Why are there quotation marks around 'rich club'? It's because this team is Arsenal!
And Head Coach Mair's first sentence actually conveyed the same meaning.
"Hello, Lin Hao! I saw your interview where you said Brazil is currently a strong team in name only. Coincidentally, many people say the same about us, that we don't deserve to be called a rich club at all!"
"Young man, the fact that you can say such things proves you're clear-headed and bold enough to speak your mind. You must have the sharp spirit of youth. Are you willing to make a big gamble with me?"
Listening to the long monologue on the phone, Lin Hao was confused for a moment and blurted out a somewhat inappropriate question, "Who are you?"
The other person was clearly stunned for several seconds, then cleared his throat twice to ease the awkwardness and continued, "I am Mair, the current Head Coach of Arsenal, a North London club in England!"
Lin Hao made no attempt to hide his excitement, "Hello, Coach! So, what is this big gamble you mentioned?"
"If you have time, come to the office tomorrow to discuss it!"
The next day.
Lin Hao headed to Arsenal's training ground, the Colney Training Centre.
In the Head Coach's office, Lin Hao met Head Coach Mair.
Upon seeing Lin Hao, Mair smiled and said, "You didn't expect to ever step into the Arsenal Head Coach's office, did you?"
"I'll get straight to the point!"
"Even though we can't spend too much money on you, as a professional club, we still conducted a thorough investigation into you. You know, it wasn't easy at all. It's our first time investigating a player with no professional experience whatsoever; you haven't even participated in youth academy trials!"
Judging by his tone, it seemed they had indeed put in a lot of effort.
Mair picked up a report from his desk and said, "Regarding your abilities, there's no need to list them one by one. The only abilities you can barely consider presentable are dribbling, speed, and shooting, but none of them are top-tier yet!"
"As for talent, that's worth discussing, and it's also why you're here!"
"Top-tier ball control, sufficient explosiveness, good physical flexibility. Although your body isn't strong, you've almost never been injured! You have good stamina!"
"Finally, your off-ball movement awareness: the report states it's effective, but illogical!"
When he said this, Mair looked up at Lin Hao and noticed Lin Hao's embarrassed expression.
Mair smiled, "A classic untrained background!"
Lin Hao really couldn't hold it in anymore and said somewhat awkwardly, "Coach, no need for preambles. You called me here, so you must have thoughts of keeping me. I want to know why. I know my current strength is definitely not enough to join a team like Arsenal!"
"Also, you might be considering the price. I want to say, don't consider it. I can join at any price... as long as there's food!"
Mair was somewhat surprised and smiled, "Alright! The reason is simple: we're out of money!"
"To put it another way, you do have some fame, don't you? And the salary we're paying you is really very little, so you need to be mentally prepared!"
"Calling it a 'big gamble' is just a nice way of putting it; the team won't incur any losses!"
"I agree!" Lin Hao still insisted, even though he didn't get the answer he wanted to hear. The Head Coach wasn't signing him because he believed in him; Mair's long speech ultimately boiled down to two words: cheap.
Lin Hao still held to his belief: he would definitely find an opportunity to soar to great heights!
Finally, Lin Hao completed his signing with Arsenal, an unprecedented signing.
Setting aside eras too far in the past, Lin Hao received the lowest contract in the entire Premier League.
This contract was so low that it wasn't just unheard of in the Premier League, but in any professional team.
Converted, it was three hundred pounds per month!
A sum insufficient for daily living expenses.
The signing happened when the season was about to begin. At this time, Arsenal officially announced Lin Hao's arrival, and at such a humiliating price.
This once again ignited Arsenal's fanbase. Of course, no one was defending Lin Hao; they were just angry at the team's actions.
Forget about a rich club; they had never seen a team so stingy.
A first team should have at least seventeen players. Arsenal only had seventeen, and one was just making up the numbers, which was Lin Hao.
How could the fans not be angry?
The fans were furious with Arsenal, but Arsenal was also great, adhering to the principle of a dead pig not fearing boiling water, remaining silent.
It was only then that Lin Hao understood that not only was he cheap, but he was also just making up the numbers. He hadn't expected the team to be so stingy before.
Speaking of which, he even had to thank 272. If 272 hadn't suddenly dropped out, freeing up a spot, he wouldn't even have made up the numbers.
Because of this incident, Lin Hao, who hadn't even played a formal professional match, quickly earned the nickname, "Imposter Professional Player!"
Arsenal's meme-generating ability was strong. Previously, this phrase described someone who played poorly. Arsenal was amazing; they actually brought in an amateur player.
In Dragon Country, there was an even more distinctive saying: "Wild Cultivator!"
After joining Arsenal, Lin Hao's heart finally settled, and a quality characteristic of Brazilian players became even more apparent.
That was his carefree attitude!
Although to others, three hundred pounds a month wasn't enough for anything, Lin Hao was quite happy, and his family was also quite happy.
If he didn't go to Arsenal, he wouldn't earn a single penny, and he also needed to attend university in London, which is notoriously expensive.
His family's burden for tuition fees was already heavy, and this eased a lot of pressure.
However, due to his family's strong insistence that Lin Hao's salary also be used for tuition, Lin Hao became even poorer.
Helpless, he could only live in a school dormitory and bought a bicycle, riding it to training every day. London is especially large, and the distance was quite far.
Lin Hao had joined the team when the season was already about to begin, so the new season started very quickly.
August twelfth, 2018.
Arsenal's opening match was against the strong opponent, Manchester City.
Manchester City was truly unrivaled at the moment. After winning the Premier League title and then bringing in the famous coach Guardiola, after several years of effort, they dominated the Premier League last season with a hundred points, becoming the strongest team in the Premier League.
And Fernandinho, the one who had a heated exchange with Lin Hao, was none other than Manchester City's captain. No wonder he was so arrogant.
Before the match began, in the player tunnel, Lin Hao also saw Fernandinho. It was he who patted Lin Hao's shoulder. Lin Hao turned to look at him, and Fernandinho smiled, "I really didn't expect this team to be so damn capable; they actually took you, this piece of trash!"