The news of Millwall's reach for the FA Cup final was not sensational, as Millwall have been favourites to win the FA Cup since the start of the season, and the win over Middlesbrough was no surprise.

When Aldridge returned to London with his team, he was surrounded by journalists.

Countless reporters gathered at the club's entrance, from Fleet Street to sports journalists from other European countries in London, who crowded around Aldridge, unable to stop Aldridge with their bodies, but asking him questions.

"Is the Stam transfer real?"

"Why would Millwall sell him?"

"How much will the transfer fee be?"

"What's going to be Stam's next club? He's going to leave England, is he? ”

Aldridge's news before the FA Cup semi-final finally swept the UK.

Premier League giants as well as first-tier clubs are keeping a close eye on the matter, and other top European giants are also tracking the progress.

Everyone knows that Millwall is saddled with billions of pounds in debt for the new stadium, and when Stam's transfer broke out of Aldridge's mouth, other clubs that were on the move were also on the rise.

Is Millwall going to open?

Even teams in the middle of the Premier League are checking the truth of this news, because what does it mean for Millwall to lose a big defender? The most intuitive is the decline in strength!

As Aldridge was about to walk into the club, he suddenly stopped, turned to face all the reporters, and waited for the scene to calm down. He said lightly: "If there is no accident." After the summer transfer window opened. Stam is going to leave Millwall, where he's going to go, you will know when that day comes, and Millwall will not give any response to Stam transfer, thank you. ”

With that, Aldridge walked through the club's door, and the reporters were blocked by the security guards. Aldridge also quickly drove away from the club.

The next day, the Stamm jersey was taken off the shelves.

The Lions fans couldn't accept the sudden news, and they gathered in front of the club to find out the inside story, Brady knows Aldridge best, and since he confronted Aldridge directly a year and a half ago to ask about Larsson's transfer, he understands Aldridge's attitude towards the club.

Aldridge would never do anything to hurt this club.

Even if Stam wants to transfer, it shouldn't be revealed at this time, but Aldridge can't continue to use Stam for the development of the team. Aldridge has to get the other players up as soon as possible, therefore. Brady judged that it must have been Stam who had decided to move away.

So, Brady was heartbroken and angry at the same time, and he and members of the Lion's Roar fans put up signs outside the reserve team's training ground.

"Traitor! I don't care about you! You don't deserve a lion jersey! ”

Stam's individual fans may not have reacted much, but for those loyal to the club, it is clear that they cannot tolerate Stam's transfer.

When outsiders accuse you, we support you behind our backs, when others criticize you for not playing well, we, loyal supporters, tolerate you, and even when other fans insult you, we risk our lives to fight with them!

How could you decide to leave at this time?

We are at a critical juncture in the race for the championship!

Stam trained with the reserve team, and when the fans were a few dozen meters away, they excitedly accused him, insulted him, and called him a traitor, which made Stam intolerable and wanted to run to reason with the fans, but was eventually stopped by the coach.

Stam shook off the coach's hand and left the training ground alone.

It was a terrible afternoon of training.

Aldridge saw the first-team players look expressionless, and everyone became silent because of the transfer of Stam.

Because everybody knows how important Stamm is to the team.

Millwall are not only the most firepower team in the Premier League this season, but also the most solid team at the back and concede the fewest goals, which is definitely inseparable from the contribution of Stam.

After training, Aldridge arrived in the dressing room, the players had not yet left, and Trezeguet and Makelele happened to be discussing the matter.

"For what? What's wrong with his brain? ”

Trezeguet was puzzled, with a complicated expression.

Makelele asked rhetorically, "What do you mean?" Maybe he can make more money by going to another team, sometimes it's not that complicated, it's simple. ”

Trezeguet touched his bald head, his tone still puzzled.

"We've only won one Premier League title, that's a piece of, we're going to play in the Champions League next season, and we're going to get a good result on that stage, right? It's incomprehensible. ”

Makelele stopped talking, as he saw Aldridge walk in and close the locker room door.

Trezeguet also saw Aldridge and immediately shrank his head.

What he had just said was also a bit taboo, and it sounded like he was using Millwall as a springboard.

Aldrich heard it, but he was not angry, because human nature does not need to take it to heart.

Some of the other players were showering, some were relaxing listening to music, and suddenly they saw Aldridge coming to the locker room after training, and everyone returned to their cupboards and sat down.

Aldridge stood by the door against the wall, his eyes calmly swept over the faces of each player, most of the players were calm, and some of them were resolute in their eyes, such as Rio Ferdinand, the departure of Stam was certainly a good thing for him, because he had one less strong competitor and he was still the underdog.

