39: Chapter 39 Ranieri's Bold Gamble: Sign Him, and I'll Lead the Team to the Champions League!

In Leicester, at the San Carlo Italian restaurant.

Inside a private room, smoke mingled with the aroma of steak.

The four individuals who truly held the power at Leicester City—Thai owner Vichai, manager Claudio Ranieri, Director of Football Jon Rudkin, and the legendary scout Steve Walsh, who had discovered Vardy, Kante, and Mahrez—were holding a "premeditated" dinner.

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation somehow drifted to yesterday's 2-2 draw and the number 52 who had left King Power Stadium in a cold sweat.

Walsh cut his steak and asked Jon casually, "Jon, did you watch the match yesterday? Honestly, in our youth academy, do we have any 17-year-old prospects like Yu Bai? The kind... where you know you're in trouble just by looking at them."

Rudkin set down his wine glass and laughed, "Steve, don't joke. If we did, could they escape your 'eagle eyes'? You're the man who doesn't even let U12 matches slip by."

Walsh shrugged, his knife and fork clinking lightly against the plate.

He looked toward the head of the table at Vichai, the smiling owner known for "delegating authority" and "not micromanaging," his tone carrying a rare sense of candor and a hint of frustration:

"Chairman, the truth is... I missed him."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Claudio Ranieri's motion of cutting his steak froze, and Rudkin looked up as well.

"Over a month ago, when Arsenal's youth academy decided not to renew the contract of their U16 assist king, I received the profile and watched some footage."

Walsh recalled, his brows furrowed, "Back then, Yu Bai was a Passing-oriented defensive midfielder; his technique was good, his Vision was broad, but his physique was thin, his speed was average, and his defensive positioning was raw.

My assessment report at the time concluded: 'Has potential, but cannot adapt to the intensity and pace of the Premier League; his ceiling is the EFL Championship.' So, I didn't recommend the club approach him."

He sighed, "I admit, this was my misjudgment. In a scout's career, you're bound to misjudge a few, but missing out on a 17-year-old genius who could cause trouble in the Premier League just over a month later... this feeling is terrible."

Vichai smiled, his tone peaceful, "Steve, man proposes, God disposes. If you're to be blamed for this, shouldn't Arsenal's youth academy directors collectively commit seppuku?"

He made a light joke, "I heard that after Yu Bai appeared at King Power Stadium, the air pressure over at the London Colney Training Centre was terribly low."

Claudio Ranieri, who had been silent, suddenly dropped his knife and fork with a "clatter," his face as dark as the bottom of a pot, his gaze behind his glasses shooting sharply at Walsh:

"Steve! This is a major error! It is the biggest stain on your resume!"

The Italian manager's voice carried suppressed anger, "A genius who could turn our right flank into a sieve in his Premier League debut, and you 'seasoned' scouts actually concluded he 'could not adapt to the Premier League'? Unacceptable!"

Walsh was startled by the manager's sudden outburst and hurriedly explained, "Claudio, calm down! The Yu Bai from back then and the Yu Bai now are completely different players! He transformed; he went from an organizing defensive midfielder to an explosive winger! Who could have predicted that?"

In fact, this "accountability" charade was orchestrated by Claudio Ranieri with Walsh.

The goal was to steer the conversation toward Yu Bai and pave the way for subsequent "recruitment"—look, even our most formidable gold-medal scout misjudged him; this just shows how astonishing Yu Bai's potential and unpredictability are!

Claudio Ranieri picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and, seemingly casually, threw out a question: "Steve, I've heard some rumors. Is Tottenham Hotspur close to signing that South Korean forward from Bayer Leverkusen? Son Heung-min? The transfer fee, I heard, is as high as £22 million?"

Walsh immediately entered "intelligence officer" mode and nodded, "The information is very reliable.

Tottenham's interest in Son Heung-min hasn't been a day or two; Paul Mitchell is personally pushing it, and Levy has given the green light.

The player himself is very eager to land in the Premier League, especially in Mauricio Pochettino's team.

Now, it's just a matter of finalizing the details with Bayer Leverkusen."

