Chapter 90: Leading Messi astray
When Yang Hao stood at the intersection of La Valleja Street in Las Heras in the southern part of Rosario city, looking at the small single-story house in the short bungalow area opposite, he felt very emotional.
Who would have thought that after Maradona, Argentina's greatest football star would be born and raised here?
How small is this house?
It is about a square of 10 meters by 10 meters, with no door, and the rooms, kitchen and living room are all completely open to the street.
On the east side of the house, near the intersection, there is a small open space. At this moment, several children are playing football and chasing each other in the open space. There is also a "goal" made of wooden sticks and tied with ropes.
The young players were playing a "game" in this simple football field, and cheers rang out one after another.
Yang Hao recognized the future Coal Briquette King at a glance.
It's not just because he is the shortest, but also because his skills on the court are particularly impressive.
There is a convenience store across the street from the "court". There are a few idle men sitting in front of the store, constantly pointing fingers at the game on the "court", just like TV commentators.
They are obviously used to Messi's skills.
The whole street is full of familiar neighbors, so once a stranger appears, he or she will easily be noticed.
Especially the combination of yellow and white people like Yang Hao and Mendiodoro.
Scout Charles had been here before, and he took Yang Hao and the other man straight into Messi's home with familiarity .
Sure enough, it looks very small from the outside, with only two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and no bathroom.
Messi's parents had received a call from Charles a long time ago and knew that Yang Hao and his partner were coming to visit, so they were waiting at home.
When they saw Yang Hao, they were all surprised, but they didn't make any mistakes.
Obviously, they also knew a lot about Yang Hao and Atletico Madrid.
Argentine media have reported on this before, and even published photos of Yang Hao. Argentine international Solari plays for Atletico Madrid, and last season's exciting Copa del Rey final was also broadcast live in Argentina.
"We also watched that game." Father Jorge looks very similar to Messi and is also not tall.
Messi's father is an employee of the Rosario Hacinda Steel Company, but the steel company has suffered severe losses in recent years and is now unable to afford insurance for its employees.
That's why Jorge had to seek help.
Originally he could receive $1,600 per month, but after deducting insurance and union assistance, Messi's treatment costs will cost him about $900 out of his own pocket, and the remaining $700 will barely be enough to cover family expenses.
But now, both the insurance and the union assistance are gone.
Yang Hao sat in the living room facing the street and looked around. It was not an exaggeration to describe his house as bare.
Not long after they arrived, Messi's grandparents, grandparents, and several uncles also came over one after another.
Grandpa Eusevio said he was an architect, but in fact he was just a bricklayer. They both lived on the corner of the street not far away.
There is also a Grandoli Club over there, which is the football club where Messi started his career.
When the whole family saw Yang Hao, they all talked about how great Messi was at playing football. Every passerby who saw him playing football would praise his talent and so on.
In the end, Jorge himself felt a little embarrassed, so he asked his parents and parents-in-law to leave.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Yang, they are all very concerned about Leon," Jorge explained.
Yang Hao expressed his understanding and casually praised the harmony among their relatives and friends.
Yang Hao did not hide anything about Messi because he did not think such a thing could be kept secret.
He told Jorge clearly that as far as he knew, no team in European football was willing to pay this fee for Messi because it was not a small amount.
Jorge also admitted that there has been no news from Barcelona so far, and Messi's treatment had to be temporarily interrupted.
More importantly, according to the regulations of the Argentine Football Association, after the player turns 13, the club he belongs to must register the player. He has found ways to delay it, but if Messi still can't find a team by January 2001 at the latest, he must register with Newell's Old Boys.
Once registered, he will be a youth player of Newell's Old Boys, and it will be more difficult for him to transfer again.
Yang Hao gave a general introduction to the situation of Atletico Madrid and expressed the club's concerns, but he told Jorge very confidently that he was very optimistic about Messi.
"I can't give you any very authoritative statement now, but I can conclude that he will be the best player in the world in the future!" Yang Hao said very confidently.
Not only Jorge .
Everyone knows that Yang Hao is optimistic about Messi, but I didn’t know he was optimistic to this extent.
Especially this time, he took advantage of the two-week suspension of national team matches and flew from Spain to Argentina.
This in itself is the greatest sincerity.
Yang Hao promised that he was a shareholder of Atletico Madrid and was willing to pay for all of Messi's medical expenses out of his own pocket. He would also pay for Messi's family's rent in Madrid and give Messi a living allowance every month.