Aldridge said lightly: "In the past, this was not the focus of England, not even London, we worked hard in the lower leagues all year round, and we did not win any weighty titles. Now we're starting to get trophies, we're getting attention, we've got top stars, Stam is, but his relationship with us has come to an end. The point I want to talk about today is: I can't tolerate anything that undermines the unity of the team. Anything that affects our concentration happens. I'd like all of you to stay here and retire, but I know it's not possible, but I hope we respect each other, understand each other, and when you're still wearing Millwall shirts, please keep your loyalty and keep one thing on your mind. That is to contribute to this team, when any of you want to leave, please take the initiative to tell me, I will not deliberately obstruct anyone, I will show my sincerity to stay, and those who want to leave, what they need to do is to convince themselves, think seriously and calmly, leaving Millwall to go to the next stop, is it the right choice for their career? Will there be greater accolades at the new club? Or. You tell me bluntly: the new owner will make me richer. But I'll say anyway: it's a stupid idea. Because only with sustainable brilliance can there be a broader opportunity to make a fortune. The club has a long-term plan. Having undergone a metamorphosis in five to ten years, I am extremely confident that Millwall will become the most successful club on the planet and will continue to do so. ”

The players listened very carefully, their eyes focused on Aldridge, and they watched him smile bitterly after speaking, and then prepared to leave.

At that moment, the door to the locker room was brutally pushed open from the outside.

Bang.

The door slammed into the wall on the other side with a loud bang.

Stam rushed in like a beast, and he scanned the room, only to find Aldrich standing next to him with a nonchalant face.

"How can you do that? How can you! Call me a traitor! Am I a traitor? I've always respected you from the bottom of my heart, but that's how you repay me? ”

Stam didn't make a move, just turned around and snarled at Aldrich with a hideous expression.

The players all stood up, and Aldridge reached out and motioned for the others to come along.

Aldridge looked at Stam without showing weakness, and said softly: "Touching your chest, calmly ask yourself, when Manchester United contacted you privately, when you reached a verbal agreement with them, what was your behavior, not a traitor?" ”

"We had an agreement last summer! You said you'd let me go this summer! It's your promise! ”

Stam roared hoarsely.

Aldrich stared at each other with sharp eyes, and rebuked: "But summer is not yet here!" Our season isn't over yet! Your heart flew to Old Trafford! You are the one who made things the way they are, you just have to wait, and after two months, as long as you bring it up and you want to leave, I won't stop you at all! But you made an agreement with Manchester United in advance and privately, and you ask the owners and managers of the world, who will tolerate it? You're trampling on Millwall's dignity, and you say you respect me! That's how you respect me? ”

The other players standing on the sidelines looked shocked.

They never imagined that behind the transfer of Stam, there was such a process!

They also speculated about the inside story of Stam's transfer, which may be a peaceful breakup, Stam proposed the transfer, Aldridge let it go, and an agreement was reached between the two to let Stam go to the reserve team to stay in shape.

Other players are not without private contact with the club, but they all refuse, some are not interested in transfers, some are professional, and some are going to listen to offers, but for too many young players, there are not many of them who can go to top clubs, even if there are olive branches, they can't commit to the main position, why bother to leave Millwall? Everyone knows that as long as they work hard to compete here, they will come out, while other giant clubs will vigorously sweep the market as soon as the transfer period arrives, directly compressing the playing space of young players in the team.

Still unrelenting, Stam roared angrily, "What was Millwall when I came here? League One garbage! What now? Premier League Champions! I've been here for three years! My efforts and contributions in exchange for your traitorous accusations? ”

Aldrich sneered as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"But don't forget, when you came here, you were nothing! Who are you working for? That's your own career, don't say sweat and hard work are selfless dedication! That's your own life! If you don't work hard, you're ruining yourself! And what did Millwall give you? Here, you become a top defender, and you get the envy of many! I don't deny your contribution to the team, but don't ignore the fact that Millwall has made you who you are! ”

Stam was speechless, the green tendons twitching next to his cheekbones, and he clenched his fists but couldn't say a word of rebuttal.

Southgate walked over, he stood in front of Stam and said calmly: "Please get out of here, now that you have decided on the transfer, I wish you good luck on behalf of your team-mates, but this is the dressing room, outsiders can't be here." ”

Alien!

Stam turned his head to look at his teammates who had been fighting side by side half a month ago, and although many of them had calm eyes, some still had hostile looks in their eyes.

Yes, he's an outsider!

The locker room, the most enclosed place for the team, is not where he should be.

Stam quickly calmed down, his anger dissipated suddenly, and he turned away a little gloomily.

Aldrich's heart was like a knife at the moment, he watched the back of Stam leave disappear into the doorway, and then he slowly walked to the row of wardrobes, stood in front of the wardrobe that belonged to Stam, reached out and gently tore off the bar with Stam's name engraved on it, put the bar in his pocket, Aldrich walked out with his head down.

The players watched Aldridge the whole time, and Nedved saw a tear slip to the ground before Aldridge walked out of the door.

Aldrich, Stam, the master and apprentice who have run out of fate have been strangers since then (to be continued......