Barak thought about it all night at his home in Germany, tossing and turning, barely sleeping.

As soon as dawn the next day, he called his agent, Micha Becker.

"I thought about it for a night, Misha. I'm still not willing to leave like this, I want to win the Champions League, I really want to ......"

The last time Ballack came close to the Champions League was at Bayer Leverkusen, who magically reached the Champions League final in the 2001-2002 season, where they met Spain's Real Madrid.

In that final at Hampton Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Bayer Leverkusen played very tenacious.

Despite conceding the first goal, they equalised in the second half from a set-piece through Lucio's header.

As a result, the following game was born the most exciting and greatest goal in the history of the Champions League final.

Zidane's Flying Immortals!

When Zinedine Zidane was shooting, the person behind him was Ballack, who stood about two metres away from Zidane and watched as Zidane kicked the difficult cross into the Bayer Leverkusen goal.

Despite this, Bayer Leverkusen remained tenacious.

They launched a ferocious attack in the closing stages of the game, narrowing to the goal on several occasions.

But their offensive ended up with a kid named Igor Casillas.

Bayer Leverkusen hate Hampton Park.

He later moved to the more powerful Bayern Munich.

But Bayern Munich can't even reach the Champions League final.

He moved to Chelsea from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2006 for the purpose of winning the first Champions League title in the club's history in the 2005 Champions League final, when Jose Mourinho's side defeated AC Milan.

He believes Chelsea can help him make that happen.

With four seasons at Chelsea, 2008-2009 was Ballack's closest to Champions League glory.

Chelsea were in excellent form in the Champions League that season.

That was until they met Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in the semi-finals.

Chelsea travel to Camp Nou in the first leg. Facing the incomparably strong Barcelona at the time, and it was away again, many people thought that Barcelona would definitely beat Chelsea, and it was difficult to end the suspense of the two legs of the semi-final in the first leg......

As a result, a tenacious Chelsea drew with Barcelona away from home and didn't allow Barcelona to score!

0：0！

The scoreline has raised expectations for the second leg, especially among Chelsea fans.

Barak is also full of anticipation.

He is convinced that this time he can reach the Champions League final again with the team and win the trophy.

But the rest of the story is known.

Chelsea on their home turf and in the way they are good at almost knocking Barcelona out. They took an early 1-0 lead.

The game was also dominant, and if it weren't for referee Henin making many decisions in Barcelona's favor, perhaps the game would have lost its suspense.

As a result, just when the game entered injury time, the situation on the pitch changed dramatically!

Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola was ready to reach out to Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink. I'm going to shake his hand and congratulate his team on making it to the finals.

As a result, Andres Iniesta's long-range shot from outside the box found the Chelsea goal!

The game miraculously reversed!

If the score is maintained until the end, Barcelona will eliminate Chelsea by virtue of the advantage of more away goals!

In fact, in the final moments, Chelsea were hoping to change the scoreline.

Ninety-four minutes on the ground, Chelsea were awarded a corner.

After the corner kick was kicked, Ballack volleyed in from 14 yards in front of goal. The ball hit Samuel Eto'o in the upper left arm and referee Henin once again turned a blind eye.

Then the game ended.

An enraged Barak chased after the referee, Herning, with his arms outstretched in front of him, and roared at him with a hideous face.

And Henin turned a blind eye.

In the end, Barcelona relied on this controversial draw. Knocking out Chelsea and then achieving the treble and the sixth.

Ballack still vividly remembers his anger at the sight of the ball being stopped by Samuel Eto'o with his arm and the referee turning a blind eye.

He was so angry that he almost felt the urge to beat the referee.

Because he knew that it was himself after 2002. The closest chance to get to the Champions League.

He feels that way, as long as the team can knock out Barcelona. In the end, it is definitely possible to beat Manchester United in the final......

But......

Everything was hacked by the referee.

He was haunted.

It was stuck in his throat like a thorn, and it hurt every now and then to remind him.

If he retires like this, he may never let go of this matter.

He felt that only by winning the Champions League could he have peace of mind.

Hearing his words, Becker already knew the answer. He asked rhetorically, "But our salary requirements are a bit different from their salary limits......

