Chapter 473 Genius idea

Messi, who was trapped in the hotel lobby, had no choice but to call Chen Ran for help.

When Chen Ran came down from the room, he saw Messi surrounded by people, like a giant panda being watched by everyone.

"Ahem, I'm sorry, please give way. Leo came to see me for something, so everyone should leave."

Seeing that the head coach Chen Ran, who had just led the Brazilian team to win the World Cup, appeared in person, the hotel staff did not embarrass Messi anymore.

However, when Chen Ran took Messi away, there were still clearly audible discussions behind him.

"Messi, the captain of the Argentine national team, came here to find Chen Ran. It seems that the news posted on the Internet is true?"

"Nine times out of ten, that's the case. Otherwise, Messi, the captain of the Argentine national team, would have no need to disguise himself and run to the hotel where the Brazilian team is staying."

"Wang Defa! This is poaching into the family. Argentinians are too arrogant!"

"Well, strictly speaking, it cannot be regarded as poaching by the Argentines. Chen Ran's contract with our Brazilian team will expire after this World Cup. He is no longer the head coach of our Brazilian team."

"Then renew the contract with Chen Ran quickly. What are those guys from the Football Association doing? Are they just watching Chen Ran be snatched away by the Argentine?"

"Do you think the Football Association doesn't want to renew the contract with Chen Ran? My cousin works for the Football Association. According to him, the Football Association has actually talked to Chen Ran about renewing the contract, but Chen Ran rejected it."

"Why? Our Brazilian team is so strong, but there is still a coach who doesn't want to be the head coach of the Brazilian team?"

"Haha, the situation you mentioned only applies to other coaches, not Chen Ran."

"That's right. According to my cousin, the reason for Chen Ran's refusal is very simple. After leading the Brazilian team to win the World Cup, continuing to coach is just doing the same thing over and over again, which is not challenging."

"Isn't this too loud?"

"Hey, who gave Chen Ran the confidence and capital to say this?"

Chen Ran originally wanted Messi to come quietly, go to his room to talk things over, and then leave quietly.

Now that it was like this, he didn't dare to take Messi to his room anymore.

After all, although he is no longer the head coach of the Brazilian team, the impact of blatantly meeting the captain of the Argentine national team in the hotel where the Brazilian team is staying is indeed not very good.

So, Chen Ran took Messi directly out of the hotel, and then found a famous Chinese restaurant in Rio de Janeiro.

In the private room, after dealing with the Chinese owner of the restaurant who came over to take a photo after hearing the news, Chen Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Leo, your dress today is a little too exaggerated."

Chen Ran looked at Messi helplessly. What could have been done quietly is now probably known to the whole world.

"I'm sorry, boss. I just didn't want to be recognized, but I didn't expect to end up like this."

Messi scratched his head vigorously, he was also embarrassed by the current situation.

"Forget it, can you tell me what you want from me?"

"Boss, Javier and I both hope that you can serve as the head coach of the Argentina national team and lead us to compete for the 2018 World Cup in Russia."

"Javier and I have already settled the Argentine Football Association. As long as you are willing, you can negotiate any conditions."

As soon as he got down to business, Messi immediately seemed like a different person, staring at Chen Ran with piercing eyes.

As expected, this was the case. Chen Ran frowned slightly, considered his words, and then looked up at Messi.

"Leo, do you want to hear my evaluation of the current Argentina team?"

"Well, of course, boss, just say it."

Messi was stunned for a moment, then his heart sank, and he had a bad feeling.

"Leo, now this Argentina, represented by you, has a group of extremely powerful offensive players."

"However, there is a lack of defensive players of the same level on the back line. This leads to the fact that when you encounter a strong opponent, you want to defend but cannot."

"In the teams I coached before, excluding Crystal Palace, the Portuguese team had Carvalho and Pepe as the main central defenders, and the Brazilian team had Thiago Silva and David Luiz as the main central defenders.

Center back."

"But what about Argentina? Take the main center backs Demichelis and Garay you used in the final. Do you think they are top center backs?"

"."

Messi opened his mouth, but in the end no word came out.

"Leo, after all, the game still depends on your players. No matter how good my tactics are, if the players can't do it, there's nothing I can do."

"Boss, are you saying that even if you become the head coach of the Argentina national team, with the current strength of Argentina's players, you will not be able to win the World Cup?"

Messi looked at Chen Ran in a panic. He did not expect that Chen Ran was so unfavorable to Argentina.

"Leo, I don't want to lie to you. Your offensive strength is very strong, but your defensive shortcomings are also outstanding, and there is no hope of making up for it in the short term."

Chen Ran's final conclusion was a direct blow to Messi. The entire box fell into silence.

