Late at night.
After the celebration banquet ended, Ling returned to his apartment.
The long-lost feeling of being drunk left him strangely reflective.
He stood by the window for a while, gazing into the night sky, though the only things he could see were fireworks bursting above the city.
Only after the alcohol had mostly faded did he focus and open the system interface.
[Congratulations on completing the team mission: Win the 2018-19 UEFA Champions League!]
[Calculating contribution...]
Last season, he had not won the Champions League Golden Boot, so his contribution had not reached the maximum.
This season was different.
[Mission reward: Legendary Treasure Chest!]
[Congratulations on obtaining: Module — Peerless!]
[Module details: When your attributes reach their limits, you will be able to break through them. Your future will have no limits!]
Ling stared at the panel.
"???"
According to the system's usual habits, should it not have given him a star-player template?
Now it had directly given him something called Peerless.
And the familiar feeling of his head tilting before he passed out did not appear. His body felt completely normal.
He opened the attribute panel again.
[Dribbling: 98.13 (97)]
[Passing: 93.27 (83)]
[Shooting: 96.70 (95)]
[Speed: 94.25 (94)]
[Stamina: 98.12 (83)]
[...]
[Defence: 67.36 (51)]
Apart from defence, all his attributes had improved significantly, and most had already surpassed the limits of the Ronaldo template.
Then, as the night breeze swept through the room, the glowing panel changed.
The numbers inside the brackets beside his attributes began to fade, crumbling away like sand.
"The Ronaldo template made me who I am," Ling murmured to himself, "but it also limited me. Is that why Peerless appeared?"
He thought about it for a while, then pushed the question aside and allowed himself to enjoy the moment.
The only real rest he got each season came in these few months.
Now, Ling felt completely relaxed, inside and out. He did not need to think about tomorrow's opponent.
He did not need to review yesterday's mistakes.
He did not need to calculate how to break a defensive line or how to survive a press.
After chatting with Maria on the phone for a while, he tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.
What now?
In the end, he could only turn on the television, replay the Champions League final, and begin reviewing the match seriously.
People said it took twenty-one days to form a habit.
Since his rebirth, Ling had not missed a single day in more than seven hundred.
How else could Mourinho and Guardiola praise his tactical understanding?
Sure enough, once he finished reviewing the match, he finally fell into a deep sleep.
But he did not sleep until the sun was high.
His biological clock was terrifyingly strong, and he woke up early to train according to plan.
After that, he headed to Carrington.
"It's been a while," Ling said with a smile.
"We saw each other the day before yesterday," Mendes retorted, waving him along. "Come on. Let's talk about the contract renewal first. They've made plenty of money from you, so we need to make sure Manchester United pay what they should."
"Aren't you making money from me too?" Ling joked.
"Is that the same?" Mendes replied immediately. "We're a community of interests. The more you earn, the more I earn, so of course I'm on your side."
As they talked, the two entered the meeting room.
The Manchester United executives were already seated. When Ed Woodward saw Ling, he walked over with a bright smile.
"Welcome, our hero!"
Clap, clap, clap.
The room immediately filled with enthusiastic applause.
Ling exchanged the necessary pleasantries with them for a while, somewhat reluctantly, before the contract negotiations officially began.
"A weekly salary of seven hundred and sixty-five thousand pounds, a thirty percent increase in goal bonuses, a larger share of shirt sales..."
Ling's team had already examined the details for a long time.
Woodward, however, wore a troubled expression.
Ling was already the highest-paid player in the Premier League, and Woodward knew a raise was inevitable.
But this proposal was steep.
Very steep.
Apart from Ling, the next highest-paid player was Pogba at around three hundred and fifty thousand pounds per week.
This new salary would be more than double Pogba's.
Pogba would definitely be unhappy about that!
"I think everyone in this room understands Ling's value," Mendes said, cutting in before Woodward could begin his prepared hesitation.
"So let's speak plainly."
Even in the worst-case scenario, if Manchester United rejected the offer, countless clubs would line up immediately.
Florentino Pérez had already approached him.
