The day after the match at the Santiago Bernabéu, Ajax shifted its focus immediately, launching into full preparations for the upcoming league fixture.
Yang Yang maintained his routine as always—training, returning home, and resting. Nothing on the surface had changed.
But in the quiet of night, he entered the Dream Training System and practiced tirelessly, pushing himself to the edge each session. He was eager to convince Zax to unlock the fifth star-level skills—an upgrade that could push his performance to new heights.
However, before he could immerse himself fully that evening, his roommate Vermaelen burst into his room, slamming the door open with urgency.
"There's some news you're going to want to hear," the Belgian defender said with a serious look.
Reluctantly, Yang Yang got up and followed him downstairs. The television was already on, tuned to the sports broadcast of the Dutch national station.
On screen, the anchor and panel of commentators were in the middle of analyzing a major development in Spanish football.
"Florentino stepped down?" Yang Yang asked, visibly stunned.
Vermaelen nodded quickly. "Just announced—this is huge."
And it truly was.
The resignation of Florentino Pérez as president of Real Madrid effectively marked the end of the Galácticos era. It wasn't just a seismic shift for the club—it had serious implications for the direction of European football as a whole.
Within moments, Maxwell, Maicon, and Filipe Luís had gathered around the television. Everyone knew what this could mean.
For the past season, Real Madrid's transfer priority had been clear: Yang Yang. Pérez had been the main force behind the pursuit. Now, with his sudden departure, everything was uncertain.
What would happen next?
The news continued to unfold live on air. Spanish media outlets reported that Real Madrid had convened an urgent meeting of the presidium at 7 p.m., though what exactly would be discussed remained unknown.
Speculation was already building. Many believed Juan Ramón López Caro's time as manager was over—especially after the disastrous exit against Ajax.
But even more alarming were reports of locker room chaos following that match.
According to multiple sources, Ronaldo had lashed out at Bernabéu fans during a post-match interview, accusing them of being overly critical and unsupportive. His comments sparked controversy within the club. Raúl, acting as captain, publicly criticized Ronaldo's words, calling them selfish and harmful to team unity.
"Everyone's been under fire from the fans," Raúl had said. "When the club is struggling, it's the worst time to divide ourselves from our supporters."
The fallout was swift. Brazilian players like Baptista and Roberto Carlos stood by Ronaldo, while Spanish veterans rallied behind Raúl. A major conflict had erupted in the dressing room, revealing long-standing tensions between the club's Brazilian contingent and its Spanish core.
Even Sergio Ramos, young but already outspoken, told the Spanish media, "Near the end of the match, it felt like some players had already given up. Raúl scored a goal in the final minutes, and barely anyone even celebrated. It wasn't Ajax who scored—it was our own captain."
He continued, "Since I was a kid, I've believed in unity. If this squad can't stand together, there's no way we'll improve."
The damage wasn't just visible—it was irreparable.
When Real Madrid finally began the presidium meeting—delayed by an hour and starting around 8 p.m.—it didn't take long before explosive news surfaced. Just 30 minutes into the meeting, confirmation emerged: Florentino Pérez had submitted his resignation.
At 9:30 p.m., the club held an emergency press conference at the Bernabéu. Florentino appeared in person, as composed as ever. Dressed in a sleek, navy suit with his silver hair neatly combed, he stood tall behind the podium. If anything, he looked more like a man taking charge than one stepping down.
"I hope that by stepping aside, I can signal Real Madrid's determination to undergo real transformation," he stated. "We need to change—not just in personnel, but in spirit. The next season must begin with that shift."
He announced that Vice-Chairman Fernando Martín would immediately assume the presidency, as mandated by club rules. Martín had long been regarded as Florentino's closest and most loyal executive partner.
Despite the shock of the moment, Florentino remained composed and dignified.
"The squad lacks unity and the will to fight," he acknowledged. "Ramos was right to a degree. But blaming the players alone is unjust. If they have failed, I have failed first. The responsibility lies with me."
He ended the press conference with a final appeal.
"The club is in a difficult moment. What it needs most is support. From the fans, from within. I hope my departure becomes a catalyst for that change—for Real Madrid to be whole again."
...
"In any case, Florentino is a remarkably charismatic figure," Maxwell said sincerely after watching the footage of the press conference. "He truly embodied the spirit and image of Real Madrid that he always spoke so proudly about. Even in stepping down, he did it with dignity and class."
The others nodded in agreement.
Truth be told, Florentino could easily have shifted the blame elsewhere. There were plenty of figures within the club hierarchy who could've taken the fall for the current crisis—former sporting director Jorge Valdano, or his successor Emilio Butragueño, a club legend now managing athletic affairs. Both could've served as convenient scapegoats.
