Mendes' influence is beyond your imagination.

Four people sat down on the sofa. Ferguson had a constant smile on his face, and the more he looked at Ye Chen, the more he liked him!

This young man was simply the perfect candidate for the No. 7 jersey!

Since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United, there had been no suitable successor for the No. 7 shirt.

Currently, the player wearing United's No. 7 was the "Speeding Boy" Michael Owen.

However, at 30 years old, Owen had lost his former charm, and his tactical importance had declined significantly.

Manchester United was already planning to sell him.

But the 17-year-old Ye Chen, with a face that even Westerners found handsome and an extraordinary football talent, was simply born to wear the No. 7 jersey!

"This should be our second time meeting, right?" Ferguson asked kindly, smiling at Ye Chen.

"Yes, the last time I saw you was at Carrington!" Ye Chen responded with a smile.

When Ye Chen signed with Manchester United, Ferguson was there and even took a photo with him.

However, after that, Ferguson didn't pay much attention to the young player.

Of course, Manchester United's first-team training base was also in Carrington, but the youth team and the first team were far apart, both in location and activity areas.

Generally, Ferguson only scouted players from the reserve team, and only the most outstanding U18 players could make it into the reserves. As a newly signed U18 apprentice, Ye Chen had no chance of appearing before Ferguson!

But fate is unpredictable.

The boy who was once released by the club had now risen to fame.

Now, if Manchester United wanted him back, they would have to pay a price of 50 million euros!

"I watched the video of your youth match against Liverpool later," Ferguson sighed. "To be honest, if I had seen it earlier, I would never have allowed you to be released!"

"But it's okay. We are willing to pay for our mistakes and bring you back to Old Trafford in the most sincere way!"

David Gill also nodded. "Ye, I admit that was a major mistake on my part. At that time, the head coach of the China U17 national team called our office and accused you of various misconducts, claiming that your image severely tarnished Manchester United's reputation. I asked our Chinese staff to investigate, and only then did we make that decision. I sincerely apologize to you here!"

To be fair, David Gill's attitude was commendable.

He also explained the truth behind the incident.

This made Ye Chen feel much better. Before coming here, he was still a little upset.

After all, he was the victim, the one who had been wronged.

But Ye Chen did not change his mind.

Joining Manchester United now was not the right choice…

Most importantly, Dortmund was not in a hurry to sell him despite United's 50-million-euro offer.

At least Klopp had personally approached him multiple times, urging him to renew his contract as soon as possible.

Because Ye Chen was a crucial member of Dortmund's Champions League campaign in the second half of the season!

Yes, Klopp had no intention of giving up on the Champions League this season.

He wanted to lead this young Dortmund team on a European adventure!

"I accept your apology," Ye Chen said with a smile, showing great magnanimity.

After all, the CEO of Manchester United had apologized sincerely. It was only right to give him a way out.

That was called having a broad perspective!

At this moment, Mendes also laughed. "I think we can get straight to the point and discuss the transfer!"

Ye Chen nodded as well. "Sir Ferguson, I'm sorry to tell you that I do not intend to transfer to Manchester United."

"Why?" Ferguson was shocked. "We can offer you a first-team rotation contract with a weekly salary of over £50,000. We can also promise you at least 15 starts per season and over 20 total appearances! Such favorable terms—don't you want to consider them?"

But Ye Chen firmly shook his head. "Sorry, I have no plans to return to Manchester United for now. I have a clear career plan, and I do not intend to play in England for the next three years."

The five major European leagues actually have clear characteristics.

The Premier League is the most intense and commercially successful league.

It is undoubtedly the number one league in the world.

But the competition is fierce, the schedule is tight, and the intensity is extremely high.

Such intensity makes injuries more likely and is not conducive to the development of young players!

That's why clubs often loan young players to Serie A, Bundesliga, or Ligue 1 for development.

Take Kevin De Bruyne as an example—he was trained in the Bundesliga.

Ligue 1 is mainly known for nurturing young talents. Players like Hazard, Kanté, Mbappé, Tchouaméni, and Bernardo Silva all emerged from there. Oh, and also Manchester United's Martial...

Back then, when United had to choose between Martial and Mbappé, they picked the former.

However, Ye Chen didn't like Ligue 1, especially since Paris Saint-Germain's rise had turned it into another Bundesliga-like monopoly.

La Liga was another possible destination, but there was a problem.

If he went to Barcelona, he would have no playing opportunities, as this was still the golden era of "Barça Dream Team III," and they were at their peak.

Their interest in Ye Chen was merely exploratory, and their bid was only 20 million euros—not very high.

As for Real Madrid…

Their squad was already stacked.

Their attack featured Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, and Higuaín.

Additionally, Callejón and Kaká could play as forwards.

There was simply no place for him.

Although Real Madrid submitted a bid for Ye Chen, he suspected it was Mendes' doing.

After all, Real Madrid's head coach was Mourinho, another client of Mendes.

Making a bid was just a phone call away.

So, the Bundesliga was the most suitable league for Ye Chen at the moment.

It didn't have the aging problems of Serie A.

It had physical competition but wasn't as intense as the Premier League.

And just last year, Dortmund had broken Bayern Munich's dominance with their "youth storm," proving their competitive strength!

When choosing a team, Ye Chen's biggest concern was ending up in a weak team where he wouldn't even get five shots on goal per match.

If that happened, even his "guaranteed goal from long-range shots" ability wouldn't be of much use!

Right now, his primary goal was to lead Dortmund to a Champions League title.

That way, even if he left, he would be remembered as a legend in Dortmund's history, a hero in the hearts of the fans.

Moreover, the tactical system was also a key factor.

Ye Chen believed Dortmund's style of play perfectly aligned with his football philosophy!

The best teams in Europe playing "total football" were Barcelona and Dortmund.

Though Dortmund was a rising force, they were younger and more energetic.

Ye Chen didn't want to step out of his comfort zone…

In less than a month, he already felt comfortable in Dortmund.

The club had the most passionate fans and the most exhilarating style of play.

So why leave?

If he moved to the Premier League and struggled to adapt, he could end up getting released again.

Never expect loyalty from a big club.

Just like how David Gill apologized to him—if Ye Chen hadn't showcased his outstanding talent and if Kicker Magazine hadn't published that professional article about him, would Manchester United be so eager to bring him back?

The football world is far more complex than it seems!

It's all about business!