The Independent's headquarters in Londonderry Street.
A phone call went directly to the office of Whitham Smith, editor-in-chief of The Independent.
I heard the veteran of the British newspaper industry humming for a while.
After hanging up the phone, he pressed the internal phone code again.
"Let Sam and Simon come in" Sam Wallace and Simon Hughes, two of the Independent's most famous pens.
Since Glen Moore was fired, they have become the two most relied upon by Whitham Smith.
Within two minutes, two British men in their early thirties knocked on the door and came in.
"Whitham, what do you want from us?"
Whitham Smith sat behind his desk, raised his head, looked at the two generals, and nodded.
"Southampton's press department just called and invited us to go to the Glory Stadium tomorrow morning to attend the press conference and signing ceremony for new players.
I plan to arrange for you to go."
"New players" Sam Wallace and Simon Hughes looked at each other, and both noticed the surprise in each other's eyes.
It was even possible to catch a hint of panic in the other party's expression.
Whitham Smith sighed deeply and nodded: "Yes, if I guess correctly, it's him."
Although Whitham Smith did not name his name, everyone present knew that he was talking about the long-rumored former Arsenal captain and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
"This is impossible, doesn't it mean that the team wants to use the repurchase clause?"
Sam Wallace was a little excited.
Simon Hughes couldn't help but shake his head, "Yeah, with such a player at such a cheap price, why wouldn't Arsenal want it?"
Deeply influenced by editor-in-chief Whitham Smith, The Independent has always been a clear-cut gunman party.
Even within the British newspaper industry, everyone knows that the Independent is the mouthpiece of Arsenal.
They can always get some internal news about Arsenal that the outside world cannot get, or receive some news in advance.
Of course, they always try their best to defend and clear up Arsenal.
The most interesting thing is that I heard that the Independent’s first rule when hiring editors and reporters is to only hire Arsenal fans.
Whitham Smith shook his head and smiled bitterly.
As an Arsenal fan, especially an Arsenal fan at such an old age, he sees many things more clearly than these young people in their thirties.
Wenger has been in charge of the Gunners for so many years, and his influence on Arsenal can be said to be deep into the bones.
Needless to say, let’s talk about this idealism.
All Arsenal fans are more or less idealistic.
Therefore, when Fabregas switched to Barcelona, they couldn't accept it and scolded him with all their strength.
They even gave him a nickname called "Backstabbing".
But actually How deep is the hatred, how deep is the love In the past few years, Fabregas has been in a bad situation at Barcelona.
This makes Arsenal fans gloat on the surface, but in fact they feel very unhappy in their hearts.
It's a bit like my girlfriend who I've been in love with for many years married someone else, only to be met with domestic violence and cold treatment by her husband.
As a man, he would want to say that if she had chosen him at that time, then he would have taken care of and loved her in every possible way.
Why did he treat her like this?
Moreover, there will be some thoughts in my heart, thinking that she will quickly leave her husband's clutches and return to her arms.
Arsenal fans feel the same way about Cesc Fabregas.
They scold him with their mouths, but in their hearts they are looking forward to his return.
The media has hyped Fabregas to leave Barcelona time and time again, and the desire and expectation for his return has deepened in the hearts of Gunners fans time and time again.
Because Fabregas is not only a world-class midfielder, but also represents Arsenal's past glory.
But now "I can't believe that he will join a Premier League team other than Arsenal," Simon Hughes said sadly.
When Fabregas was playing for Arsenal, he was just a fledgling reporter.
I was lucky enough to interview him several times and talked about it for several years.
Even after Fabregas switched to Barcelona, Everyone was scolding him, but Simon Hughes still said a lot of good things for Fabregas, but now Whitham Smith also sighed and shook his head: "The team now has Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere and others, we don't need Cesc Fabregas."
"But, Whitham, these players are simply not as good as Cesc, and you know that," Sam Wallace retorted, still looking very excited.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
Arsenal's group of midfielders are all well-known when it comes to their names, but in terms of strength, there is still a big gap between them and Cesc Fabregas, even Ozil.
"Then you should know how tense and urgent the current situation in the Premier League is.
Good steel must be used on the cutting edge.
Arsenal's transfer budget cannot be spent on a dispensable position.
Otherwise, it will not be possible to win in the new season.
Why fight for the top four?”
Whitham Smith's rhetorical question was also sonorous and powerful.
This is also true But Simon Hughes still shook his head, "But, I still can't accept it."
Whitham Smith laughed, "No one wants you to accept it now.
I just want to say that tomorrow you go to Southampton and attend the press conference.
If you have any questions, you can ask them in person.
I believe he will answered.”
After a pause, Whitham Smith sighed again.
"To be honest, this is professional football.
I thought you would be used to it by now."
