Was Zhang Kuang's prediction about the World Cup really correct?

Chapter 88 Was Zhang Kuang's prediction about the World Cup really correct?

Zhang Kuang, in his Paris apartment, watched the news with a slight smirk.

His reaction to these people was exactly what he had expected.

No one would believe an 18-year-old Chinese player's World Cup predictions.

This is normal.

Zhang Kuang has never been a person who likes to show off.

He released those World Cup predictions not to prove how much he knows about football, not to get media attention, and certainly not to be some kind of "prophet".

He simply revealed the answer beforehand.

As for what this answer can be used for, that's another matter.

A week before the World Cup opening ceremony, Zhang Kuang, in his Paris apartment, pulled aside the group of beautiful women from his study abroad team in France and asked, "Ladies, there's a money-making opportunity, want to try it?"

Matilda was the first to ask, "What opportunity?"

"Go buy a ball."

"Bet on football? Gambling on football? Didn't you say players can't participate in betting on football?"

"I wasn't involved." Zhang Kuang pinched the two balls in his hand. "You guys went to buy them. If you trust me, buy them as I predicted, and I guarantee you'll make a profit. Of course, if you don't believe me, then forget it, but don't say I didn't tell you."

The scene was quiet for a few seconds, then Zhang Kuang skillfully peeled open the hard shell of the coconut, revealing the snow-white flesh inside, and then ate it with great relish.

"You said you predicted the outcome of the World Cup in the media, so we should bet according to your prediction?"

France eliminated in the group stage, Italy eliminated in the group stage, England in the round of 16, Brazil in the quarterfinals, Argentina in the quarterfinals, Germany in the semifinals, Uruguay in the semifinals, Netherlands as runners-up, Spain as champions?

Zhang Kuang spat out a grape: "Yeah, that's how we buy it, we can bet big."

Matilda's voice held a hint of hesitation: "Zhang, are you really that sure?"

"Sure."

"What if we're wrong?"

"From now on, there will be no sincerity between us. You can stay away from me." His arrogant tone was as calm as if he were saying that it was a sunny day.

The women in the house chattered and discussed it for a while, and finally decided that each of them would put in one million euros of their pocket money.

Not many, but not few either.

If they win, they'll consider it earning some pocket money; if they lose, they'll take it as a lesson learned from blindly believing Zhang Kuang's arrogance—after all, they can't really refuse such a recommendation.

Zhang Kuang shook his head. "It's good to be rich. In order not to go against my lover's enthusiastic recommendation, I'll take out one million euros to save face for her."

Okay, that's good.

He then used the same method several times, getting the women who followed him to place bets.

The season is over.

They won the Ligue 1 title, the French Cup, and the Golden Boot.

Now, it's time to get down to business.

The first thing is the contract with Manchester United.

In the brokerage office in Paris, Jonathan laid out the documents of the advance agreement in front of Zhang Kuang.

"Manchester United are in a rush," Jonathan said. "They want to make an official announcement right at midnight on July 1st. It's an advance agreement; you sign it first, and the official contract automatically takes effect on July 1st."

Zhang Kuang picked up the document and scanned it.

The terms were similar to the five-year contract he had previously reviewed, with the weekly pre-tax salary still at £150,000, unchanged.

However, a new clause has been added: a salary adjustment clause. If the highest salary in the team is higher than Zhang Kuang's, Zhang Kuang's salary will be automatically increased to 95% of the highest salary, ensuring that his salary is always among the top two in the team.

Another important point is that the club will not interfere in private life, and Manchester United has agreed to this, of course, with the condition that it will not cause any significant illegal or moral violations that would generate negative public opinion.

As for the clauses that allow Ferguson to trigger his release clause and leave the team after his departure, these clauses remain unchanged.

After reading it, Zhang Kuang felt there was nothing seriously wrong, so he picked up a pen and signed his name on the last page.

"Alright." He pushed the document back.

Jonathan carefully put the file away in a folder. "Manchester United will be very happy."

The second thing was to take pictures of GG.

All three endorsements—Weibo, Anta, and Meizu—must be filmed during the off-season.

Zhang Kuang wanted to go back to China.

