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The salary level in Bundesliga is not high.
When top players in Premier League and La Liga were competing for high salaries, the average weekly salary in Bundesliga was only 34,000 euros.
This was data from the 2013-2014 season.
Currently, players in Bundesliga earning over 100,000 euros are few and far between.
The highest earners are only two players from Bayern Munich: Franck Ribéry and Mario Götze. Their salaries are quite similar, both basically 12 million euros annually.
This translates to approximately 230,000 euros per week.
It's worth noting that four years ago, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest earners in La Liga, had already reached this figure.
Wayne Rooney, the Manchester United captain who renewed his contract two years ago, had a weekly salary that already exceeded 250,000 pounds.
For the financial stability of its clubs, Bundesliga has been relatively restrained in terms of salary increases and transfer fees.
Jorge Mendes's figure was not an exorbitant demand.
He dared to propose this amount only after considering Lance's current value and his crucial role in the team.
Look at Mario Götze from Bayern Munich, with the highest salary in Bundesliga, how has he performed this season?
Pep Guardiola went from heavily relying on Mario Götze at the beginning to almost marginalizing him later.
Franck Ribéry is indeed very strong, but like Arjen Robben, he spent most of the season injured.
In contrast, Lance...
Leaving aside his age, his contributions to Bayer Leverkusen are simply immeasurable in monetary terms.
If not for Lance, Bayer Leverkusen would probably only be contending for fourth place.
Now, they are fighting on three fronts, and have reached the final stage in all three!
Bundesliga champion, DFB-Pokal champion, Champions League champion.
As long as they put in the effort, they can win at least one!
Just for Bayer Leverkusen's first Bundesliga title in its history, Lance is enough to be etched into Bayer Leverkusen's annals!
A top salary of 230,000 euros in Bundesliga, Jorge Mendes truly wasn't overcharging.
The next day, in the club's meeting room.
Lance and his agent's assistant, Harry Kane, sat on one side, while CEO Michael Schade of the club sat opposite them.
They had expected this salary negotiation to drag on for a long time.
However, CEO Michael Schade glanced at the contract and quickly signed it.
"No problem, the figure is very reasonable."
"Aren't you going to reconsider, Mr. Schade?"
"No, even though this price is the maximum the club can afford. We are still willing to bear this salary."
CEO Michael Schade truly lives up to his reputation as a professional.
His hand trembled as he signed, his heart bled, yet his words remained eloquent.
"Because Lance, you are the pride of Bayer Leverkusen, and a core player relied upon by the coaching staff."
"I know that in the future, you will certainly not be confined here; you are bound to go to a bigger powerhouse club."
"At least for these two years, we hope you can play here with peace of mind and win more championships with the team."
"Don't worry, the squad will definitely be strengthened in the summer."
"Regardless of the outcome this season, we will definitely try to push hard next season."
"Therefore, on behalf of Bayer Leverkusen, I hope you will seriously consider this contract. If you have any other needs, feel free to bring them up; we will help you achieve whatever we can..."
Lance and his agent's assistant, Harry Kane, were both stunned, exchanging bewildered glances.
It was hard to imagine a club treating a 16-year-old player with such seriousness.
Such treatment was probably only reserved for FC Barcelona with Lionel Messi, Manchester United with Cristiano Ronaldo, or AC Milan with Kaká, right?
Lance naturally had nothing to say; with no legal issues, he took out a pen and signed his name.
The contract did not take effect next season, but immediately.
In other words, from now on, Lance has entered... the ten-million-euro annual salary club?
Professional footballers really do earn a hell of a lot!
...
The news of Lance's contract renewal was kept secret, and the specific figures were not yet known to the media.
However, with so many media informants, the news still attracted widespread public attention.
The happiest, of course, were the Bayer Leverkusen fans.
Ever since they defeated FC Barcelona in the first leg, rumors of Lance's transfer next season had been circulating.
Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal were all linked to Lance.
According to the media, Lance had been in and out of Arsenal's medical room countless times.
Such a future superstar, who had proven himself in tough matches, was bound to be a hot commodity coveted by major powerhouses.
Florentino Pérez himself admitted that he hoped to bring Lance to the Santiago Bernabéu.
The retired Sir Alex Ferguson also mentioned Lance in a BBC interview program:
"It's a pity. If Lance had appeared a few years earlier, he might have already worn a Manchester United jersey."
"I believe any coach would be eager to work with him."
The Sun also revealed that Lance's agent, Jorge Mendes, had a face-to-face discussion with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
While major European powerhouses were fantasizing, Bayer Leverkusen's swift action gave their fans a sense of reassurance.
"...It is reported that Lance's new contract has an annual salary close to ten million euros, similar to Franck Ribéry and Mario Götze."
"Bayer Leverkusen officially stated that Lance is not for sale and is the cornerstone of the team's future."
"They will build their tactics around Lance from now on and witness the birth of a new dynasty together..."
The news posted by Bild on Twitter was met with cheers from Bayer Leverkusen fans in the comments section.
"Awesome! Do we have a chance to become a powerhouse?"
"Lance definitely can't be sold!"
"As long as he stays and we build a new squad around Lance, maybe we can hope for another powerhouse in Bundesliga!"
Naturally, some envious Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund fans came to stir up trouble.
"You're thinking too much, there's only one powerhouse in Bundesliga."
"Haven't you understood after all these years? He'll be Bayern Munich's sooner or later."
"In this era, it's too difficult for ordinary teams to become powerhouses."
"Bayer Leverkusen is at most a stepping stone. I bet Lance will stay for a maximum of 5 years."
"No, no, no, with his strength, he'll definitely leave within 3 years."
"Come to my Real Madrid! His temperament matches Real Madrid."
"Lance's playing style suits FC Barcelona! La Masia welcomes you!"
The internet was in an uproar, and Lance didn't expect that when he arrived at the cafeteria the next day, before he even had a chance to get food, he was quickly surrounded by his teammates.
Son Heung-min, Julian Brandt, Lars Bender, Stefan Kiessling... they all looked at Lance with curious, gossipy eyes.
"Lance, tell us, how much did you sign for in the new contract?"
"Just give us a number, scare me."
"I'm already mentally prepared."
"No, are you all this nosy?"
"We're all brothers, there's nothing to hide."
Even though they knew they would be disheartened, they couldn't resist their gossipy curiosity.
Lance simply held up two fingers, picked up his tray, and walked to a table.
Everyone momentarily forgot about getting their food, exchanging bewildered glances.
Two?
20,000 euros?
That's not much.
Son Heung-min, who joined Bayer Leverkusen for a 10 million transfer fee, has a weekly salary of 35,000 euros, putting him in the second tier of players at Bayer Leverkusen.
The first tier is Stefan Kiessling, at 48,000 euros, close to 50,000 euros.
"But, for Lance to be on 20,000 euros at 16, that's already good."
"When I was 16, I was still in the academy, and my apprentice contract was less than 5,000..."
"Yes, if in two years, Lance is still this insane... maybe he can reach 200,000!"
"Hiss... that's too insane! Damn it!"
Everyone was filled with envy, already green with jealousy!
Lance was simply the kind of genius that made people maddeningly envious.
Just then, Captain Simon Rolfes, who had been silent, suddenly said:
"If we go by what the news is reporting, he might already be on 200,000."
!!!
The Bayer Leverkusen players froze for a moment, then their pupils constricted in shock!
The silence was deafening!
Son Heung-min, who had felt a slight sense of superiority, instantly lost it!
The delicious German grilled sausage on his tray suddenly tasted bland.
"Aigoo—you really can't compare people!"