Barak gritted his teeth and said, "I'll take another pay cut!" If they can't accept six million, I'll drop it by half! ”

Becker cried out, "Are you crazy, Michel? ”

"I'm not crazy, Misha."

"You've cut half of it! With your status, the captain of the dignified German national team, with an annual salary of only three million euros? No one else believes it! ”

"I don't need people to believe me. I just want to win the Champions League. ”

"But Lazio may not win the Champions League either. Have you forgotten about Chelsea? They won a championship in 2005, and we came here in 2006, didn't we think the same as we do now? The result? It's been four years! For four years, they haven't even made it to the finals! ”

'I believe Lazio and Chelsea are different. And it's a gamble in itself. Whatever I choose, it's gambling. But I think Lazio have a better chance of winning, and that's my choice, Micha. I know that this salary is too low and your earnings are also suffering...... But we've been working together for eleven years, and I hope you'll support me as a friend. Michael. ”

After listening to Barak's words, Michabecker was silent for a long time, and finally smiled bitterly.

"You've said all that, what more can I say, Michelle? Okay, I'll call Chang again. ”

※※※

After Chang Sheng received Becker's call, he didn't take it to heart.

He knew that Barak would not have come.

Although Ballack is a suitable rotation player, people are willing to come here to do the rotation. Don't be funny!

He might as well go back to Bayer Leverkusen.

At the very least, Bayer Leverkusen can give him an annual salary of six million a year.

He began to continue to consider other suitable candidates.

But at this time, he received another call from Barak's agent, Becker.

"Three million euros, often. Michel is willing to take a pay cut to three million euros and wants to join Lazio! Becker said through gritted teeth.

Chang Sheng and his friends were stunned.

Barak's annual salary of three million?

Did I hear me right?

Three million, really?

If that's three million...... Then you can really consider Barak!

At the very least, you don't have to pay transfer fees to other teams, and the salary is not too high.

After selling Cazorla, Motta and Giroud. Lazio has freed up more than 20 million euros in salary budget.

This money is more than enough to cover Barak's annual salary!

Three million a year, only six million in two years, really cheap!

"Did I hear me right? Is this the result of your careful consideration, Mr. Becker? ”

"Yes, we seriously thought about it for a night, and that's our condition, Mr. Chang."

Ballack's arrival also had a positive effect for Lazio. That is, it can further improve the image of Lazio's team, and the commercial development value is higher, at least in terms of selling jerseys, it can sell a lot more.

Anyway. He was once one of the top three midfielders in the world.

At his peak, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the world's No. 1 midfielder.

It's old now, but the fame is still there.

So Chang Sheng said, "All right, come to Rome." Let's talk about specific contracts. ”

※※※

Becker then called Barak: "That's it, Michelle." We can now go to Rome and negotiate a contract with them! ”

"Thank you. Michael. Barak breathed a sigh of relief.

"No thanks, Michelle. You're taking more risk in this matter. If you don't win the trophy after two years, you're losing a lot. Six million in six years! ”

Barak laughed, "I know, but I'm willing to gamble." ”

※※※

Soon the media photographed Barak and his agent Becker at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport.

This came as a surprise to the Italian media.

There had been no news of the Roma duo and Ballack being linked before.

Barak should go to Madrid......

What to do in Rome?

Two days later, the mystery was revealed.

The announcement was prominently posted on the official website of Lazio FC.

Announcing their two-season contract with free agent Michelle Ballack!

Everyone suddenly felt very messy.

There was no indication that Ballack would come to Lazio before, why did Lazio kidnap Ballack quietly?

Moreover, Ballack has an annual salary of 8 million euros at Chelsea, which everyone knows.

Lazio's maximum salary is four million, and everyone knows this.

How has the huge gap between the two been bridged?

Could it be that Lazio broke the salary cap for the sake of a Barak?

What do the other players in the dressing room think?

Ballack, an outsider, dared to ask for an annual salary of more than 8 million euros before he made an inch, what about those of us who were born and died for Lazio to win the Champions League?

Isn't it worth a million, or even tens of millions of euros, an annual salary?

There has been no excuse for the media in Black Lazio, and this time they finally found their chance.

They think that the always shrewd Changsheng and Lotito are confused this time and have made a bad move!

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