The Ball at Your Feet

This is Monaco, my team, the place I love deeply, the place I am most proud of, and the cohesion of my life's hard work and dreams.

But now, I can only watch it step by step towards its end, but there is nothing I can do.

A day ago, while the Monaco players were playing against Le Havre on the field, somewhere in Monaco, two people were also discussing the future of the club.

"His Royal Highness, are you really unwilling to do something to save this club?" When Campola looked back at the person behind, he was still very polite. Although the person behind him is much younger than him, and also much younger than him, he still has a lot of respect for this person. Even if you don't care about the distinguished family of the other side, the identity of the largest shareholder of the Monaco club and the things he has done for the team are enough to make Campola full of respect for him.

Prince Albert has always been a person who cares about sports very much. Over the years, he has also done a lot for Monaco football. But even for him, there is no way to stop the club from falling.

The economic situation of the Monaco Club has not been very good. It is okay to barely maintain a balance of payments, but it is impossible to make a large profit. The original environment of the team is a small city. Although the people are rich, but after all, the number of fans is small and there is no advantage in income. The population of this city is inherently small. The real members are only in their early 3,000 years, and the stadium is just a small stadium that can accommodate 18,000 people. In terms of income, there is really no way to compare with the big cities.

But the income is not high, Monaco spends a lot of money, and all kinds of consumption here are never low.

Although the Louis II Stadium is small, its level is very high. This is the venue for the annual European Super Cup. It can be said to be the highest-level stadium in the French Ligue 1 that can be used by the club.

The Latourby base is also the top five training base in Ligue 1. Such a stadium and training ground require Monaco to consume a lot of money to maintain it. It is certainly not enough to rely on the prize money of the game.

Monaco's expenses have always been great. Player wages are only one aspect. Monaco is originally one of the most expensive cities in the world. The consumption here is unmatched by other places, and all kinds of expenses are unmatched by other teams.

Commercial income has always been an important part of Monaco's operations, but now Monaco has lost commercial support and naturally has no money.

Lyon, Marseille and other teams picked the French Football Association to protest, suggesting that Ligue 1 start to implement a unified tax policy next season, which means that Monaco's current salary is almost doubled. With such salary expenditures, everyone thinks that Monaco can no longer insist on maintaining a higher ranking. How can a business be willing to invest their money in a team that is doomed to fail?

Although Campola is very clear that the tax rate change is just the wishful thinking of those teams, it is difficult for such a thing to work, but he also understands in his heart that this is basically the entire Ligue 1 uniting against Monaco, this is not Monaco can easily What they are facing is a powerful alliance.

At this time, what he needs is support, but the problem is that this person next to him is unwilling to support himself this time.

"I can't help it. The royal family is the local manager. According to the law, the royal family is not allowed to invest in the team. You don't know this. Even if I have money in my hands, what can I do?"

Prince Albert was not in a hurry. He looked at Campola and motioned to him to sit down, "Although I manage the Sports Department of the Principality, I cannot change the regulations of the Ligue 1 League. What can I do about this kind of thing? ?"

"Of course you have a way. It's not the first time this kind of thing has appeared in Monaco. Of course we have a way to overcome this difficulty."

Albert knows the way Campola said. The so-called method is naturally to raise donations. In the past, if there was a problem with the funds, the club chairman would come forward to raise funds. Monaco is a very special place. Although it is not a big city like Paris, Marseille, or Lyon, it does not have enough fan base and economic base, but the people here are relatively rich. When there is no money, if Mr. Campola comes forward to raise donations, many times he can get a good income.

The two generations of Campola and his son have served as club presidents in Monaco, especially the current president Jean Campola. He has been in power in Monaco for 28 years and Monaco has won five league championships. Such achievements can be said to be very admirable. If he comes forward to ask for money for the team, the rich who live in Monaco are willing to pay some money.

"You can still raise donations this time, I didn't stop you." Albert said.

Campola glanced at him, a little helpless, "His Royal Highness, don't you really know what situation I am facing? I am now suspected of being involved in the crime by the French police, and my feet are deep in mud and cannot be washed away. At this time, I don’t have many ways to manage the club’s affairs. Moreover, now my reputation is on the cusp, even if I actually go to raise money, those people will not donate money to the club."

Of course Albert knew this very well. Because of his high prestige in Monaco, Campola made the wrong idea and wanted to participate in the election of the Monaco government. However, he is not a politician from the background of a doctor. Just a few days after the election was announced, it was revealed that he was colluding with the underworld forces. This incident caused him to be overwhelmed, and he had no time to take care of him. Moreover, his reputation was discredited. Under this circumstance, those people who usually come and go for fear of avoiding it, how could they even give him money?

He himself made a mistake and paid attention, thinking that he would be able to run. As everyone knows, the Prime Minister of the Monaco government has always been controlled by the French government. His participation in the election has no effect, but he has caused trouble for himself.

The story of gang involvement is pretty good. They even suspect that Monaco has colluded with the gambling organization to achieve the current results. Of course, Campola will try his best to avoid contact with Monaco. He can be suspected, but Monaco cannot.

"I have a question for you, are you really involved in crime?"

On this question, Campola looked angry, "His Royal Highness, you know the details of this matter, right? My competitor is Prost. I compete with the chief of the police in Paris, so I will naturally face such a thing."

"So, if we go bankrupt, what situation will we face?" Albert asked, "is it worse than in 2000?"

In 2000, Monaco experienced an economic problem. At that time, Monaco had no choice but to sell Trezeguet to Juventus, Saniol to Bayern, Bartez to Manchester United, Ramsey to Parma, and a championship team was dismantled and it was alleviated. After that period of time.

But when compared with this time, the events of that time were of course insignificant.

"The team was demoted, the players were all sold off, and then we fell into the French second... Is this what you want?"

Compared to Florence, Italy, Monaco's situation is better. The French professional football league has only two levels. Even if it goes bankrupt, the team will only be relegated to the second division. It is still different from starting from the beginning like Florence.

But even that is what Monaco can't stand.

"Are we owed that much?" Albert was a little surprised.

"We didn't even have enough funds for the renovation of the turf this season. Players even complained that our stadium is like a vegetable field-we are already on the verge of bankruptcy."

These words moved Albert a little.

"His Royal Highness, I don't have enough reputation to hold a fundraising event now~www.ltnovel.com~ Our opponents have made targeted arrangements for us, and their design is very ingenious, step by step, so we can't fight back at all. But. They are only targeting me after all, if you..."

"Betting on the reputation of the royal family to speak for a football team? Sorry, Campola, the reputation of the royal family cannot be changed for such a small matter." Albert shook his head, "not to mention, you know it yourself, Monaco today The situation is because there are enemies. Does the royal family have to devote their energy to this insignificant contradiction?"

Campola was speechless, he didn't know how to refute Albert's words. In the eyes of people like Albert, the club is certainly not as valuable as the royal honor. But in Campola's view, it's another matter.

"The royal family... sometimes I really think this term is a joke." Campola chuckled softly. "The Monaco Club is the coagulation of my 28 years of hard work, 28 years! We all know how important it is. , But you have to abandon it for the sake of a so-called royal name."

"I have my troubles, Campola." Prince Albert still refused to let go, but sighed. "You know, my father deliberately passed his position to my nephew. He thought I was in the past. It was too outrageous. In order to restore his impression, I have to think more about myself. It is impossible for me to do the things you said."

"Can't you change something?" Campola was still unwilling to give up.

"I can't manage it." Albert shook his head. "Maybe, it's time to let Monaco out."

Looking at Albert, Campola suddenly felt a chill in his body-something he had never felt in years.

The Monaco Club, is it really going to be over?