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Chapter 822: Final Chapter: What Happened Afterwards and the Successor
The celebration after the Chinese team won the championship lasted for a long time. The players reveled and sang joyfully, and Wang Feng drank more than usual, eventually getting so drunk that he had to be supported by his family back to his hotel room.
"Why did Afeng drink so much this time, when he usually doesn't like alcohol?" his mother asked, a hint of worry in her voice, as she handed him a hot towel.
Liu Yao took the towel and gently wiped her husband's face, feeling a bit sorry for him. "He's probably feeling uneasy. After the joy fades away, all that's left is emptiness and fear. For someone who's been at the peak for so long, coming down from it can indeed be difficult."
"It's okay. The children and I will always be by your side." Liu Yao squeezed Wang Feng's hand and comforted him softly.
The entire team stayed in Moscow for a day before returning to the capital. They paraded around the city along the Fourth Ring Road, just like they did eight years ago, celebrating before finally sending the World Cup trophy to the National Museum for exhibition.
After the intense final showdown, the European football scene ushered in the transfer season. The English Premier League once again became the biggest spender with a total expenditure of ��1.23 billion.
Manchester City didn't make many moves. Despite failing to repeat their quadruple feat from the previous season, Pep Guardiola remained confident in the team's potential and focused on strengthening and integrating.
Their biggest acquisition was Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City for ��61.02 million. Meanwhile, veterans like Yaya Toure and Joe Hart left the club, signaling a rebuilding phase.
Due to Wang Feng's personal wishes, contract renewal negotiations with Manchester City didn't take place. However, the club officially stated that they wouldn't sell the Chinese superstar, whose contract had only one year left, indicating that he would enter the free market in a year.
"This is your choice, Wang. You've brought glory to Manchester City, and we ask for nothing more." Sheikh Mansour said.
Liverpool became the club with the highest transfer spending in Europe this summer, reaching approximately ��164 million. Chelsea also didn't hold back, spending ��72 million to acquire goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao.
Real Madrid signed Brazilian wonderkid Vinicius Junior and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea during the summer transfer window, but negotiations for Eden Hazard couldn't be completed.
As they focused on building for the future, Cristiano Ronaldo's position at the club became somewhat awkward. It was inevitable that he would gradually relinquish his core status. Rumors circulated that Juventus was interested in signing him for a hefty sum and building a luxurious lineup around him.
However, Ronaldo didn't want to leave without achieving anything significant, so the deal ultimately fell through.
Barcelona still struggled with their financial constraints and the repercussions of the "Dark Decade." The impact was profound, exacerbated by the unreasonable wage structure within the team. Club president Bartomeu was considering some major moves.
The 2018-2019 season was a mix of joy and sorrow for Manchester City. They started the season by defeating Chelsea 2-0 to retain the Community Shield, setting a good precedent.
Throughout the season, they led the league, and Wang Feng also won the UEFA Best Player in Europe, Ballon d'Or, and FIFA World Player of the Year awards.
Although they were eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals last season, the weight of winning the Premier League and the World Cup made it impossible for anyone to compete with the Chinese superstar.
This was also the last time Wang Feng received the annual triple awards. With this, his Ballon d'Or and UEFA Best Player count stood at 14, setting an unparalleled legendary record.
This season, Manchester City successfully won the league title, achieving a historic three-peat in the Premier League. Only four clubs in the history of the English top flight have achieved this feat, including Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United.
Manchester City officially joined the ranks of football giants, enriching the club's heritage.
The contribution made by the Chinese superstar was significant. Although he was no longer the Premier League top scorer or the team's primary attacker, his 20 goals and 20 assists secured him the Player of the Season award.
In addition to the league title, the team also won the League Cup, but unfortunately, they were knocked out of the FA Cup early.
The most regrettable part was Manchester City's failure in the Champions League semi-finals again. This time, they drew 3-3 with Tottenham Hotspur over two legs and lost in a penalty shootout.
After the season, Wang Feng officially announced his departure from the club, causing another earthquake in European football.
During his three years at Manchester City, he made 155 appearances, scored 162 goals, and provided 73 assists, helping the team win three league titles, two League Cups, one FA Cup, two Community Shields, their first-ever Champions League title, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.
Despite being 36 years old, there were still many top clubs hoping to sign him for reinforcement. Many teams were even willing to offer him lucrative deals.
Rumors were flying everywhere, and Wang Feng was close to returning to his own club, Inter Milan, at one point. However, PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi personally flew to Madrid with Kylian Mbappe to negotiate with him.
Under almost perfect conditions, Wang Feng finally agreed to join PSG. The contract included a signing fee of �400 million, an annual pre-tax salary of �200 million for four years, and 100% image rights.
Of course, besides being a player, Wang Feng also took on the role of ambassador for the Qatar World Cup. Coupled with constant attempts to retain him, his plans to retire from the national team were temporarily put on hold.
When the details of Wang Feng's salary were exposed, it caused a sensation worldwide. While player salaries had increased significantly in recent years, no one else could reach such outrageous levels except for the God of Football himself.
This also showcased the financial power once again, with many Middle Eastern neighbors beginning to stir after the UAE and Qatar made their moves.
His first season in Ligue 1 wasn't particularly successful. Despite forming a formidable attacking trio with Neymar and Mbappe, the team's poor midfield and defense were major weaknesses.
The club only managed to win the Ligue 1 title, and they were eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals.
The Chinese superstar contributed 25 goals in the league, winning the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, but his seven goals in the Champions League were a personal low, marking the first time in over a decade that he didn't win the top scorer title.
So, after the season ended, he decided to approach the coaching staff and agreed to pick up the banner of defensive cohesion again. At this stage of his career, on-field statistics were no longer important to him. Since PSG had invested so much in bringing him in, he had to live up to the club's expectations.
At the age of 37, Wang Feng focused on significantly improving the team's defensive capabilities. With the overall strength of Ligue 1 not being particularly high, he could allocate more energy to European competitions.
PSG had a breakout season, winning the league title again, as well as the French Cup and the French Super Cup.
They also made it to the Champions League final, ultimately defeating Chelsea 1-0 to lift their first-ever European Cup.
Of course, the Chinese superstar, who was content to play a supporting role, was no longer the center of attention. He contributed 14 goals and 21 assists in the league, and 5 goals and 11 assists in the Champions League.
Mbappe, on the other hand, won numerous accolades including the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, European Golden Boot, Champions League top scorer, and UEFA Men's Player of the Year, officially establishing himself as the best in the football world.
After accomplishing his mission, Wang Feng relaxed even more. He intended to reduce his playing time, using injuries and other factors as excuses to spend more time with his family. The club had no complaints; after all, what more could they demand from a 38-year-old veteran?
With his data for the season hitting a new low, he scored 9 goals and provided 11 assists, smoothly transitioning into a role for key moments.
During his four seasons at PSG, the Chinese superstar made a total of 143 appearances, scored 91 goals, and provided 97 assists.
He helped the team win four league titles, two French Cups, two French Super Cups, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup, more than justifying his high salary.
"The match is over! The 2033-2034 Champions League belongs to Real Madrid! They defeated Bayern Munich 3-1 and lifted this ultimate European honor!"
"The key player of the final is the young player from China, Wang Haoxin. At just 23 years old, he scored twice, helping the Galacticos secure the victory!"
"Of course, he also has another well-known identity, the son of the football god, Wang Feng."
"Since the grand retirement ceremony held at the Bernabeu ten years ago, football has officially entered a multipolar development stage. Stars like Mbappe, Haaland, Grealish, Vinicius, Alvarez, and others have emerged successively."
"But no one has been able to dominate the world like Wang Feng did. Whether his son can inherit this power remains to be seen. Judging from the current situation, Wang Haoxin's potential development is immeasurable."
"Oh? We can see Wang Haoxin hanging the championship medal around his father's neck. It's like a scene from another lifetime. Throughout his life, Wang Feng has received countless medals, but this one probably makes him the happiest."
The former football god smiled as he embraced his son's shoulder, asking Liu Yao to take a picture of them, which became a classic moment in football history.
Because one family has produced two football kings!