As the highest-ranking leader in the entire room, this man took the initiative to speak, but he kept his gaze fixed on Cao Baiming’s face as he uttered his words.
The team’s management was feeling guilty at this moment. They knew that the arrival of these two individuals was one thing, but the most crucial point was that they no longer had the capability to retain both of them simultaneously.
A stark reality was laid bare before them: as the ultimate financial backer of the team, the economic conditions they offered were no longer sufficient to support three superstars remaining with the team while receiving world-class salaries.
It was important to remember that after winning the Champions League, the salaries of these three players would only increase, not decrease. Especially for Cao Baiming, his performance bonuses combined with his base salary had doubled.
One could imagine that his average number of goals per match could reach four or even more. In such a scenario, merely considering the performance-based salary alone was enough to make the entire club rack their brains to find a solution, as this was not a small sum!
If one were to reflect on this point in time, it was uncertain whether winning the UEFA Champions League trophy could truly be considered a good thing for the team. In fact, upon closer consideration, it might not be.
The club’s top management had certainly considered this matter. They knew that in the final transfer process, the core issue revolved around these three individuals. Who among them would stay and who would leave would directly impact everything that followed and simultaneously determine whether winning this Champions League trophy was worth it.
They naturally hoped to keep Cao Baiming. As for Messi and Henry, the team would still make efforts to retain at least one of them.
At this point, one could only assume that Messi was aware of the salary reduction terms, which were solely applicable to him, and that after the reduction, his base salary would be at the same level as Henry’s. They were progressing side by side, yet Cao Baiming’s salary alone was equivalent to the sum of theirs.
This was bound to cause a profound sense of discomfort.
As the highest-ranking leader within the current team management, he could no longer concern himself with such matters. What was important and what was not had to be clearly discerned. And at this moment, the answer to this question was very clear: Cao Baiming was relatively more important between these two.
He clearly articulated the words he had prepared, word for word, but more importantly, throughout the entire process, he did not cast a single glance at Messi, only speaking these words directly to Cao Baiming.
The surrounding individuals were all watching. They did not interrupt, but instead nodded in agreement and support, indicating their unified viewpoint. At this moment, Cao Baiming was seated in what was arguably the most central position in the entire conference room, with Messi sitting beside him.
Although it was not explicitly stated, anyone with normal intelligence could discern that the club had virtually given up on Messi. If these two dared to come together, it was essentially forcing them to make this choice.
At this very moment, although Messi felt a slight sense of insult, he was generally happy, as he had come today to get an answer, and he had now received it.
He didn’t care about matters such as salary reductions. What he cared more about was whether the team truly valued him. The fact that no one in the room looked at him at this moment was enough to explain everything. Messi already had the answer in his heart.
And at this moment, Cao Baiming sat there, meticulously listening to their words, feeling as if he were being persuaded to join a pyramid scheme organization by a group of people.
This feeling could not be described as comfortable or uncomfortable; it could only be said to be somewhat unusual and out of the ordinary.
Cao Baiming also deliberately refrained from interjecting, merely nodding. From his expression, the others could not discern any inclination whatsoever, completely failing to understand what he was thinking.
Only after these individuals had finished saying everything they wanted to say did Cao Baiming finally speak.
“Alright, I understand what you mean. To put it bluntly, you want to do everything you can to make me stay with the team. The treatment and conditions are indeed quite good, but I’ll have to pass on this for now. I’m not particularly eager to continue staying here.”
A simple sentence like this left everyone present in great shock. They had considered the possibility that Cao Baiming might refuse the contract, but they had never expected him to refuse so decisively.
“Think it over carefully. The conditions we’ve offered cannot be matched by any other team. Find any team you wish, and they won’t be able to offer better terms!”
At this point, these individuals completely disregarded Messi’s presence. They might have even forgotten that there was another person named Messi sitting in the room.
“The conditions are indeed very good, but I don’t place much value on them,” Cao Baiming continued, his gaze sweeping over Messi beside him. It was evident that the expression on Messi’s face had become dull and lifeless.
“Please don’t try to persuade me any further! It’s not that I look down on the team, nor do I care about these conditions. It’s simply that I don’t want to stay in one place for too long. Therefore, the only way to make me stay is to change the team’s name. That shouldn’t be possible, right?”
Suddenly, all the leaders in the room looked around at each other, no one able to truly answer.
They even genuinely considered in their minds whether changing the team’s name was feasible or not, and the answer to this question was obvious: even if they changed the team’s name, they wouldn’t be able to keep Cao Baiming, because what he wanted was something entirely different.
The leaders each expressed their thoughts, trying every possible method to persuade him, but in the end, there were no surprises; they gained nothing. Cao Baiming’s resolve was so firm that it was impossible for others to sway him.
These individuals also understood that Cao Baiming certainly didn’t care about money or financial terms. What he truly cared about, they were genuinely unable to comprehend at this moment.
Ultimately, they had no choice but to compromise. Although everyone felt a sense of loss, there was indeed no other way, as any feasible solution they could think of had already been considered and attempted.
At this moment, the leaders in the room finally turned their gaze towards Messi.