After finishing speaking, there was a sneer on the corner of his mouth.
But it's not mocking Sam Wallace and Simon Hughes, it's mocking the damn reality, and the ideal of irony.
Who would have known that Whitham Smith said something casually, but Simon Hughes and Sam Wallace took it seriously.
"I will definitely ask him face to face, definitely" "Ceske, you've probably forgotten about me, but it doesn't matter.
Let me introduce myself.
I'm Simon Hughes from the Independent."
The next day, in the spacious and bright press conference hall of the Glory Stadium, witnessed by nearly two hundred media outlets, Independent reporter Simon Hughes finally got the right to ask a question.
After hearing his words, everyone in the audience immediately turned to look at this strong British man in his early thirties.
His tone didn't sound so friendly.
Wait, The Independent.
Oh, by the way, Arsenal's mouthpiece newspaper Could it be that this guy is here to cause trouble?
Wow, if that's the case, then this drama would be so interesting For a moment, there was a commotion at the scene, and countless people even turned their cameras to focus on Simon Hughes.
Southampton's press officer also realized something was wrong and was about to step forward.
Unexpectedly, Fabregas answered.
"I remember you, Simon.
You were the one who did the interview when I scored for Arsenal for the first time.
The last interview before I left Arsenal was also you, right?"
Sitting in front of the podium, Fabregas replied with a faint, but kind smile.
With just such a sentence, Simon Hughes suddenly felt a sore nose and was choked with sobs that he could not speak.
Yes, he remembers, he actually still remembers Why doesn't he go back to Arsenal?
Simon Hughes took a deep breath and looked directly at Fabregas in front of the podium, "Cesc, yes, I'm glad you still remember, but today I want to ask you on behalf of all Arsenal fans. , why did you choose to leave Arsenal then and why choose Southampton now?”
This question is very straightforward, very pointed, and very difficult to answer.
Everyone present could tell that Simon Hughes' question came from the bottom of his heart.
In the three years since Fabregas left Arsenal, he has never really explained his original behavior of leaving Arsenal.
This left many Gunners fans outraged as they felt betrayed.
And now, he is back and has returned to the Premier League, but instead of choosing Arsenal, which cultivated him, he went to Southampton.
This is undoubtedly the second betrayal Simon Hughes looked directly at Fabregas, as if questioning him, you answer, you say
Fabregas lowered his head at first, but quickly raised it again.
There were a few people sitting in the front row, and attentive reporters also noticed that his eyes were turning red.
"I am twenty-seven years old.
Free novels bring you joy and joy ---> storyskyline.net
If I divide my life, then the first sixteen years of my life belong to Barcelona.
In those sixteen years, every time I played football, it was for Barcelona.
I hope that one day, I To be able to play for Barcelona.”
"Even when I chose to leave Barcelona and join Arsenal, it was all to realize my dream since childhood."
Fabregas spoke very softly, but the conference hall became silent.
"I know that there are many people who can't understand.
They think that I should be loyal to Arsenal, but I can't go against the ideals and goals that I have adhered to since I was a child, so I chose Barcelona."
Many people present heard this with sadness.
In fact, many people know this answer, but they are not willing to believe it.
But now listening to this answer, and thinking about what Fabregas has experienced in Barcelona in the past three years, it is really embarrassing.
This is not a special case Cesc Fabregas won't be the first or last Barcelona has failed All the wealthy teams in the world, all the teams, cannot satisfy the dreams of all the players who love it.
Because there are only twenty-five people in a team at most "When I chose to leave Arsenal, I believed I would stay in Barcelona forever.
I believed I could devote my football career to the Barcelona I love, but unfortunately, football is always so cruel."
"I was sad when I realized I had to leave, but I knew this is professional football."
When he said this, Fabregas took a deep breath, calmed down, and even squeezed out a shallow, forced smile.
"Arsenal has a priority buy-back clause in my contract, but they gave up the right to let me go back.
I know they don't need me anymore, but I want to continue playing.
I'm still young and I'm only in my second year.
Seventeen years old."
"Just then, Southampton contacted me.
Mr.
Yang Huan personally went to Barcelona to ask me to meet.
He wanted to bring me to Southampton three years ago.
Three years later, he still thinks so."
"During the conversation with Mr.
Yang Huan, I found my value.
I am eager to prove my value in Southampton, so I came here."
"Professional football is always full of changes.
I can't guarantee what it will be like in a year or even a few years, but what I can guarantee is that when I play for Arsenal, I am willing to Give everything for him and that’s what I thought when I played for Barcelona.”
"Now, I will put on the Southampton jersey and I will give all my efforts for him."
As soon as I finished saying this, the whole audience burst into applause.
Many people, especially female reporters, even cried on the spot: