Four people sat on the sofa, with Ferguson wearing a constant smile. The more he looked at Ye Chen, the more he liked him!
This young man was simply the best candidate for the No. 7 jersey!
Since Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United, there hadn't been a suitable successor for the No. 7 shirt.
Currently, it was worn by Michael Owen, the "boy chasing the wind."
However, the 30-year-old Owen had lost his former brilliance, and his tactical importance had plummeted.
Manchester United was already planning to sell him.
In contrast, Ye Chen, at just 17 years old, had a face that even Westerners found strikingly handsome, coupled with exceptional football skills. He seemed tailor-made for the No. 7 jersey!
"This should be our second meeting, right?" Ferguson looked kindly at Ye Chen and asked with a smile.
"Yes, the last time I saw you was at Carrington," Ye Chen responded with a grin.
Ferguson had been present when Ye Chen signed with Manchester United, even taking a photo with him.
However, Ferguson hadn't paid attention to the young man since.
Of course, the first-team training ground was also at Carrington, but the youth and first teams were far apart, with separate activity areas.
Ferguson typically only scouted players from the reserves, and only standout U18 players could enter the reserve team. As a new U18 apprentice, Ye Chen wasn't even qualified to appear before Ferguson!
But times change. The boy who was once released had now risen to fame. When Manchester United wanted him back, it would cost â¬50 million!
"I only saw the footage of your youth match against Liverpool later. Honestly, if I had seen it sooner, I would never have let you go," Ferguson sighed. "But it's okay. We're willing to pay for our mistakes and sincerely bring you back to Old Trafford."
David Gill nodded as well. "Ye, I admit that was a major oversight on my part. But at the time, the head of the China U17 national team called our office, accusing you of misconduct and claiming you tarnished Manchester United's image. I asked our Chinese colleagues to investigate, and that's how the decision was made. I sincerely apologize to you now."
David Gill's sincere attitude laid bare the truth, which eased Ye Chen's heart.
Before coming here, he had still felt some resentment.
After all, he had been the victim, the one who had been wronged.
However, Ye Chen's stance remained unchanged.
Returning to Manchester United now didn't feel right...
More importantly, Dortmund wasn't eager to sell him despite the â¬50 million bid.
Klopp had repeatedly approached him, hoping for a contract renewal.
Ye Chen was seen as a key member for the Champions League in the second half of the season!
Indeed, Klopp had no intention of giving up on the Champions League this season and wanted to lead his young Dortmund squad deep into the tournament.
"I accept your apology," Ye Chen smiled graciously.
If Manchester United's CEO could apologize sincerely, the least he could do was offer a way out.
This was perspective!
Mendes smiled at this moment. "I think we can get straight to the point and discuss the transfer."
Ye Chen nodded. "Sir Alex, I'm sorry to tell you that I'm not planning to transfer to Manchester United."
"Why?" Ferguson was stunned. "We can offer you a rotational contract with the first team, a weekly salary of over £50,000, and guarantee you at least 15 starts and over 20 appearances per season. Don't you want to consider it?"
Ye Chen firmly shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I have no plans to return to Manchester United for now. I have a clear career path and don't intend to play in England for the next three years."
Europe's top five leagues all have their characteristics.
The Premier League is the most intense and commercially successful â undoubtedly the top league in the world.
However, the high level of physicality and packed schedule often lead to injuries and aren't conducive to young player development.
Most clubs loan their players to Serie A, the Bundesliga, or Ligue 1 for experience.
Just like Kevin De Bruyne, who honed his skills in the Bundesliga.
Ligue 1 focuses on nurturing young players. Many stars like Hazard, Kanté, Mbappé, Tchouaméni, and Bernardo Silva emerged from there â not to mention Manchester United's Martial.
Back then, United chose Martial over Mbappé.
But Ye Chen didn't like Ligue 1, especially after PSG's dominance turned it into another version of the Bundesliga.
La Liga was an option, but there was a problem.
At Barcelona, he wouldn't get playing time â they were still in the "Dream Team 3" era and practically invincible.
Real Madrid's squad was stacked with Ronaldo, Benzema, and HiguaÃn up front, plus Callejón and Kaká as backups. There was simply no room.
Although Real Madrid had made an offer, Ye Chen suspected it was Mendes' doing.
Mendes' influence was immense!
After all, Real Madrid's manager Mourinho was also a Mendes client.
One phone call was all it took to place a bid.
The Bundesliga, however, was the perfect fit for Ye Chen.
It wasn't as aged as Serie A, competitive but less intense than the Premier League.
Dortmund had even broken Bayern's dominance with their youth-driven surge last season.
Ye Chen's biggest concern when choosing a team was that the squad might be too weak, leaving him with few scoring chances.
Even if he had a "guaranteed long-shot" skill, it wouldn't matter without opportunities!
Ye Chen's immediate goal was to lead Dortmund to a Champions League title.
That way, even if he left, he'd become a legend in Dortmund's history â a fan favorite.
Tactically, Dortmund's style aligned perfectly with his football philosophy.
The most aggressive teams in Europe were Barcelona and Dortmund. Dortmund was younger and more dynamic.
Ye Chen didn't want to leave his comfort zone.
After less than a month, he already felt at home.
With passionate fans and exciting football, why leave?
If the Premier League didn't suit him, he might get released again.
Top clubs rarely prioritize sentiment â if Ye Chen hadn't proven his worth and if "Kicker" hadn't published that glowing article, would they be so eager to bring him back?
Football is driven by interests â interests!