There is a difference between dreams and delusions.
On this planet, when it comes to football agents, the first names that come to mind are Mendes and Raiola. They are undoubtedly the two most successful figures in the football world!
Mendes needs no introduction—Cristiano Ronaldo is his star client, and under Ronaldo's influence, nearly 80% of the Portuguese national team players are also his clients.
Besides that, the legendary manager José Mourinho is also under Mendes' agency.
In the previous world, Mourinho was dismissed by Tottenham just two days before the League Cup final. Many thought he would take a break after securing a hefty severance package, but just fifteen days later, he took over at Roma and went on to win the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League!
This achievement made Mourinho the first coach in history to complete the European treble—winning the Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League—earning him the title of "King of European Competitions."
Mendes' connections, influence, and transfer negotiation skills were fully showcased in this transfer deal.
On the other hand, Raiola's client roster is just as impressive.
He represented the great Zlatan Ibrahimović, the powerhouse Erling Haaland, the flamboyant Paul Pogba, and the highly sought-after Gianluigi Donnarumma, among others.
Raiola's reputation was straightforward—he was an angel to his players but a nightmare for many top clubs.
To secure the best interests for his clients, Raiola frequently clashed with managers like Sir Alex Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, and later Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Among them, his most heated feud was with Guardiola, whom he once called "a dog."
However, his players loved him, considering him a mentor and a friend.
When Mario Balotelli's house caught fire, his first instinct wasn't to call the fire department—it was to call Raiola!
To outsiders, Raiola might have seemed less tactful than Mendes, often tearing relationships apart with clubs.
But that was precisely what made him successful.
He knew who his clients were, and he knew whose interests he was fighting for. He didn't care about outside opinions—his only goal was to maximize his players' benefits.
Raiola's famous quote was, "You run as fast as you can, and I will make you the best football star in the world."
Of course, Raiola's most successful transfer was undoubtedly Pogba's return to Manchester United.
In the summer of 2016, Pogba left Juventus to rejoin United for a then-world record transfer fee of €105 million.
As part of this massive deal, Juventus paid Raiola a €25 million commission, Manchester United paid him €22 million, and Pogba himself chipped in another €2 million from his signing bonus—Raiola earned a total of €49 million from this single transfer!
This exemplified the difference between ordinary agents and top-tier agents.
Average agents were exploited by clubs and could only make money by taking a cut from their players.
But elite agents turned the tables—pressuring clubs while ensuring a win-win for themselves and their players.
Sometimes, they even secured benefits from all three sides.
However, the contrasting styles of Mendes and Raiola led to very different outcomes.
Mendes orchestrated Ronaldo's departure from Manchester United, leaving the club with a hefty €96 million transfer fee. Even after leaving, many United fans still loved and respected Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, Donnarumma might be enjoying a high salary at PSG, but he is hated by countless AC Milan fans.
Ibrahimović, too, has often been criticized as a "mercenary" for frequently changing clubs.
As a Chinese player, Ye Chen valued the philosophy of "harmony brings wealth" deeply ingrained in his culture.
Even if he were to leave Dortmund in the future, he wanted to do so with dignity.
But these were just his private thoughts—he wouldn't reveal them so easily.
Having lived two lives, Ye Chen wasn't going to entrust his future to a stranger so easily.
Unless someone truly earned his trust.
After a brief introduction, Watzke made a proposal: Mendes and Raiola would each get ten minutes with Ye Chen, after which he would make his decision.
Meanwhile, Watzke would discuss the offers from the six major clubs with Klopp.
"I'll go first!" Raiola volunteered, believing in the principle of striking first to gain the upper hand.
"Okay, please go ahead," Mendes responded with gentlemanly grace.
Of course, being polite didn't mean he was conceding the competition. On the contrary, he was determined to win.
Mendes was one of the few who truly understood the immense market potential behind the words "China."
He could say with confidence—even Ronaldo's future influence in China wouldn't match Ye Chen's.
That was the power of cultural identity and national pride!
Ye Chen was a homegrown Chinese player.
Seeing one of their own succeed in Europe would evoke unparalleled enthusiasm and identification among Chinese fans.
If Ye Chen could maintain his current performance, he would undoubtedly become the undisputed top football star in Asia!
In the meeting room, Raiola looked at Ye Chen and spoke first.
"Before I introduce myself, I'd like to understand you better."
"Sure, go ahead," Ye Chen responded with a calm smile.
"Do you have a clear career plan for yourself?"
"Of course!"
"Can you share a brief outline?" Raiola asked while pulling out a notebook he had prepared in advance.
Ye Chen was evaluating agents, but at the same time, Raiola was also selecting his clients.
It was always a two-way choice.
"First, I want to secure a stable place in the starting lineup. This season, I aim to become a regular starter. Next, I want to help the team defend our Bundesliga title. Personally, I hope to challenge for the Bundesliga Golden Boot!" Ye Chen stated calmly.
"You're only 17, and you already want to challenge for the Bundesliga Golden Boot?" Raiola's mouth twitched. "Aren't Chinese people known for their humility? I think there's a difference between having dreams and being delusional."
"Do you think my performance so far isn't enough to compete for the Golden Boot?" Ye Chen countered without hesitation.
Four matches, twelve goals—that was his confidence!
"Alright then, assuming you win the Bundesliga title with Dortmund, would you be open to moving to another team within three years? If so, do you have a preferred league or club in mind?"
In Raiola's strategy, a player should always be preparing for the next transfer. That was how he maximized his commission earnings.
And that was when his true intentions slipped through—
More importantly, Raiola said, "assuming you win the title," implying he didn't truly believe in Ye Chen's abilities.
But Ye Chen didn't blame him—after all, Raiola had no idea that he had the Football God System!
A negotiation was always a process of mutual selection, and from this brief conversation, Ye Chen had already made his decision.
"Sorry, but I don't think we're a good fit," Ye Chen decisively ended the conversation. "I truly appreciate you traveling all the way to Dortmund, but let's wrap it up here."
Adults should know how to say no.
It was like going on a blind date—if a girl lists all her conditions and then says she could 'settle' for you, does that mean you have to accept?
She can choose to "settle," but that doesn't mean you have to!
Screw that!
Raiola frowned, his round face full of confusion.
"Why? Ye, I think you need to drop this habit of boasting. Staying grounded is the key to success! You may have had a great start to the season, but winning the Bundesliga Golden Boot is unrealistic. Teams will analyze your play, and you'll find it much harder to score. Even reaching 20 goals will be a challenge!"
"Oh, really?"