiu appearing at the Madrid airport, the entire transfer market was boiling again. Many people speculated that this was the rhythm of Ye Qiu's face-to-face negotiation with Florentino.

But some people also speculated that Ye Qiu was going to inspect Montoya in person, because the Spanish Olympic team was training in the Spanish Football Association training base in Las Rozas, northwest of Madrid, in preparation for the London Olympics.