Real Madrid were willing to offer an even higher salary, and they were also prepared to make concessions on image rights.
On top of that, Spain's tax environment was more attractive than England's.
Why else had so many stars once flocked to La Liga?
Then there were the other clubs.
Manchester City's backers had already made it clear that if Ling was willing to move, they would clear the squad to make room for his wages.
Why were all these clubs chasing Ling so desperately?
Because they understood one thing.
Having Ling in the team was like owning multiple tactical systems at once!
Any club could build a highly competitive side around him with relative ease. He was not just a star player.
He was a foundation.
And that was before even discussing his commercial value.
"Paul approached me a few days ago," Woodward began carefully, "hoping his salary would not fall too far behind Ling's. Other players also—"
Mendes cut him off.
"If they had Ling's ability, they could make demands. Do they?"
Woodward fell silent.
"Are you worried such a salary would affect dressing-room harmony?" Mendes continued, smiling.
"That problem is simple. Sell the players who cannot accept it."
The smile remained, but his tone sharpened.
"Manchester United are not short of money. They are not short of popularity. Are you really worried you won't find replacements?"
After so many years in the business, Mendes understood exactly what Woodward was thinking, and what certain people behind the scenes wanted.
Especially Pogba.
He was probably being stirred up again by that dead fatty Raiola!
Things like, "Your ability isn't weaker than his, so why should you play second fiddle?" or "Ling's statistics look so good because he takes so much of your possession," or "You must make the club recognise your importance."
Players under Raiola changed clubs so often, and were disliked by many clubs, precisely because that fat man kept whispering poison into their ears.
Woodward looked toward Ling.
Ling smiled without saying a word.
'Trying to guilt-trip me?'
He was not Harry Kane. How could he fall for that?
Besides, he had noticed earlier that Pogba, Lingard, and Rashford seemed to be avoiding him a little.
"I understand."
In truth, he did not even need to think hard to know what choice he should make.
....
June 3, 2019.
"Reportedly, due to Suárez's advancing age, Barcelona urgently need a rotation striker and have made an offer to Manchester United for Rashford." — Daily Sport
"Blockbuster: Juventus intend to buy Pogba back from Manchester United as part of their push to challenge fully for next season's Champions League and help Cristiano Ronaldo win another Ballon d'Or. Manchester United are also negotiating personal terms with Juventus left-back Alex Sandro, and the two clubs may discuss a player-exchange deal." — Corriere dello Sport
"Blockbuster: Manchester United are in talks with several midfielders, including Sporting CP's Bruno Fernandes, West Ham's Declan Rice, Juventus' Miralem Pjanić, and others."
"Blockbuster: Manchester United also aim to strengthen at left wing and centre-back, with discussions involving Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, Aston Villa's Jack Grealish, PSG's Thiago Silva, and others."
"..."
Only a few days had passed since Manchester United won the Champions League, yet all kinds of news stories were already pouring out one after another, especially those involving the possible departure of key players.
Rashford and Pogba had both made significant contributions last season, and both were products of Manchester United's own academy.
Because of that, United fans immediately erupted, furiously questioning the club's official website about why anyone would even consider selling heroes from the Seven-Title-Winning campaign.
Then, at the worst possible moment, another report appeared.
"According to inside sources from the Manchester United dressing room, Pogba, along with Rashford and others, has demanded a substantial increase in weekly wages, more playing time next season, and greater tactical importance, including more shooting rights, more possession rights, and even suggestions that the club should sell Ling." — The Sun
"Lukaku has voluntarily paused the signing process with Inter Milan, most likely to wait and see how Manchester United's internal power struggle develops. If Ling truly leaves Manchester United, Lukaku may become the team's main striker next season." — The Mirror
"McTominay: I unconditionally stand by Ling's side because he is the most important figure leading Manchester United's revival and rise. Of course, more importantly, we are best friends."
"Maguire: Wherever Ling goes, I go. I only know one thing: following him means winning trophies. What can a defender like me do? I've finally latched onto a star player, and I'm definitely not letting go for life!"
"Mahrez: Manchester United cannot be without Ling!"