First, I want to film GG; the filming teams and locations in China are much more convenient than in Paris. Second, I want to go back to my hometown to see Coach Wu. I haven't seen him for over half a year; I wonder how the old man is doing. Third, I think it would be very interesting to go back and see China in 2010; it would be like coming back from the future to see history.

He made a phone call to Coach Wu.

The phone rang several times before it was answered.

"Feed?" Coach Wu's voice came through the receiver, hoarse but familiar.

"Coach, it's me. Zhang Kuang."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone.

"I knew it was you," Coach Wu said. "You actually know how to make phone calls?"

Zhang laughed wildly: "Coach, my season is over here, and I want to go back to China for a trip. I'll take some photos and visit you while I'm at it."

"Go back to China?"

"Yes, I'll go back to see you. How are you feeling?"

Coach Wu remained silent for a few more seconds.

"If you don't absolutely have to come back, then don't come back," he said.

Zhang Kuang was stunned for a moment. "Why?"

"What is your current status? You're a Manchester United player now, have you signed a contract?"

"It's basically finalized, and the official signing will take place on July 1st."

"That's right." Coach Wu's tone was very serious. "You are now a Manchester United player, and the whole world is watching you."

What are you doing back at this hour? Taking pictures of GG? Looking at the old man? Have you achieved any results yet?

What's so impressive about being a Ligue 1 champion and top scorer? If it weren't for CCTV-5 promoting you, where would you get such influence?

Zhang Kuang opened his mouth as if to say something, but Coach Wu didn't give him the chance.

"You won the Ligue 1 title, that's Ligue 1. Now that you're back, what will people say? They'll say you're back to show off, they'll say you're back to make money."

You need to go to the Premier League, to Manchester United, win the Premier League title, win the Champions League title. Then you can come back in triumph, that will be a true homecoming, a triumphant return of the war god—”

"Coach, I just want to see you—"

"Look at me? What's so interesting about me? What's there to look at, an old man like me?" Coach Wu interrupted him. "I'm perfectly fine, I can eat, sleep, and even curse."

Your most important task right now is to establish yourself in the Premier League and score more goals for Manchester United. Come back after you win the Champions League. When you return, no one will dare say a word.

Zhang Kuang fell silent. Was such a harsh reprimand necessary? Was it really necessary? It's just returning to the country; why make it sound like some kind of war god's return?

Just like when a Celestial Emperor descends, he still needs to gather a certain amount of power before he can return.

Zhang Kuang was left speechless, both amused and exasperated. He thought, "Forget it, forget it, I'll just listen to the old man."

"I've remembered," Coach Wu's voice softened slightly, "You're a player who came from China, and you're carrying the weight of more than just your own reputation. When you get to Manchester United, play well and don't embarrass the Chinese people."

"I understand, Coach."

"Alright, I'm hanging up."

The phone was disconnected.

Zhang Kuang stared at his phone screen, feeling depressed for a while.

Coach Wu is still Coach Wu.

Since they won't let us go back, then we won't go back.

He had Jonathan call three GG companies and ask them to bring their filming crews to Paris.

All three brands cooperated well; Zhang Kuang is currently the most popular athlete in China, bar none. Weibo readily agreed to his conditions of 8% equity plus five years of free endorsement. Anta and Meizu also quickly signed annual contracts worth 3 million euros each. Zhang Kuang used this money to buy Apple stock and also had his agent allocate some shares in Tesla's IPO on June 29th.

He should keep 30 euros for himself to live on, which should be enough. Anyway, he'll get a 7 million pound signing bonus from Manchester United on July 1st. He can continue buying stocks then, and he'll need to buy some BYD stock and a small amount of Bitcoin, around 500. Buying too much will attract unwanted attention.

From June 3rd to June 8th, Zhang Kuang filmed three GG movies in Paris.

The filming process went smoothly because Zhang Kuang is not a "difficult" star. He can understand everything the director says, and once he understands, he can do it. Once he does it, it can be done in one take.

No need for repeated reshoots, no need to adjust emotions, no need to find the right angle.

Even director GG couldn't help but sigh, "If every star were as arrogant as Zhang Kuang, our industry would be so much easier."

After filming GG, the arrogant days became very simple.