But Florentino had chosen to shoulder the responsibility himself. His voluntary resignation spoke volumes.
Yang Yang sat quietly, recalling the conversation they had had only a few months prior at the Zurich Opera House in December. Back then, Florentino had spoken with total confidence about Real Madrid's strategy and vision, outlining the club's ambition to restore its dominance in Europe through careful planning and global star power.
And yet, barely three months later, the man at the helm had stepped down.
It was a reminder of just how quickly football could change.
"How are you taking this?" Vermaelen asked, watching Yang Yang closely.
Maicon and the others turned as well, scanning his expression for any subtle clues.
"Me?" Yang Yang blinked. "What can I do? It's the Real Madrid president who resigned, not ours. It doesn't affect Ajax."
The group exchanged glances.
"But… didn't you want to go to Madrid before?" Maicon asked cautiously.
Yang Yang laughed, leaning back against the armrest.
"Did I ever actually say that?"
The room fell silent. No one could argue. Yang Yang had never publicly stated a desire to join Real Madrid. Even behind closed doors, the most he had done was instruct Raiola to keep an eye on developments in Madrid. That hardly amounted to a commitment.
He'd never made a firm declaration about joining them.
"To be honest," he added after a pause, "I've always had doubts. Real Madrid is chaotic behind the scenes. Even when Florentino approached me personally, I never promised anything. I needed to see signs of real transformation first."
Yang Yang chuckled dryly, shaking his head.
"And now? The transformation started from the top. The man who wanted to build something is already gone. It's chaos. Internal factions, no cohesion, open conflict between player groups. If there's no serious cleansing, that locker room will never be stable."
He leaned forward, voice low but firm.
"The real question is: where is this team even headed now?"
It was a troubling thought. Despite the name, the reputation, and the grandeur of the Bernabéu, Yang Yang had never been someone to gamble his future on prestige alone. His priority had always been growth—progress he could control.
And with the clause in his contract with Ajax now public, he had no shortage of options. If he continued performing, clubs across Europe would be queuing up for his signature by summer. Whether or not Real Madrid was among them no longer mattered.
"But you know what?" Maxwell said, trying to lighten the mood. "At this rate, I don't think Madrid would dare approach you again."
Yang Yang raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"Because you scored a hat trick against them. Florentino practically bet everything on signing you. And look what happened. You kicked him straight out of office!" Maxwell said with a grin. "Imagine what the new chairman must be thinking."
The room burst into laughter.
Yang Yang smirked. "If that's the logic, they should definitely buy me. Bring me over and keep me on the bench. That way I can't score against them, and the new president's job stays safe."
The others laughed harder at the irony.
Still, when the laughter faded, Yang Yang's expression sobered for a moment. A part of him did feel some regret. It was Real Madrid, after all.
But he had always been pragmatic. He wasn't one to take unnecessary risks—especially not with a career still on the rise. If the club didn't offer stability, he wouldn't wade into their mess, no matter how big the name.
He picked up his phone and called Raiola.
To his surprise, the agent had already landed in Madrid and was working every angle for information.
"I'll fly to Amsterdam in the morning," Raiola said quickly. "There's a lot happening. We need to talk face-to-face."
After hanging up, Yang Yang shrugged and rejoined Maxwell and the others for a bit more casual chatter before retiring to his room.
The night had been full of news, but for him, the path remained the same: focus, train, improve.
Everything else could wait.
...
The next morning, as the chill air of early spring lingered over Amsterdam, Yang Yang completed his routine jog around Lake Ouderkerkerplas. The water was calm, shrouded in a fine layer of morning mist, while cyclists passed quietly along the nearby paths. The serenity of the lake stood in stark contrast to the turmoil currently engulfing one of Europe's most powerful football clubs.
After cooling down, he stopped by the familiar corner bakery on the way home—a cozy spot run by a Dutch-Moroccan family that had long become part of his daily rhythm. He picked up a paper bag filled with warm croissants and a small carton of yoghurt, then turned toward the newspaper stand beside the shop.
He scanned the shelves briefly, then grabbed three different papers—De Telegraaf, NRC Handelsblad, and Algemeen Dagblad—hoping to get a wider sense of how the Dutch media was reacting to the news from Spain.
Back at the apartment, he settled down at the kitchen table and spread out the morning press beside his untouched breakfast.
As expected, De Telegraaf had plastered the story across the entire front page. And the headline, bold and unflinching, immediately caught his attention.
"Florentino Is Finally Gone!"