618: Chapter 618 Exposed! A Strategic Retreat! Riding the coattails of football-related traffic!

"Breaking! Rongcheng Baniu Club is about to relocate to Changsha!"

This was news broken by a media outlet in Rongcheng, claiming that the Baniu Club had accepted an invitation from the Changsha Football Association and was about to move into Changsha.

The media outlet even stood from the perspective of local fans, strongly condemning the Baniu Club, saying they had failed the local fans who had supported them for so many years!

Furthermore, this report was not without basis.

They even posted photos of the Xiang Province Football Association executives having a meal with the Baniu Club executives!

Both sides had smiles on their faces, and they looked like they were having a very pleasant conversation.

Thinking back to the entanglement between Baniu and Xiang Province a few years ago, the whole situation could be completely figured out!

The leaders in charge of the negotiations in Changsha felt a bit embarrassed when they saw this report.

Jufan Holdings was very sincere; even their usually low-key chairman had come in person.

But what about them? It seemed a bit underhanded.

But they had no choice.

If possible, they would prefer a ready-made Chinese Super League club.

That would be much more practical than cultivating one slowly and taking on risks.

If Su Yang just wanted to buy a football club, they would certainly welcome it.

But Su Yang wanted to move Xianglong to Changsha, and he also wanted the official authorities to set up tiered rewards for leading the team to China League One and the Chinese Super League. His ambition to dominate the Changsha market was written all over his face!

If the Baniu Club, which was in the Chinese Super League, came to Changsha, and they already had one Chinese Super League club, the importance of a second Chinese Super League club to Changsha would be greatly reduced.

The corresponding bonuses and subsidies certainly couldn't be provided according to Su Yang's requirements.

They hadn't told Su Yang the truth because they hadn't reached an agreement with Baniu yet.

They just wanted to stabilize Jufan Holdings here first!

If they could invite the Baniu Club over, then they could tell the truth.

If they couldn't invite them over, they would then consider negotiating with Su Yang.

They didn't expect that the media in Rongcheng would actually break this news first!

So... had they really succeeded in negotiations over there? And they just hadn't received the news?

"Sigh!" Su Yang sighed, "You could have just said so about this matter!"

The leader in charge of the negotiations said helplessly, "President Su…"

"No need to explain, I understand!" Su Yang waved his hand and smiled with great grace, "If I were in your shoes, I would definitely choose Baniu too. After all, Baniu is more professional, and it is a ready-made Chinese Super League team!"

"……Thank you for your understanding, President Su!"

During their contact with Su Yang over this period, they were quite impressed by his grace and professionalism!

Because they had discovered that Su Yang was quite formidable in terms of negotiations, football development and operations, and market insight. He didn't seem like an outsider at all and acted extremely seasoned!

They found it quite strenuous to deal with him, much harder than when dealing with Xie Yuxiang.

"Sigh~ Then that's it!" Su Yang smiled and said, "I won't take up any more of your time…"

Seeing Su Yang lead his team away, the personnel in charge of the negotiations felt somewhat helpless and regretful.

However, at this moment, someone suddenly asked, "So, is Baniu coming over?"

"Yeah… actually, it's not bad!"

"If Baniu comes, it is indeed better!"

"It's a pity about President Su. I think he's quite a good person, treats his employees very well, and is very capable… The employees at the Jiuxiang Hotpot Restaurant in Changsha have very high benefits!"

"Investment promotion isn't our responsibility anyway…"

"……"

Just then, someone suddenly said, "I've asked around, it hasn't been confirmed over there yet! Baniu hasn't confirmed that they are coming to our Changsha!"

"Then how did that news break out?"

"Are the media outlets spreading rumors again?"

"Then should we invite President Su back?"

"……"

The group looked at each other, unable to bring themselves to do it!

Back in Rongcheng, after the news that Baniu was about to leave Rongcheng for Changsha broke, many football media outlets followed up with reports.

Countless Baniu fans expressed indignation, believing this to be a betrayal!

There were also a few rational fans who said that Baniu definitely couldn't leave.

The Football Association had regulations that Chinese Super League teams could not relocate!

Didn't Baniu get stopped last time they tried to jump ship?

The Rongcheng team fans, on the other hand, stated that if they wanted to leave, they couldn't be kept, and if they wanted to get lost, they should do it quickly.

Anyway, they already had a Chinese Super League team!

The fans in Xiang Province were a bit happy; it seemed pretty good if Xiang Province could have a Chinese Super League football club.

Even if it wasn't their own "biological" one, it was still a Chinese Super League team, wasn't it?

At least they had a Chinese Super League team, and they had a home team.

And those in the province involved in football—whether they were running amateur football clubs, doing youth training, opening football schools, selling footballs, or those around the stadiums—were also very happy…

If Baniu came over, it would very likely boost the entire football industry chain!

Moreover, the multinational investment group behind Baniu was originally in the football business. They also hoped that after the Baniu team moved into Changsha, they could drive other football clubs to develop as well.

At this time, because the Baniu Club was about to move to Changsha, news also spread that Jufan Holdings had given up on acquiring Xianglong because they might lose the Changsha market…

However, the fans in Xiang Province didn't care much about that anymore.

In their view, Jufan Holdings' voluntary departure actually confirmed the accuracy of the news that the Baniu Football Club would come to Changsha!