My daily life consists of self-cultivation, eating, sleeping, and seeing women.

His "French Study Team" has expanded to 12 members during this period, so the base needs to be divided into several locations. Zhang Kuang rented a villa in Paris again, specifically for him and his French Study Team members to gather.

He lived there for a long time, working tirelessly day and night.

As for practicing?

Does he need to practice?

Besides the group of students studying in France, Zhang Kuang also frequently met up with the four voluptuous rich women that Humbert had introduced to him.

Those four women were truly exceptional; no one would want to break up with them.

As for Humbert, he is still helping Zhang Kuang "find suitable candidates".

Every few days, they would send me a few photos from Ukraine, Poland, Russia, and Romania, asking, "How's this?" or "Do you want that?"

Zhang Kuang sometimes says "okay," and sometimes he says "let's see." He doesn't want to make his life too chaotic, but he also doesn't want to make it too difficult for him. He enjoys life when it's time to enjoy it, and he works when it's time to work.

So now that there are no competitions or training camps, and it's not working time, we don't have to work; it's all time to enjoy ourselves.

This is his life motto.

The only thing that Zhang Kuang found somewhat regrettable was that all four female reporters had gone to South Africa. Marina, Camille, Lucy,

Gillia, they all have to go and report on the World Cup.

Zhang Kuang had originally planned to meet up with them before going to Manchester, since these four women were "the smartest women he had ever slept with."

Their interviews were written quickly and well, and they always managed to ask the questions he wanted answered. This kind of tacit understanding is something not just any reporter can have.

It's a pity they've all left. Maybe next time, but we'll have to wait until he comes back from his overseas training camp with Manchester United.

Speaking of intensive training, it's a real headache. It's a closed training camp, so how is he supposed to train?

The South African World Cup officially opened on June 11.

The World Cup unfolded exactly as Zhang Kuang remembered.

On June 15, France drew 0-0 with Uruguay.

On June 18, the French team lost 0-2 to Mexico.

After two matches, the French team's locker room was in an uproar.

Anelka was expelled from the French national team by the French Football Federation for verbally abusing head coach Domenech in the locker room.

Then, they went on strike.

Then, the players' open letter.

Then, media outlets around the world began reporting on the internal strife scandal within the French national team.

L'Équipe's headline changed from "How far can the French team go?" to "A disgrace to French football".

French President Sarkozy intervened.

The French Minister of Sports has urgently traveled to South Africa.

It was all a farce.

On June 22, the French team lost to South Africa 1-2.

Finished at the bottom of the group, eliminated in disgrace.

The world's media was shocked—the runners-up of the last World Cup? They're out just like that?

Then, someone remembered Zhang Kuang.

A reporter from L'Équipe dug up a report from over a month ago—Zhang Kuang said in an interview with TF1: "The French team will be eliminated in the group stage."

At the time, everyone thought this young Chinese man was talking nonsense.

Now-

What he said came true.

L'Équipe urgently published a new article titled: "He was right, the first part of his arrogant World Cup prediction has come true."

The article states, "A month ago, when he arrogantly said during an interview with three television stations in Paris that the French team would be eliminated in the group stage, everyone laughed, and he was criticized by many at the time."

Nobody believed him. Nobody thought an 18-year-old Chinese player was qualified to comment on French football. But now, the French team has indeed been eliminated in the group stage. We have to admit that his arrogance was justified.

French fans' reactions were complex.

Some were angry, some were frustrated, some remained silent, and others began searching online for the full video of Zhang's outrageous interview.

The small group of students studying in France cheered.

"We won! We won! We won!! France is really out!!"

"I bet on France being eliminated in the group stage, odds of 3.5!! I wagered one million euros and won two and a half million!!"

"I won too!! Zhang, I love you!!"

Zhang Kuang looked at these messages, smiled, and did not stop his cultivation.

This is just the beginning.

On June 24, Italy played its last group stage match against Slovakia.

Italy must win to advance.

In the first half, Slovakia scored first, but Italy equalized.

In the second half, Slovakia scored two goals, while Italy only managed to pull one back.

2: 3.

The final whistle blew.

Defending champions Italy were eliminated in the group stage.

The world's media was once again shocked.