In the end, Dortmund defeated Hamburg 3-1 at home, and it didn't take too much effort. It gave people the feeling that Dortmund has always had an advantage. Even if Hamburg once scored a goal, it failed to shake the foundation of Dortmund's victory.

After the game, Zhou Yi became the focus of the reporter's interview, of course not because he had two assists in the game, helping the team defeat his opponent 3:1, or maybe not just because of this.

Everyone wants to hear what he thinks about the transfer rumors.

"...I understand the idea that some media want to make big news, so there are those transfer rumors. But what I want to say is that no word about me is true. I will not leave Dortmund."

Zhou Yi said it firmly.

Other players also expressed their willingness to stay Zhou Yi.

Shinji Kagawa, who scored a goal after the game, thanked Zhou Yi again when he was interviewed by reporters.

"...If you want to say who Dortmund is indispensable, then it's only Zhou Sang. He is the center of gravity and source of strength for all of us. I know that many teams in Europe want to get him now, but I believe he will stay in Dortmund."

Mark Wagner, also a beneficiary of Zhou Yi, said even more exaggeratedly: "Unless the club goes crazy, they won't let Zhou Yi leave! We are all very happy to be able to play football with Zhou Yi."

Lewandowski said: "I don't know what the future will be, but now I really don't see any signs of Zhou Yi leaving the team..."

Groschloitz said: "Zhou Yi is a child from the South stands. How could he leave Westphalian so easily?"

※※※

After the game, Zhou Yi called his agent Shultze: "Tino, what's going on in the media?"

"Uh, Zhou Yi, I promise this wasn't something I did..." Shurce quickly proved his innocence.

"I know this wasn't what you did. I've negotiated the new contract with the club almost the same, and there's no need to play like this. But why are there so many rumors in the media about me leaving Dortmund?"

"Maybe... are those foreign media really thinking that you will leave Dortmund and go to a wealthy club?" Schultze guessed.

“What about the basis?”

"I think Dortmund can't keep talents. Dortmund does have a record in this regard. Hasn Shahin just been in one season?"

"Then I can't make it because I've played in Dortmund for more than a season and left... I haven't learned my German driver's license yet!"

"The point is wrong. Zhou Yi, you can also rely on a driver's license approved by the EU when you go to the UK or any other country."

"Oh, that's right, then do I want to go to other countries to take a driver's license?"

"If you take the driver's license in the UK, I believe the media will really believe that you will transfer to a club in England, Zhou Yi."

"Tsk, why do the media love to think so much?"

"If the media doesn't guess, it's not the media."

"Okay, it seems that I still have to take time to take the driver's license test..."

The topic was transferred from the transfer to the driver's license... The two of them didn't think there was anything wrong. Where did they start off topic? It doesn't matter.

※※※

The second round of the league will be held a week later, with Dortmund challenging Hoffenheim away.

This time, Dortmund lost 0-1 to Hoffenheim away, which seems to confirm the media's analysis of the difficulty of Dortmund's defending champion.

Although losing is unhappy, Dortmund fans are not losing because they have something to make them happy. Just two days after the game with Hoffenheim was over, Dortmund club officially announced that Zhou Yi has signed a new contract with the club.

On the official website, he posted photos of Zhou Yi and the club general manager Zorke taking the contract text together.

As soon as this news came out, all the rumors that Zhou Yi was going to transfer to Dortmund disappeared, as if they had never appeared before.

Everyone has renewed their contracts with the club, so it is definitely impossible to leave this summer. What else can I do? No one believes it after it is spread, so it can only make people laugh.

There is not much official information about this contract. Everyone currently knows that the end time of the contract is the same as the previous contract. In other words, the previous contract is six years, while the new contract is five years.

When the contract period is shortened by one year, the salary will definitely increase, otherwise there will be no need to renew the contract.

In fact, this contract renewal was not proposed by the players, but by Dortmund Club, which is the same as last season's contract renewal.

Why does Dortmund want to start contract renewal negotiations again?

It is related to liquidated damages.

They think the penalty for liquidated damages of 10 million is too low.

