The headquarters of the Independent on Derry Street, London.

A phone call went straight to the office of Whitham Smith, the editor-in-chief of The Independent.

I heard the British newspaper veteran uh-huh-hmmah for a while, hung up the phone, and pressed the internal phone code.

"Let Sam and Simon in!"

Sam Wallace and Simon Hughes, two of The Independent's most famous pens.

Since Glenn Moore was fired, they have become Whitham Smith's two most relied on generals.

Within two minutes, two Britons in their early thirties knocked on the door and entered.

"Whitham, do you have anything to do with us?"

Whitham Smith sat behind his desk, looked up, looked at the two generals, and nodded.

"I just called from Southampton's press department and invited us to come to the Glory Stadium tomorrow morning for the press conference and signing ceremony of the new players, and I plan to arrange for you to go."

"New players?" Sam Wallace and Simon Hughes glanced at each other, both sensing the surprise in each other's eyes.

Even, it seems that they can capture a trace of panic in the other party's expression.

Whitham Smith sighed deeply and nodded, "Yes, if I'm not mistaken, it's him!" ”

Although Whitham Smith did not name names, those present knew that he was talking about the long-rumored former Arsenal captain and Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

"It's impossible, doesn't it mean that the team wants to use the buyback clause?" Sam Wallace was a little excited.

Simon Hughes also couldn't help shaking his head, "Yes, such a player, such a cheap price, why doesn't Arsenal?" ”

Heavily influenced by its editor-in-chief, Whitham Smith, The Independent has always been a clear-cut gunmen.

Even, within the British newspaper industry, it is clear to everyone that the Independent is the mouthpiece of Arsenal.

They always get some inside news about Arsenal that the outside world can't get, or get some news in advance.

Of course, they always do everything they can to defend and wash the floor for Arsenal.

The most interesting thing is that I heard that the first precept of the newspaper when hiring editors and reporters is to only accept Arsenal fans.

Whitham Smith shook his head and smiled wryly, as an Arsenal fan, especially an Arsenal fan of this age, he has to see many things more thoroughly than these young people in their thirties.

Arsene Wenger has been in charge of the Gunners for so many years, and his impact on Arsenal can be said to be deep in the bone marrow.

Needless to say, let's talk about this idealism.

But all Arsenal fans are more or less idealistic.

Therefore, when Fabregas switched to Barcelona, they couldn't accept it, scolded him desperately, and even gave him a nickname, called the inverted paste method.

But in reality?

As deep as hatred goes, love goes as deep as it gets!

Fabregas has been in a terrible situation at Barcelona over the years, which has made Arsenal fans gloat on the surface, but in fact they are very unhappy in their hearts.

It's a bit like a girlfriend who has been in love for many years but married someone else, but only to encounter domestic violence and cold treatment from her husband.

As a man, he would like to say that if she chose herself at that time, then she would definitely take care of her in every way and love her in every way, why 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 own arms.

Arsenal fans feel the same way about Cesc Fabregas, scolding him in their mouths but hoping for him to come back.

The media hyped again and again that Cesc Fabregas was leaving Barcelona, and the hearts of Gunners fans deepened the desire and expectation for his return again and again.

Because Cesc Fabregas is not only a world-class midfielder, but also represents Arsenal's past glory!

But now......

'I can't believe he's going to join a team other than Arsenal in the Premier League!' Simon Hughes said rather sentimentally.

When Cesc Fabregas played for Arsenal, he was just a fledgling young journalist, and he had the privilege of interviewing him a few times, and he talked about it for many years, and even after Fabregas moved to Barcelona, everyone scolded him, but Simon Hughes still said a lot of good things about Fabregas, but now......

Whitham Smith also sighed, shook his head and said: "The team now has Ozil, Ramsey, Wilshere and others, we don't need Fabregas!" ”

"But, Whitham, these players are no match for Sesk, you know that!" Sam Wallace retorted, still looking excited.

Arsenal's group of midfielders, when it comes to names, are all well-known, but in terms of strength, there is still a big gap with Cesc Fabregas, even if it is Mesut Ozil.

"Then you should know how tense and urgent the situation in the Premier League is, good steel must be used on the blade, Arsenal's transfer budget cannot be spent on a dispensable position, otherwise, what will the new season take to fight for the top four?"

Whitham Smith's rhetorical question was also sonorous and powerful.

And that's 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 will go to Southampton to attend a press conference, and if you have any questions, you can ask them face to face, and I believe he should be able to answer them." ”

After a pause, Whitham Smith let out another long sigh.

