Chapter 53: Leaving the Bundesliga

Mo Mo was summoned back to the club.

Everyone understood that 1860 Munich could not resist the temptation of money, especially when the price tag was so high. There is a saying that often circulates: "There is no such thing as betrayal; it is simply that the price is not high enough."

Right now, Mo Mo was facing a rather peculiar form of coercion from 1860 Munich. In simple terms, they wanted to have their cake and eat it too—they wanted to cash in on the transfer fee, yet they did not want the vast fan base to think they were greedy for money.

Initially, the top brass at 1860 Munich believed this would be a smooth process. They were certain Mo Mo could never resist a one-million-euro signing bonus and an annual salary of 300,000 euros after tax. They never expected that when they accepted Chelsea's offer, Mo Mo would reject it without even entering negotiations.

Well, as they say, "A blessing in disguise." Chelsea’s new owner, Roman Abramovich, raised the bid to 36 million euros. Under normal circumstances, if a player refuses to go, neither side would continue to force the issue. But Chelsea was not playing by the rules; they increased the offer again, simultaneously bumping up the player's personal terms. The annual salary jumped from the original 300,000 euros to 800,000 euros—a direct eightfold increase.

Yet, Mo Mo still refused. He even explicitly stated on China’s national television that Chelsea was not a championship-caliber team and he would not go. He, Mo Mo, was seeking better development—he wanted to join a club capable of winning titles. Naturally, the executives at 1860 Munich did not think for a second that Mo Mo was referring to them.

However, the players thought otherwise! Following the mantra "Once a Blue, Always a Blue," the fans of 1860 Munich were once again chanting, "We are the champions!" Mo Mo certainly wouldn't stand up and say, "Actually, I meant the team I transfer to next will be a championship team," so he was happy to play the fool.

Still, many felt sorry for Mo Mo. "Are you stupid? Such great terms! It’s rare to find someone so foolish and wealthy; why didn't you accept? You might miss this chance and never get another!" To this, Mo Mo simply wanted to say: "Those with different principles cannot make plans together."

Returning to the gates of 1860 Munich, Pacult looked at Mo Mo with a complicated expression. When Mo Mo first arrived, his deal was 2 million euros, a 100,000-euro signing bonus, and 100,000 euros in annual salary. But now? Six million, eight million, ten million, twelve million, twenty-four million, thirty-six million... Mo Mo's market value had skyrocketed in a way that defied logic. One had to remember that when Mo Mo moved from Real Madrid to Hannover 96, it had only cost about 20,000 euros.

From no signing bonus to 100,000, then to one million. From an insignificant salary to 100,000, 300,000, and now 800,000. In the blink of an eye, Mo Mo had undergone a magnificent transformation in value.

The two stood there, locked in an awkward silence. Mo Mo was no longer the player who would transfer just to get playing time; he now craved championships and a team with the strength to win them.

"Hey, look! I’ve actually got some muscle now. You made the right call letting me play," Mo Mo said, striking a "I'm strong" pose to break the tension, just as he had when they first met.

"Haha, good heavens! You’re still small in stature and young in age; I almost can't bear to use you," Pacult said, a look of reminiscence in his eyes. His judgment had been correct; he had fought to sign Mo Mo despite the opposition. Yet now, even though Mo Mo was right before his eyes, he felt as though he had already lost him.

"Alright, let's save the reminiscing for later! Let me go see your executives. How could they accept a bid without even consulting the player?" Mino’s voice was filled with feigned anger—it was a calculated display of dominance.

To be fair, 1860 Munich had handled this poorly. The moment Chelsea made an offer, the club had essentially accepted it. Logically, they should have at least asked for the player's opinion. If the club were a massive powerhouse or the player were considered expendable, skipping that step might be acceptable. But 1860 Munich was not a giant, and Mo Mo was not a fringe player; he was the new favorite of the fans.

This made the situation incredibly awkward. You aren't a powerhouse, and Mo Mo isn't a benchwarmer—is it really wise to show such disrespect? If Mo Mo had agreed to join Chelsea, it would have been one thing, but his blunt refusal left 1860 Munich in a lose-lose situation. Even their chairman was now at risk of being ousted.

In such a situation, someone slightly softer might have played along to save face for the club, perhaps even taking the blame by claiming there had been a "miscommunication." But not now. Mo Mo was genuinely looking to transfer. Although Mino’s reputation was becoming somewhat tarnished—mostly due to his relentless haggling at the negotiating table—he understood Mo Mo’s heart clearly. Even if they were to leave 1860 Munich, they wanted to do so in a dignified and relatively peaceful manner, preferably without leaving the fans with a bad impression.

Under these circumstances, 1860 Munich’s blunder was like having a pillow handed to you when you were already sleepy—a godsend. How could Mino pass up such an opportunity? He had even contacted his media connections before returning to Munich to start rallying support for Mo Mo. Otherwise, how would news of Mo Mo’s refusal have hit the papers so quickly after the club accepted the bid?

Of course, Mo Mo’s old acquaintance, Wattley of the *Munich Evening News*, didn't miss the chance either. He personally penned an article titled "The Chinese Kid is Too Greedy and Will End Up With Nothing." In it, he mocked Mo Mo, claiming he was just a player who scored a few goals and now thought he was something special because a few clubs had taken an interest. He painted Mo Mo entirely as a greedy, arrogant Chinese player. The article even contained derogatory remarks about China, using xenophobic language. It was hard to imagine how the editor-in-chief of the *Munich Evening News* could have allowed such a piece to be published.

But all of this was temporary. Anything that comes at you with such ferocity will either knock you down immediately, or if it fails to do so, it is the one that will suffer the consequences.

While Mino was locked in a war of words with the 1860 Munich executives, Mo Mo was already considering whether he should leave the Bundesliga early during the winter transfer window. He was almost 100 percent certain that 1860 Munich would not qualify for the Champions League next season. During this period, the tactical style of the team had become almost unbearable for him.

Like a rusted bicycle or a pair of ill-fitting shoes, perhaps it was time to leave this place early and go chase the championship that rightfully belonged to him.