A year ago, Dortmund felt that 10 million liquidated damages were enough, and this ten million was only needed by Dortmund and Schultzer for a long time.

Now looking at Zhou Yi's performance in the Champions League and the league, there is no so-called "rookie wall" at all. Looking at the coveting of Zhou Yi by other giants, Dortmund feels pressure.

Although the liquidated damages can only be activated when the contract is only one year left, if Zhou Yi has not signed a new contract with the club, this ten million will not be considered money in a few years. At that time, with Zhou Yi's performance, if he sells it for 10 million, he will lose a lot!

So Dortmund hopes to increase the number of liquidated damages clauses.

Since Dortmund Club has something to ask for, Zhou Yi can naturally boldly make their requests.

The requirement is actually very simple. It is okay to increase the liquidated damages, but Zhou Yi must be given an annual salary and benefits accordingly.

As Dortmund's financial situation gradually improves, the annual salary before tax of 1.5 million euros is too low for Zhou Yi.

According to Shurtze, if Zhou Yi is willing to change jobs, he will go to a wealthy team and get more than twice the current salary. But Zhou Yi is still willing to sit down and negotiate with the club, which means that he has feelings for Dortmund. If there is no special situation, he is still willing to stay in this team.

So considering Zhou Yi's loyalty, should the club also express it?

In an interview, Klopp said that the players and the club renewed their contracts smoothly, but in fact it was not the case. Klopp knew the inside story, but he could not directly tell the media that "we have a little troublesome renewal with the players", right? Isn't that just adding fuel to the rumors of Zhou Yi's transfer?

Klopp knew what the trouble was, Zhou Yi knew it, and the club also knew it.

Trouble is just one word - "money".

Schultze believes that Zhou Yi's performance and contribution to the team should receive the club's maximum salary, with 4.5 million euros before tax.

But the Dortmund club disagrees. They think that Zhou Yi is so young and gets the maximum salary. What should I do after that? You know that he just renewed his contract with the club last season, and his salary increased tenfold. But at least the salary base of his first contract is very low, so it's okay. Sign another contract after a season, and his salary triples. What about next season? Even if the base of 4.5 million is doubled, it will be nine million!

How could Dortmund come up with it?

And what did other players think after Zhou Yi opened this head?

They may think that Zhou Yi’s maximum salary of 4.5 million is normal, and it is normal for him to get a salary of 4 million, right?

What Dortmund Club is most worried about is this overall effect.

Everyone rushed to ask for a salary increase, and the club's financial situation might have improved soon and it was about to fall into crisis again.

For this reason, the club did not agree to Schultze's maximum salary requirement.

In fact, Shurtze also knew that the club would definitely not agree. He made this request just to pay back the money on the spot for a sky-high price.

The two sides bargained little by little.

Shultze once again proved his talent and ability in this area. Zorke did not expect to face this damn agent after just renewing his contract less than a year, but there was no way. Who said that their liquidated damages were too low?

So this time Dortmund wanted to set a high penalty for liquidated damages, and they also spoke up as soon as they came up and asked for a penalty of 50 million. Schultze directly asked Zolk at the negotiating table: "Are you crazy?"

If Shurtze really agrees, he will probably fire him when he comes back...

Both parties keep grinding and grinding, grinding the amount of liquidated damages, grinding the annual salary.

All are money-related issues.

After several months of hard work, the two sides finally reached an agreement.

In terms of liquidated damages, Schultze agreed to top 30 million euros, and this clause will not be initiated in the last year.

As for the annual salary, Dortmund also gave in and agreed to Schultzer's annual salary requirement of 3 million euros.

Because it was pre-tax, the money I got from Zhou Yi was only 1.6 million yuan.

Zorke believes that after the contract is signed, at least two years later, he should not have to see Shultze's disgusting face again.

"I don't want to see Zorke's face anymore. Negotiating with him is too painful. He is simply a realistic version of Grandet!" Shultze complained to Zhou Yi. "Last season, Dortmund won the league championship and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League. It is logical that there is a lot of money to make, why are you still so stingy?"

"You're used to being stingy." Zhou Yi didn't care much, just as long as the contract extension could be negotiated.
Chapter completed!