He paused, glanced at Claudio Ranieri, then at Vichai and Rudkin, and lowered his voice: "And, this matter... is directly related to Yu Bai."

"Oh?" Vichai became interested.

"Tottenham's plan is clear."

Walsh analyzed, "If Son Heung-min joins, a £22 million immediate impact player will inevitably take up a lot of playing time.

So what happens to Yu Bai? He's only 17; he needs matches.

There is only one outcome—like Harry Kane back in the day, he'll be loaned out to gain experience. This is Tottenham's standard path for developing young talent."

He took a sip of wine and continued: "Conversely, if Tottenham fails to sign Son Heung-min, then the competitive pressure on Yu Bai within the team will be much smaller.

Mauricio Pochettino might give him more opportunities, or even try to let him play a more important role."

At this point, Vichai and Rudkin exchanged a look.

Both were sharp individuals; by this point in the dinner, the conversation had been revolving entirely around a 17-year-old kid at Tottenham, and the intention was already crystal clear.

Vichai set down his knife and fork, leaned forward slightly, and asked gently but directly: "Claudio, so... what are your thoughts?"

Claudio Ranieri knew the moment of truth had arrived.

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the three colleagues who held the power of life and death over the club's transfers, his voice steady and powerful:

"Chairman, Jon, Steve. I want to ask the club to step in and try to sign Yu Bai."

The private room went quiet for a moment.

Rudkin was the first to raise a question, which was also the most practical one: "Claudio, why? I admit that the kid is gifted and his debut was stunning.

But surely it doesn't warrant us going to such great lengths? And, sign him? A permanent transfer? Tottenham and Levy aren't fools."

Walsh also looked at Claudio Ranieri; this was also a doubt in his heart.

The manager's obsession with Yu Bai was a bit extraordinary.

Claudio Ranieri didn't answer directly, but instead threw out a comparison that made the three men's eyelids twitch: "We have Riyad on our right flank; everyone has seen his threat. But what about our left flank?"

He spread his hands, "I have always dreamed that the team could have wings flying on both sides.

On one side, a trump-card attacker like Riyad, and on the other side..."

He paused, his gaze burning:

"It would be Cristiano Ronaldo, but we can't afford him."

"It would be the Brazilian genius Neymar, but he wouldn't want to come to Leicester City."

Rudkin: ???

Walsh: ???

Are you okay? Why not just sign Lionel Messi as well?

Vichai couldn't help but laugh: Don't drag me into your bragging; I have better uses for my money!

"But Yu Bai," Claudio Ranieri changed the subject, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, "he has given me a possibility.

A possibility for the final piece of the puzzle to realize my tactical Vision.

I believe his impact upon coming to Leicester City would be no less than Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar."

His tone became impassioned, as if he could already see that picture: "Think about it, Riyad attracting the defense on the right, Yu Bai breaking through on the left.

In the middle, the forever-running, forever-searching-for-opportunities Jamie Vardy!"

"I will build a system that makes the entire Premier League, and even all of Europe, suffer a headache—the purest, most efficient, most lethal 4-4-2 counter-attack!"

Claudio Ranieri's voice echoed in the private room, "Speed, power, simplicity, lethality!

No need for complex Passing and control; just seize every mistake the opponent makes, and then with the fastest speed and the most direct method, put the ball into the opponent's goal!"

He looked at Vichai, his eyes filled with unprecedented firmness and earnestness: "Chairman, Jon, Steve.

My request is very simple: you are responsible for bringing Yu Bai to Leicester City.

Whether it's a one-season loan or trying every possible way to negotiate a permanent transfer."

"And I," Claudio Ranieri stood up, hands supporting himself on the tabletop, leaning forward, enunciating every word clearly and forcefully:

"I am making a solemn vow to you."

"As long as Yu Bai joins, and as long as the squad is complete.

This season, I will lead Leicester City to charge into the top four of the Premier League and qualify for the Champions League!"

"If I cannot do it—"

He paused, his voice decisive.

"I will voluntarily resign and step down!"