"To be honest, this is professional football, I thought you guys were used to it!"

After finishing speaking, a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

But instead of mocking Sam Wallace and Simon Hughes, he's mocking the damn reality, and the ironic ideal.

Who knows, Whitham Smith said casually, but Simon Hughes and Sam Wallace were more serious.

"I'll definitely ask him in person, definitely!"

…………

…………

"Sesk, you've probably forgotten about me, but it's okay, I'll introduce myself, I'm Simon Hughes from The Independent!"

The next day, in the bright press conference hall of the Glory Stadium, Simon Hughes, a reporter for the Independent newspaper, in the presence of nearly 200 media outlets, finally grabbed the right to ask a question.

After hearing his words, everyone in the audience immediately turned to look at this British strong man in his early thirties.

His tone didn't sound so friendly.

Wait, The Independent?

Oh yes, the mouthpiece of Arsenal newspapers!

Could it be that this guy is here to smash the field?

Wow Ka Ka, if that's the case, then this play is so much fun!

For a while, there was a commotion at the scene, and countless people even turned the camera one after another and aimed at Simon Hughes.

Southampton's press officer also realized that something was wrong and was about to come forward, but Fabregas answered.

"I remember you, Simon, the first interview I had for Arsenal, you did it, and my last interview before I left Arsenal, you too, right?"

Sitting in front of the podium, Fabregas replied with a faint, but kind, smile.

With such a sentence, Simon Hughes suddenly had a sour nose and choked up so much that he couldn't speak.

Yes, he remembers, he even remembers!

But why didn't he go back to Arsenal?

Simon Hughes took a deep breath and looked directly at Cesc Fabregas in front of the podium, "Sesque, that's right, I'm glad you remember, but today I would like to represent all Arsenal fans and ask you, why did you choose to leave Arsenal back then?" And now, why Southampton? ”

It's a blunt, poignant question, and it's hard to answer.

Everyone in the room could tell that Simon Hughes's question was from the heart.

In the three years since Cesc Fabregas left Arsenal, there has never been a real explanation for his departure from Arsenal.

This left a lot of Gunners fans indignant as they felt betrayed.

And now, he's back, back in the Premier League, but instead of Arsenal who chose to nurture him, he's gone to Southampton.

This is undoubtedly the second betrayal!

Simon Hughes looked directly at Cesc Fabregas as if to question him, you answer, you say!

Fabregas lowered his head at first, but quickly raised it again.

A few people sitting in the front row, attentive reporters, also noticed that his eyes were red.

"I'm twenty-seven years old, if you divide my life, then the first sixteen years of my life belong to Barcelona, and every time I play for Barcelona in those sixteen years, I hope that one day, I can play for Barcelona."

"Even ...... I chose to leave Barcelona and join Arsenal because I wanted to realise my dream of growing up. ”

Fabregas spoke softly, but the press conference hall fell silent.

"I know there are a lot of people who don't understand, they feel that I should be loyal to Arsenal, but I can't go against the ideals and goals that I have always adhered to since I was a child, so I chose Barcelona!"

Many of the people present were full of sadness when they heard it.

In fact, many people know this answer, but they are not willing to believe it.

But listening to this answer now, and thinking about what happened to Cesc Fabregas in Barcelona in the past three years, it is really embarrassing.

This is not a special case!

Cesc Fabregas will not be the first and not the last for Barcelona to live up!

All the big teams in the world, all the teams, can't fulfill the dreams of all the players who love it.

Because a team has a maximum of twenty-five players!

"When I chose to leave Arsenal, I believed that I would stay at Barcelona forever, and I believed that I could dedicate my football career to Barcelona, which I love, but unfortunately, football is always so cruel."

'I was sad when I realised I had to leave, but I knew that this was professional football.

As he said this, Fabregas took a deep breath, calmed his mood, and even squeezed out a shallow, very reluctant smile.

'Arsenal had a 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'm going to keep playing, I'm young, I'm 27.

"At this time, Southampton contacted me, and Mr. Yang Huan personally came to Barcelona to meet me, he wanted to bring me to Southampton three years ago, and three years later, he still thinks so."

"In the conversation with Mr. Yang Huan, I found my own value, and I was eager to prove my worth in Southampton, so I came here!"

'Professional football is always full of changes and 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 when I play for Barcelona, I think the same way.

"Now, I'm going to put on the Southampton shirt and I'm going to give everything I can for him!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the audience applauded!

There were even quite a few people, especially female journalists, who cried on the spot!