In a seaside cafe in Malmö, the capital of Sweden's Skåne province, George Lee and Helen were looking at the Orsund Sea Bridge in the distance. The bridge connects the Swedish city of Malmö to Copenhagen, Denmark, making travel between southern Sweden, Denmark and the European continent more convenient.
"What are the plans later?" George Li asked Helen.
"I'm going to go shopping at the HSB Rotary Center later. It's said to be the second tallest building in Northern Europe."
"What's the point? Why not go to the castle or church to see it?"
"Yeah, if it's not interesting, I can go alone, if it's interesting, I can go with you." Helen looked at George Li, while holding a spoon in her hand, she kept stirring in the coffee cup.
"You~" George Li gently tapped Helen's forehead with his finger. The more Helen accommodated him like this, the more he felt he owed Helen.
Helen was so impressed by George Li that she held the spoon in her mouth, squinted her eyes and smiled at her boyfriend, no, her husband.
Then, Helen saw a tall figure walking towards them.
She stood up, straightened her skirt, and then said goodbye to George Li: "The person you were waiting for is here. I'll go shopping by myself first. Call me when you're done."
After speaking, she made a phone gesture.
"Okay." George Li also stood up, then turned to greet the person behind him, "Hello, Mr. Ibrahimovic."
"Hello, Coach Li."
After George Li shook hands with Ibrahimovic, he invited the other party to sit down, then motioned to the waiter to remove Helen's coffee and order another cup for Ibrahimovic.
After seeing Ibrahimovic sitting down, George Li began to look at Ibrahimovic up and down.
This Swedish "god tower" is not obvious to people during the game, but only when you get up close and personal will you realize that he is really tall. With a height of 1.95 meters, coupled with long hair that is almost shawl, and a pretty face now, it gives the impression that he is tall and fresh. After all, Ibrahimovic has not yet grown a beard.
But the faintly visible tattoos on both his wrists and the cuffs of his short sleeves gave off the feeling that this person was not easy to mess with.
However, Ibrahimovic's first impression on George Li was still high.
If Ibrahimovic agrees to join Leeds United, he will become Leeds United's second-highest player, second only to goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
On the day Li George left, Van der Sar informed Li George that he would stay with the team for one year and continue to fight for Leeds United for another season.
However, under Ibrahimovic's height, he actually contains unparalleled flexibility, and those fairy-like goals are the best proof.
"Mr. Ibrahimovic..."
"You can call me Zlatan, I think we know each other now."
George Li was very happy after hearing this. At least this proved that the other party was not opposed to joining Leeds United. Then the ensuing chat will proceed easily.
"Zlatan, in fact, we have known each other for a long time. In fact, this is the third time we have discussed joining Leeds United. But it was not me who came to negotiate with you the first two times."
For Ibrahimovic, George Li really visited the thatched cottage three times. The first time was when George Lee just took over Leeds United. At that time, he took a fancy to Ibrahimovic, who was still at Ajax. He made an offer to Ajax, and the club agreed, but Ibrahimovic himself did not. Willing to join a Premier League relegation team. The second time was after the Juventus "Calciopoli" incident was exposed. Li George arranged for Eddie Gray to go to Italy to remove Ibrahimovic, but Ibrahimovic still chose the latter between Leeds United and Inter Milan.
This time, it seems that there is no distinction between superior and inferior at the club level. Ibrahimovic is on the last step to joining Leeds United.
However, this step is not easy to take.
"Coach Li, I know your goal may be the Champions League, but judging from your team's recent performance, why doesn't it look different?"
"What's different, Zlatan." George Li asked, "Also, since you asked me to call you by your name, I hope you can also call me George."
"No, if you can convince me to join, then I will call you boss or boss like other players. If that doesn't work, I'll call you Coach Li."
"Okay." George Li didn't force himself and agreed to the suggestion of this player with a distinctive personality.
"As far as I know, Leeds United seems to have sold off a large number of key players recently. Those players who have won the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, League Cup and League Championship with you are all being chased by other clubs. You are actually unmoved."
George Li smiled and motioned for Ibrahimovic to continue.
"I agreed to communicate with you in the early stage because you are obviously stronger. But if you sell these main players, I feel that the strength will drop a lot. I will not get on a sinking ship." Ibrahimovic finally added.
"So, can you tell me which main player we sold?" George Li spread his hands and started to wrench his fingers one by one, "Robben, Sneijder, Smith, Bale... these people, you Have you heard of the rumors?"
Ibrahimovic thought for a moment, and it seemed that he did not expect any major player to leave a message.
"What about Dirk Kuyt? He was your main player in the first two seasons. Why..."
Having said this, Ibrahimovic himself also realized the problem. Why did Leeds United make a gesture of selling Kuyt? It was obviously to pave the way for him to join.
To deal with this young coach was to stop burning the boat without leaving any way for him to fall back. I am not worried at all that if I join Leeds United and have no chemical reaction with the team, I will basically have no chance to make corrections.
However, it is this kind of courageous coach who is worthy of him, just like Capello of Juventus and Mourinho of Inter Milan. Ibrahimovic will look down on coaches without some ability and courage.
"So, your goals for next season won't change?"
George Li did not choose to answer him directly, but continued the topic just now and said: "As for why some players need to be cleared, I can only say that their strength cannot meet my current goals and needs, and we have better young players. Then these players in their original positions have to make way for them.”
Ibrahimovic nodded. If we only talk about loyalty and history with the players, then this team is destined to fail to become a great success.
"I remember five years ago, when I first came to Leeds United, I almost cleared out most of the players in the team. But look at it now. If I succeed, no one will say that I am unkind. They You will praise me instead, right?"
"so......"
"So, Leeds United will only have one main striker next season, and that's you, Zlatan Ibrahimovic."
Ibrahimovic turned his head away and stopped looking at George Li. He took the opportunity to change the topic: "Is that your girlfriend just now?"
"It's my wife."
"Oh~"
Ibrahimovic obviously did not know the specific matters and expressed surprise.
However, he immediately continued: "As a landowner, I should invite you to a dinner with our local characteristics to entertain you. I think it would be better than tonight. I will decide the location."
George Li nodded slightly and agreed.
Ibrahimovic stood up and continued: "Remember to take your wife with you, boss."
