Manchester United's overhaul began earlier this morning, with Messi having already received Cao Baiming's good news and even sent a special text message.
He had only learned about Cao Baiming's private intention to purchase Manchester United three days prior. Ye Jianjian had casually mentioned it over dinner, and he had initially dismissed it as a joke, as who would truly believe such a thing?
However, upon waking up to the earth-shattering explosive news, Messi realized he was wrong, completely wrong. He had known Cao Wanming for years, yet he chose not to believe him on this matter. It was a colossal mistake.
Antonella's expression had shifted to one of sheer disbelief.
In the text message Messi sent to Cao Baiming this morning, the opening words were a resounding "I was wrong!!"
Cao Baiming naturally understood that Messi hadn't taken it seriously at the time, as others were present besides just Messi, including teammates like Henry, Nelson, Odegaard, and Vieira, among others.
Under those circumstances, he didn't particularly care what they thought. After all, the truth would soon be revealed, and belief or disbelief would be irrelevant; the results would speak for themselves.
Now was that moment. Cao Baiming slowly put down his phone, then personally prepared a delicious breakfast, waiting for Messi to see the message and take the first step in Manchester United's overhaul.
Strictly speaking, this wasn't the very first step, as Cao Baiming had already planned to exert influence on the club's management. Since Mike had taken full charge of that matter, he could now focus all his attention on player recruitment.
As a professional football player, Cao Baiming was never interested in political struggles or money. What he wanted to build was a team with immense willpower, a team so strong that it could eventually rival the team he would play for in the future.
He wondered if, in the not-too-distant future, when he was a key player facing his own creation, would he hope for his current team to win, or for the team he built to emerge victorious?
Thinking about this filled Cao Baiming with excitement, as the very idea was complex and difficult to articulate. At present, it was entirely beyond comprehension.
If he could lead his current team to defeat the "dream team" he personally constructed, would that signify his own exceptional strength, or that his constructed team was not strong enough? Which achievement would bring greater satisfaction, and which would incur greater frustration? Without experiencing it firsthand, mere imagination offered no definitive answers.
Therefore, Cao Baiming's focus was on meticulously planning the player roster for Manchester United.
To truly build a team that could challenge him would be no easy feat. Every aspect, from the club's hierarchy to the coaching staff and the players themselves, had to be top-tier. Furthermore, their synergy and relationships had to be the best, the most perfect.
If one were to do it, one must do it to the extreme. Otherwise, in Cao Baiming's eyes, it would simply be an ordinary team, offering no challenge whatsoever.
Currently, Cao Baiming already had several individuals in mind. Originally, he had intended to sign these players during his time at Arsenal, but that plan had not yet come to fruition, and the club's management, Katarina, had ultimately disappointed him.
This included not only Messi but also Kanté, Verratti, De Bruyne, and Hazard, among others. In addition, there was a new candidate: Ronaldo.
Real Madrid had almost privately reached a firm agreement with Ronaldo, with his move scheduled for next season. However, as long as the contract wasn't personally signed, there was still room for change, Cao Baiming mused.
If, in the end, he couldn't secure Ronaldo, he would find a replacement like Carlos. After all, as a top-tier center-back, Carlos was not only exceptionally strong in defense but also a capable attacker, with his thunderous shots and curving free-kicks being among the best.
Considering Manchester United's current roster, upon closer inspection, there were indeed a few players who could be considered truly outstanding. In midfield, there was Bruno Fernandes, and with immense potential, Rashford and McTominay.
In the backline, there was the most reliable veteran, Luke Shaw, by the author. Besides Luke Shaw, a suitable center-back would be needed to partner him, and that player would certainly not be Maguire.
As for the forward line, while McNeill possessed the skill, Cao Baiming simply found him unlikable. If he wanted to oust McNeill from the team, it appeared to be a simple matter. Even with a contract in place, what difference would it make? If the desire arose, Cao Baiming could conceive of a thousand ways to remove him from the club.
A blank sheet of paper lay on the table, and Cao Baiming began to jot down his thoughts. Soon, his phone vibrated.
Simultaneously, the phone screen lit up. Cao Baiming looked up to see that the time displayed on the screen had already become 11:45!
"Damn it! Has an hour passed?!!"
Cao Baiming was astonished by this. It was the same situation again. He felt as though only a dozen minutes had passed, but in reality, it had been far longer.
Under normal circumstances, when one is deeply engrossed in a task, the perception of time indeed accelerates. Cao Baiming understood this, but it couldn't possibly be this exaggerated.
With that thought, Cao Baiming paused his brainstorming. He saw that the number displayed on the screen was marked as "Messi."
It was Messi's call. He must have seen the missed calls and the text message, and was now finally calling back.
Cao Baiming let out a soft sigh and then answered Messi's call, pressing the connect button.
After a brief series of beeps, the call connected. The first thing that entered his ears was a cacophony of noise. Cao Baiming instinctively turned down the volume by two notches.
"Where are you? Why is it so loud?"
On the other end of the line, Messi's voice was still absent, replaced by the continuous, noisy clamor.