The suggestion that United might sell Ling instantly set the fanbase on fire.
Manchester United fans turned their anger toward Pogba almost immediately.
Right now, Manchester United could afford to lose almost anyone except Jeremy Ling.
That had become the unanimous feeling among the supporters.
During this period, Ling never stepped forward to clarify anything.
He simply watched quietly, waiting to see how the farce would end.
On the other side, Mendes kept applying pressure during Ling's contract renewal negotiations.
He even made some exaggerated demands, including a clause that would allow Ling to acquire Manchester United shares after retirement.
Woodward was suffering in silence. With no better option, he went to Mourinho and asked him to speak with the players.
The response he received was simple.
"I think Jorge makes a valid point. Since they believe they deserve better treatment, let other clubs offer it to them.
"At this stage, our squad already has a stable core spine. We only need to add one excellent attacking midfielder. I can't guarantee another Seven-Title-Winning season, but I am confident we can win either the league or the Champions League.
"Of course, if you want to sell Ling, my contract is also about to expire. I can take him to many clubs — Tottenham, Chelsea, Inter, PSG. I think we would have plenty of choices across the top five leagues."
Every word supported Jeremy Ling.
That was hardly surprising.
Between his own disciple and Pogba, who would Mourinho support?
And he was not wrong.
De Gea, Maguire, Kanté, Jeremy Ling...
That was already a championship-caliber spine.
After two seasons of development, Scott McTominay had also grown into a player capable of starting regularly.
The only issue was Maguire's occasional lapses in concentration, which meant he needed an experienced partner beside him.
Mourinho had his eye on Thiago Silva.
Even at 35, Thiago Silva's competitive level remained undeniable.
He was still one of the best defenders in the world, and the experience he had accumulated over the years allowed him to deal with opponents' attacks decisively and without fear.
He could also mentor Maguire by example, just as Nesta had once guided him, passing defensive wisdom on to "Big Head" Maguire.
You could say Thiago Silva was a treasure of a player.
As for the winger to replace Rashford, Mourinho leaned toward Grealish.
During his struggling days at Aston Villa, Grealish had played almost every attacking position.
He had spent more than ten matches each as a left midfielder, box-to-box midfielder, right midfielder, and right winger.
But what impressed Mourinho was not his versatility alone.
It was his proactive defensive attitude and his strange ability to draw fouls, averaging one or two yellow cards from opponents per game.
To put it simply, if Jeremy Ling was the DPS carry, Grealish was the tank!
Could you play a team fight without a tank?
In more straightforward football terms, Grealish would draw opponents' fire and free Jeremy Ling to the greatest extent.
Just imagine it: if an opponent had already been booked, would he dare commit a tactical foul against Ling?
Not only would he hesitate, he might even instinctively back off.
That would allow Jeremy Ling to unleash his attacking talent with far fewer restrictions.
Woodward hit a dead end with Mourinho and had no choice but to return to negotiations with Raiola, but Raiola refused to budge.
By this point, Woodward had had enough.
If they wanted to leave, then fine.
Sell.
Sell them all!
As a result, Ling's contract renewal progressed rapidly, while the sales of Pogba and the others also accelerated.
...
One day, while Ling was training, he ran into Lukaku.
The big bald-headed striker rubbed his head and asked, "Ling, believe me, that thing really wasn't me—"
"I believe you. Got things to do, gotta go."
Ling cut him off, patted him on the shoulder, and turned to leave.
Truthfully, he knew exactly what had happened.
Pogba wanted tactical importance, but Lukaku had gone further and tried to push him out.
It had to be said that Lukaku really did have a natural talent for backstabbing.
Ling could not help mourning for Lautaro for three seconds.
As for himself, he did not feel particularly sad.
He understood why Lukaku had done it.
Being overshadowed for an entire season would make anyone feel unbalanced, but how a person handled that imbalance was what separated people into completely different types.
If they met in the future, they could just treat each other as strangers.
Scott McTominay was far more reliable.
If Ling had really been forced out, Scott would probably have been sidelined and frozen out too.
Or maybe he had already been ostracized by Pogba and the others.