It's not that Chen Ran is cruel, it's that Argentina really can't be carried away. The gap between the offensive end and the defensive end is so big that it can no longer be described as top-heavy.

I don’t know how long it took, but when the dishes on the table were completely cold, Messi finally raised his head.

"Boss, I still want to fight. I will be 31 years old in the next World Cup. This may be my last chance to compete for the Hercules Cup."

"I know that this Argentina team has obvious shortcomings and it will be difficult to win the World Cup. But except for you, no one else has the ability to help me."

"Boss, as long as you are willing to serve as the head coach of the Argentina national team, then I will renew a lifetime contract with Crystal Palace and no longer ask for a salary increase."

"Leo, are you sure what you're talking about?"

"Of course! Boss, please help me once!"

I have to admit that Chen Ran was also shocked by Messi's determination.

You know, as Messi and Ronaldo have become more and more impressive in recent years, the Crystal Palace club has spent a lot of money to retain these two superstars.

Almost every two years, the Crystal Palace club renews a contract with these two guys. Their annual salary naturally snowballs.

As the head steward of the Crystal Palace club, Stephen complained to Chen Ran more than once that the salaries of Messi and Ronaldo were too high and could not satisfy their demands endlessly.

But Chen Ran has no choice. At least for now, the 29-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo and the 27-year-old Messi are still in their prime, and the Crystal Palace Club cannot do without them.

At present, the annual salary of both of them has reached an astonishing 20 million euros. If nothing else happens, these two guys will sign another contract with a higher annual salary in the future.

Now, Messi's promise not to ask for a salary increase is equivalent to voluntarily giving up the last opportunity for a salary increase.

This is not a small amount of money, it adds up to at least tens of millions of euros.

Chen Ran took a deep look at Messi, and to be honest, he was moved.

Unlike other coaches, in addition to being a coach, Chen Ran is also the owner of multiple clubs.

Most of the tens of millions of euros saved from Messi will end up in Chen Ran's pocket.

In addition, he has helped Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká and Neymar win the World Cup. It would be unfair for him to reject Messi alone.

Although he was neither a fan of Messi nor a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo in his previous life, Chen Ran still understood the principle of a bowl of water being equal.

Although Argentina's shortcomings are too obvious, with the support of the system, it is not without any chance.

After weighing it repeatedly for a long time, Chen Ran finally made up his mind.

"Leo, I promise to be the head coach of the Argentine national team. You ask the Argentine Football Association to send people to London to negotiate the contract."

"Really? That's great, thank you boss!"

After agreeing to Messi's request, Chen Ran could finally eat in a down-to-earth manner. Seeing Messi's frowning face just now, he was too embarrassed to move his chopsticks.

However, when Chen Ran and Messi came out of the Chinese restaurant after dinner, they were immediately surrounded by media reporters guarding the door.

Originally, according to the original plan, these media reporters from all over the world were supposed to return home after the World Cup.

However, the news that Chen Ran had met with Argentina national team captain Messi suddenly broke out, causing these reporters to receive the latest instructions, change their itinerary, and continue to stay to follow the follow-up progress of this matter.

"Mr. Chen, when you meet with Messi, are you preparing to become the head coach of the Argentine national team?"

Looking at the pile of microphones blocked in front of him, Chen Ran knew that if he didn't say something, he might not be able to leave.

"Ahem, everyone knows that Leo is a player of the Crystal Palace Club, and I am the owner and former coach of the Crystal Palace Club. Leo and I just haven't seen each other for a long time, we just had dinner together to reminisce."

"That's right. I'm going back to Argentina tomorrow. I haven't seen my boss for a long time. Today I just wanted to have a meal and chat with him."

Messi is no longer the shy boy he was back then, and he is also very comfortable dealing with reporters.

However, all the reporters present obviously did not believe what Chen Ran and Messi said, and their faces looked like they would only believe you.

"I would like to ask Mr. Chen, in addition to Argentina, other countries such as Belgium and England have also reported that they hope to invite you to be the head coach of their national teams. I wonder which team you will eventually choose to coach?"

"Haha, first of all, thank you for your concern. I have just led the Brazilian team to participate in the World Cup. Now I am exhausted physically and mentally. I just want to take a good rest."

"As for which team I will coach next, frankly speaking, I can't tell you the answer now."

"I will carefully consider various options during my break before making a decision. Please rest assured that once I make a choice, I will tell you as soon as possible."

After finally sending away the reporters, Chen Ran received another call from Kompany after returning to the hotel.

"Boss, I read the news and learned about what Leo and Javier did. I would like to ask, have you agreed to be the head coach of the Argentina national team now?"

Even through the phone line, Chen Ran could hear Kompany's uneasiness.

I sighed helplessly, being too popular is also a kind of trouble.
To be continued...