The standard is the same as Ramos and David Silva, 100 euros per month.
Yang Hao's requirement is very simple. Messi must sign a contract with Atletico Madrid and promise to officially sign a professional contract with the club after he turns 16. Otherwise, it will be a breach of contract and he will face huge liquidated damages.
In order to show his sincerity, Yang Hao said that he could pay Messi's first medical fee of 2,000 euros on the spot, and at the same time bear the airfare and travel expenses of Messi's family to Madrid, Spain for trial training.
It can be said that Yang Hao has shown his sincerity to the extreme, which even made Jorge a little worried.
"Please believe me, Jorge, I really don't want to see a talent like Leon suffer from illness, and he should go to Europe as soon as possible to receive the best and most formal youth training."
Faced with Yang Hao's sincere intentions, especially his sincerity in the form of real money, Jorge had no more worries.
As early as they entrusted an intermediary to contact the famous agent Minguella, they had already obtained a visa to Spain.
Jorge also decided on the spot to go to Madrid to try out for Atletico Madrid and observe the environment there.
Yang Hao also took the opportunity to trick Barcelona and told Jorge that Barcelona was not a good choice.
Why?
"They actually all speak Catalan, not Spanish. When you go there, there will definitely be problems with adaptation and integration. But in Madrid, you won't have such worries. You should know how many people come to Spain from Argentina every year."
What Yang Hao said was also true.
Since Argentina's economic depression, countless Argentines have gone to Spain to make a living every year in recent years.
After hearing what Yang Hao said, Jorge became more inclined towards Atletico Madrid and no longer cared about the progress on Minguella's side.
…
Yang Hao stayed at Messi's house for a long time and was even invited to stay for dinner.
While chatting with Jorge Messi and scout Charles, Yang Hao discovered something very interesting.
That is, in Argentina, children from poor families cannot afford to play football.
"Children like Maradona who come from slums are relatively rare in Argentina. It is more common for children from middle-class families to play football because children from poor families don't have money, but they need money to participate in training, buy equipment and ensure nutrition."
"Also, getting a trial at a club requires connections and money."
Why does Yang Hao sound so familiar?
Jorge Messi said that the company where he works, Asinda Steel, specializes in pressed steel. He is the manager of the production workshop and belongs to the middle management. If it were not for Messi's illness, he would have no problem working alone to support his family.
This is also the reason why all three boys in their family can play football.
When it comes to Messi, he can talk endlessly.
For example, when he was less than one year old and had just learned to walk, he staggered out of the house chasing a football and was knocked down by a passing bicycle on the street, fracturing the ulna bone in his left forearm.
"But he has always been very strong and has an extraordinary ability to endure pain," Jorge praised.
After dinner, Yang Hao took the opportunity to have a private chat with Messi in the open space outside the house.
Little Messi seems to be well prepared for the upcoming trip to Spain and is not reluctant about it.
When Yang Hao asked him about it, he simply said, "I want to be a great player like Maradona."
This requires him to be taller and have a healthy body.
Yang Hao suddenly remembered that his childhood sweetheart and future wife, Antonella, seemed to live nearby. He immediately felt a pang of mischief and said to him with a smile, "I heard that you have a girlfriend who you've been secretly in love with for many years?"
When Messi heard Yang Hao's words, his face flushed red, and he panicked, "Who... who said that?"
Yang Hao smiled but said nothing.
"It must be Matias, this guy can never keep a secret." That is Messi's second brother.
"We're going to Spain soon. I think you should consider doing something to at least let them know your feelings." Yang Hao encouraged with a smile.
Messi looked at Yang Hao eagerly at first, but soon lowered his head, "No, her family is quite rich, and I..."
At this moment, he looks like an inferior little boy.
"What's the big deal? Once you become a professional footballer and play in Europe, making money will be easy, right? As for you, I think you're quite handsome, even though you're a little short. But aren't we receiving treatment? We'll grow taller in the future."
After a pause, Yang Hao continued, "You have to think it over carefully. You don't know how long you'll be gone. If you don't let her know, maybe one day in the future, when you're ready and come back to find her, she might already be someone else's girlfriend."
Yang Hao felt like a weird uncle who taught a child bad things.
You know what, Messi was actually persuaded by him.
He is not a timid person, he is just a little inferior and introverted.
"Sir, you are willing to help me, right?" Messi looked at Yang Hao with a pleading look.
Yang Hao chuckled and patted Messi's shoulder. "Of course, I promise to give you a grand confession ceremony!"
