Free Web NovelChapter 534: Chapter 106: A Step Away! Poaching Wang Shuo! Wang Shuo, Do You Want to Become a Legend?
In a joint interview with multiple media outlets, including *Bild*, *Kicker Magazine*, and the *Süddeutsche Zeitung*, Zorc stated that Dortmund had no intention of selling Wang Shuo.
"He is a vital player for our team and our greatest asset. We hope he will remain with the club!"
Wang Shuo did not make a personal statement. Instead, his agent, Thomas Essien, told reporters that the player would not be leaving Dortmund.
"My player is very happy at Dortmund. He will not be leaving the club!"
Head coach Klopp also personally stepped forward, stating in an interview with the *West German Newspaper*, "As the most important player on the team, I will not accept a transfer for Wang Shuo under any circumstances. It would be an unbearable loss."
"I hope he will always play for my team!"
Wang Shuo didn’t face the media, but inside the locker room, in front of all his teammates, Klopp, and the coaching staff, he made a personal promise. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances beyond my control, I will absolutely not transfer during the winter break, contrary to what everyone is saying!"
And what would be a circumstance beyond his control?
Dortmund forcing him out.
But that was clearly impossible!
Wang Shuo also spoke privately with Klopp for an hour.
The two had worked together since their time at Mainz. They knew each other inside and out and trusted each other completely.
Wang Shuo was very frank, telling Klopp everything he knew, and Klopp offered his own advice in return.
"You’re absolutely right. Going to Chelsea right now would be a terrible choice."
In addition to offering Wang Shuo his perspective on tactics and locker room dynamics, Klopp also emphasized one particular point.
Club legends!
No football fan is a stranger to the term "club legend."
But how one *becomes* a legend is something not everyone understands.
Take Zidane, for example. He clearly spent the prime of his career at Juventus, and it was at Juventus that he won the Golden Ball Award and was named World Footballer of the Year.
But in reality, when anyone mentions Zidane, don’t they think of him as Real Madrid’s Zidane?
Then there’s Ronaldo. He only played for Barça for a single season, so why is he still considered a legend by so many Barça fans?
He won nothing at Inter Milan, so why is he still recognized and accepted by their fans?
Klopp told Wang Shuo that this was a concept derived from football culture.
And the single most important factor is the fans’ recognition and the impression you leave on them.
The reason Zidane is widely considered Real Madrid’s Zidane, not Juventus’s Zidane, is because he reached the pinnacle of his career’s influence at Real Madrid!
Ronaldo only played for Barça for one year, but fans still remember him vividly because that season at Barça was the absolute peak of his career!
Cantona was only at Manchester United for five years, which isn’t that long, but his unique charisma became an inseparable part of the Red Devils.
Then there’s the path of so-called loyalty, like being a one-club man.
But all of these paths, in the end, boil down to fan recognition and the impression you leave on them years later.
That right there is the most important thing of all!
You can win all the titles and accolades in the world, but if the fans don’t accept you, if they forget you in a few years, then sorry, you’ll find it very difficult to become a club legend.
There’s another point: transfers.
"Since the Bosman Law, transfers have become incredibly common, but the *way* you leave is critically important."
"For any player who leaves by refusing to train, refusing to play, publicly attacking the club, or in any other way that hurts the fans’ feelings, all of their contributions will be completely wiped out—reset to zero."
"Then there’s transferring to a bitter rival, like when Figo moved to Real Madrid."
At this point, Klopp stared intently at Wang Shuo.
"Wang, you only played for Mainz for a little over a year, but whether it was leading the team to promotion, becoming mid-season champions, or winning the DFB-Pokal—all of these things have guaranteed that you will become a Mainz legend."
"And right now, you are on the path to becoming a Dortmund legend as well."
"You have your own personal team, and you’re starting to focus on building your personal brand, which is excellent. Becoming a Dortmund legend has countless benefits for you and no downsides. But if you turn your back on that, you will lose the love of the Dortmund fans—and perhaps even the fans throughout Germany!"
"So, Wang, no matter when you decide to leave in the future, you must handle your relationship with the fans carefully!"
"A player’s career is short, but the fans’ affection and recognition can last a lifetime!"
Wang Shuo took the lesson to heart.
He hadn’t even considered a winter transfer in the first place, but even if he had, after hearing Klopp’s words and doing some quick mental calculation, he would have immediately dismissed the thought.
’It wasn’t worth it!’
