Football Genius Midfielder System

Chapter 479: Chapter 480: Becoming a Market Value Assessor!

“When the broadcast cut to you and Fabinho today, what exactly were you two doing at the Etihad?”

“Even though you don’t play for Liverpool anymore, you could at least watch your image a little, couldn’t you?”

After the match against Manchester City, several City players finished their interviews and headed toward the back entrance to meet up with Leo.

The Manchester City and Liverpool players would be having dinner together later. Over the years, it had become something of a tradition whenever the two teams faced each other.

Since most of the major trophies in English football over the past few seasons had been contested between Manchester City and Liverpool, the two clubs had gradually developed this custom.

No matter how fiercely they battled on the pitch, the players from both sides would always sit down for a meal together afterward, and the atmosphere was invariably friendly.

Guardiola and Klopp had already gotten into Maria’s car and left for the restaurant. Most of the players would make their own way there.

The moment De Bruyne saw Firmino, he remembered the footage of Firmino and Fabinho during the match. He was sure plenty of fans at the Etihad had been left with a strong impression of their little interaction.

“At the time, I was just trying to get Leo’s attention after he scored. I was worried he might get too excited.”

“I never expected the Etihad to introduce us right then. It’s not even Liverpool’s home ground, so why were they introducing two former Liverpool players?”

Foden put an arm around Firmino as they walked outside.

“Maybe it’s because you’ve scored quite a few goals at the Etihad over the years.”

“So, how is it? Is life in Saudi Arabia better than you expected?”

Foden and Firmino had always gotten along well. De Bruyne was chatting with Leo, while the Manchester City and Liverpool players naturally mingled together. Anyone heading in the same direction simply climbed into another player’s sports car.

Since Liverpool had arrived by team bus, most of their players hadn’t driven themselves, so they ended up catching rides in the Manchester City players’ luxury cars.

De Bruyne drove his Mercedes, taking Leo, Firmino, Foden, and Fabinho with him.

“Maybe all of you should come to Saudi Arabia someday and see just how luxurious life there can be. I used to think we were already among the highest-paid people in the world, but in Saudi Arabia, there are plenty of ways to reach financial freedom.”

“Not long after Fabinho arrived, fans were already giving him expensive watches, phones, and all kinds of gifts.”

“Sometimes I feel like the value of the gifts I receive there is almost as much as I used to make from a single endorsement.”

The salaries Saudi clubs offered Firmino and Fabinho were extraordinarily high, even higher than what most of the Premier League’s biggest stars earned.

That was exactly why more and more top players found it difficult to turn down a move to Saudi Arabia.

After all, earning £700,000 to £800,000 a month in the Premier League already put a player near the very top of the wage scale.

But in Saudi Arabia, that same player could earn £700,000 to £800,000 a week.

Their monthly income would instantly quadruple, and that was before taking additional endorsement income into account.

With total earnings rising so dramatically, how many players could really resist?

For older stars whose abilities were declining and who were nearing the end of their time at the highest level, it was almost like a reward for everything they had worked for throughout their careers.

Many stars chose to move to Major League Soccer or Saudi Arabia as they got older, earning more money while enjoying a more comfortable football life.

“Leo, when are you coming to Saudi Arabia to play with us? You’d get an incredible contract.”

Foden quietly cut in.

“Firmino, even though you’re in Saudi Arabia now, what you and Fabinho make combined still wouldn’t match what Leo earns on his own.”

“Liverpool gave him the most valuable contract in all of football.”

Only then did Firmino remember that Leo’s contract had already surpassed what he and Fabinho were now earning in Saudi Arabia combined, and that had happened years ago.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Guardiola insisted on sitting next to Leo during dinner.

Klopp immediately sat down on Leo’s other side, keeping a close ear on everything Guardiola said.

Over the years, Klopp’s biggest concern at Liverpool had never been results. It was the possibility that Guardiola might somehow lure Leo away.

There was absolutely no chance Klopp would allow Guardiola to sit alone with him.

While the Liverpool and Manchester City players chatted among themselves, Leo’s phone rang.

It was Tiyang, his old friend at Transfermarkt and the man in charge of the platform.

“Leo, would you be interested in taking part in Transfermarkt’s next round of market value assessments?”

Leo didn’t quite understand.

Or rather, he understood, but he wasn’t sure Tiyang could possibly mean what he thought he meant.

“Tiyang, I’m still an active player. I haven’t retired yet. You want me to take part in Transfermarkt’s next market value assessment?”

“That doesn’t seem right, does it?”

Tiyang laughed. He had already decided to make an exception for Leo.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“It’s true that we’ve never invited an active player to participate in our market value assessments before, but your market value is in a category of its own. Mbappé and Haaland are tied for second, and they’re a full €80 million behind you.”

“At the next update, we estimate your market value could rise to €320 million. Football has never seen a player valued that highly before.”

“That’s why we’d like to invite you to take part in the next round of assessments for active players. Of course, you’d only be one member of a much larger team.”

“We’ll listen carefully to your opinions, especially when setting the values of certain key and important players.”

“We trust your judgment, as well as your understanding of the current player market and transfer fees.”

Tiyang was no fool.

As modern football had grown increasingly commercialized, more and more fans had begun using Transfermarkt’s rankings as a reference when discussing a player’s market value.

Even so, Transfermarkt had never truly broken into the mainstream. Plenty of casual fans, and especially people who didn’t follow football closely, still had little idea what the site was.

So inviting Leo to serve as a market value assessor was really a form of collaboration.

It was also a way to promote Transfermarkt.

Leo gradually understood what Tiyang was getting at.

There was no way he would personally go around assigning arbitrary values to players, so the real purpose of the invitation was clearly publicity and cooperation.

From Leo’s perspective, adding another impressive-sounding title that required very little actual work was hardly something he would refuse.

Once Leo agreed, Transfermarkt immediately announced to football fans everywhere that he had joined its market value assessment team.

“With the utmost sincerity, Transfermarkt is delighted to invite Lin, one of the greatest legends in modern football, to join our market value assessment team!”

“In an era where transfer fees regularly exceed €100 million and player valuations continue to rise, we hope to work together with Leo Lin to help build a more rational and stable market!”