After giving up on the negotiations, Su Yang, at the invitation of the local authorities, went to inspect various places in Changsha and Xiang Province.

However, he would occasionally still feel a bit unhappy, and the local officials who knew the inside story also felt helpless.

While climbing Tianmen Mountain, Su Yang received a call from a leader of the Football Association in Rongcheng.

After exchanging pleasantries, the person on the other end asked directly:

"President Su, I heard you are planning to invest in professional football in Xiang Province!"

"Yes!"

"Why not invest in Sichuan Province? We still have several professional football teams that are quite short of funds!"

"One has to consider the input-output ratio!" Su Yang found a pavilion to sit down and said frankly, "The Rongcheng team is too strong right now; even Baniu can't compete with them. Any local team would be overshadowed by their brilliance… The market here in Xiang Province is easier to develop!"

"Then are you looking to invest in a Chinese Super League team?"

"I do indeed have that idea!"

"Then would you like to invest directly in the Rongcheng team? If you like, you can buy a stake!"

Su Yang said somewhat uncertainly, "The Chinese Super League one?"

"Yes!"

"Can I have a controlling stake?"

"Of course, that's not impossible!"

"Uh…"

Su Yang didn't expect the other party to be so accommodating.

He thought for a moment and asked again, "Then can I manage this team?"

"The club management is already very professional; you just need to provide the money…"

Su Yang was instantly silenced. In many places, football clubs were managed by the authorities.

He curled his lip and suddenly didn't want to talk anymore.

Just letting him pay money without allowing him to interfere in management… How was this any different from a woman who only wanted him to spend money to support her but wouldn't let him touch her?

Even worse than a "scumbag" woman!

Su Yang politely declined, "I still prefer to have more autonomy. Moreover, the company doesn't have that much capital right now to support a Chinese Super League team. When I say an investment of several hundred million, that's invested in stages!"

"Alright! If you have any thoughts about investing in a football team in the future, President Su, you can let me know!"

"Okay!"

"……"

Not long after, the Football Association issued an official notice that teams would be allowed to relocate across provinces.

Upon hearing this news, the rational fans of the Baniu team realized that something was very wrong.

Baniu's determination to leave had been exposed as early as a few years ago.

Consequently, a large number of fans began to demand an explanation from the Baniu officials. Some with short tempers started cursing directly, and some even started arguing with fans from Xiang Province online!

The fans throughout Xiang Province were even happier, feeling that the situation was already settled!

Some fans and football self-media personalities in Xiang Province were dreaming about when the Baniu Club would officially announce its move to Xiangcheng!

Su Yang was taken around by the local officials in Xiang Province, eating and drinking well, and sightseeing everywhere.

While inspecting local industries, he also took the opportunity to visit Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie, and Mount Heng, before happily returning to Rongcheng.

Because he had created momentum for Jufan Holdings' acquisition of Xianglong last time, the reputation of Jiuxiang Catering in Xiang Province had increased again.

Jian Wei had reported that during that period, some customers came to the hotpot restaurant for meals, and they were all talking about football, also mentioning Xianglong and the Chinese Super League.

Even the work of Meijia Housekeeping and Menghai Travel had proceeded more smoothly; some local people already knew that these were subsidiaries under Jufan Holdings, and their reputation was guaranteed!

Su Yang's businesses could be considered to have ridden a wave of football traffic in Xiang Province!

As for investing locally, he indicated that he would study it further upon returning.

Of course, he really did intend to study it.

At least he had a general idea about many of the important industries in Xiang Province, such as construction machinery, biomedicine, and new materials and new energy.

If there was a need in the future, he could certainly invest.

By the end of December, the Baniu Football Club finally released an announcement, stating that they would relocate to Shenzhen and rename themselves the Xinpeng Football Club.

Once this news came out, the local fans completely gave up hope, grieving as if they had lost their parents!

But the fans in Xiang Province didn't fare much better… Wasn't it agreed that they were coming to Xiang Province?

How did they suddenly change their minds?

At this time, some Baniu fans who had previously argued with fans from Xiang Province began to mock and ridicule them…

Some even said with a sharp tongue, "Isn't Shenzhen your provincial capital? Going to Shenzhen is equivalent to joining your Xiang Province…"

"……"

Many fans in Xiang Province were furious and went straight to the official website forum to "greet" the local Football Association!

It was clearly "confirmed" that they were coming to Xiang Province, so how did Shenzhen intercept them?

Cursing them was definitely the right thing to do!

The Baniu Club itself was also very helpless; they didn't know how the news had spread.

Nor did they know why the Rongcheng media had concluded that they would go to Changsha.

Back when they were in China League One, they had indeed considered going to Changsha, but they were a Chinese Super League team now!

When the news was broken, they were still in negotiations and hadn't decided whether to go to Changsha or Shenzhen.

After careful consideration, they decided to go to Shenzhen.

There was no other way; they offered better benefits there!

And the market looked bigger than Changsha, and the economy was better too!

A day later, more news broke that in order to attract Baniu to relocate, Shenzhen had openly paid a sky-high subsidy of 60 million per year, a price that the vast majority of cities in the country could not offer!

The fans in Xiang Province were instantly even more furious!

Was the Baniu Football Club looking down on them for being poor?