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"Because Messi: No top European club goes to China."
Germany's famous football magazine "Kicker" reported on the 23rd that Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and other top European football clubs originally planned to go to China for commercial matches this summer.
However, they did not succeed because none of them had obtained permission from the Chinese side to compete. And the reason behind it is the "insult" of Argentina international Messi to Chinese fans. Since the Hong Kong incident in February, Messi has not formally apologized.
Messi's behavior has triggered a series of butterfly effects, and finally made the European football giants pass by the dream of "making money" in China.
Doesn't that sound incredible? Don't worry, let's take our time.
Is Messi to blame? A trip to China for a European giant
The story begins with the Hong Kong exhibition tournament that caused a sensation all over the world in February 2024.
At that time, Messi's Inter Miami came to Hong Kong to play an exhibition match against the Hong Kong Stars.
The fans were so excited, and some even came from all over the world to catch a glimpse of the football king. The result? Messi sat on the bench and didn't play for a minute.
This can provoke the fans at the scene, everyone you say a word, shouting words such as "the big scam of the century" and "ticket refund".
Messi later explained that he did not play because of an injury, but this explanation apparently did not calm the anger of the fans.
To make matters worse, within a few days, Messi was playing alive in Japan. In this comparison, Chinese fans feel even more wronged, and feel that Messi looks down on the Chinese market.
Originally, this matter might be over here. Who knows, this "Messi turmoil" actually caused an uproar in China, and even alarmed China's sports management department.
As a result, the Chinese side was so angry that it suddenly messed up the plans of several top European football clubs to China!
That's right, you heard it right. According to the report of the famous football magazine "Kicker" in Germany, Bayern Munich, Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and other big clubs in European football plan to come to China this summer to play games and circle money... Oh no, it's a cultural exchange.
But now, these clubs applied for permits to come to China to compete, and they were stunned, and there was no response at all.
You may ask, what do these clubs have to do with Messi? They didn't offend the Chinese fans. But herein lies the problem, although these clubs are innocent, they have become scapegoats for the "Messi incident".
The Chinese side may feel that since some stars do not respect Chinese fans, they should simply close the door for the time being and let everyone calm down.
Fortunately, the summer plans of these European giants have been disrupted. You know, China is a "big gold mine" in their eyes! With a large population, enthusiastic fans, and a fast economic development, it is simply an ideal place to "make money".
Now, this trip to China has come to naught, and the financial departments of many clubs are estimated to be worried.
But then again, it also shows us how influential the words and deeds of sports stars are. Messi may never have dreamed that one of his actions in Hong Kong could affect the "Crusade" plan of the entire European football world.
This can't help but make people sigh that in this era of globalization, every move may affect the whole body.
So the question is, what will these European giants do next? Will they "make money" in another place? Will Chinese fans still have the chance to see top stars live in the future?
Big-club clubs' 'Plan B': When China says 'no'
First of all, we have to understand that for these big clubs, the Summer Tour is not just about playing. This is simply a well-planned "money grab" drama! It's not that I'm saying it, it's that it's really an important source of income for the club.
Think about it, just the ticket revenue, jersey sales, sponsor advertising, this trip can make tens of millions of euros, to say the least.
Well, now that China's "big coffers" have suddenly closed, these clubs can't sit still. They are all budget-conscious masters, and they immediately start looking for "Plan B".
Take Bayern Munich, for example, the Bundesliga giants have offices in Shanghai. They had planned to play in several cities in China, but now they can only look at Shanghai.
But Bayern is not a fuel-efficient lamp, and they immediately adjusted their routes, turning their targets to Japan and Korea. Although these two markets are not as big as China's, they can make a profit, right?
Dortmund reacted faster and they directly changed the destination to Bangkok, Thailand. Come to think of it, the players are probably quite happy to move from China to Southeast Asia. After all, Bangkok is famous for its nightlife.
As for Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco in France, they are miserable. Originally, the two teams planned to play the France Super Cup in China, but now the competition has been cancelled. This is good, not only can I not make money, but I also have to rearrange the pre-season preparation plan, which is really a loss for my wife and soldiers.
But don't think these clubs are up for it. They were all human spirits, and they immediately began to think about how to squeeze this "lemon" into "lemonade".
Some clubs have begun to ramp up their efforts on social media, especially for Chinese fans. You see, if the players can't come to China, let the Chinese fans watch the players online.
Some clubs have even started to hold online meet-and-greets for stars to interact with Chinese fans through screens. It's not as good as face-to-face, but it's better than nothing.
Some clubs have even started planning to hold esports tournaments in China. Since real people can't come, let the virtual players come! Anyway, the current football game is just like the real thing, and maybe it will attract a wave of young fans.
Of course, there are clubs that opt for a more pragmatic approach. They began to study the Chinese market in earnest, trying to find out the underlying cause of the turmoil.
Some clubs have even started to give their players cultural lessons, teaching them how to respect fans from different countries and avoid another own goal like Messi's.
But then again, the response of these clubs is, to put it bluntly, "saving the country by curve". They all know in their hearts that the potential of the Chinese market is irreplaceable.
Therefore, while they are looking for alternatives, they are still silently waiting, hoping that the Chinese side will "lift the ban" as soon as possible. Interestingly, the turmoil also unexpectedly spurred cooperation between some European clubs.
Teams that used to be rivals are now sitting together to discuss countermeasures, and even consider co-hosting events. This makes one wonder how sometimes crises can create opportunities.
So the question is, can the "Plan B" of these clubs succeed? Do they still have a chance to return to the Chinese market? And what will the football world learn from this incident?
If the stars can't come, what should Chinese football do?
First of all, we have to admit that losing the top competition in the short term is indeed a big blow to Chinese fans. Think about it, I was looking forward to the stars and the moon, but I waited for the summer vacation to go to the scene to watch the superstars play football, and the result was an empty joy.
Many fans must have felt very disappointed, even a little angry. After all, they feel that they are innocent, so why should they pay for Messi's "willfulness"?
But there is a silver lining in every dark cloud. This turmoil has also given the Chinese football community an opportunity to calm down and think about its own development.
Let's start with the professional leagues. Without foreign stars to "steal the limelight", the Chinese Super League has more opportunities to show itself. Some experts have pointed out that this may be a good time to improve the level of local players.
After all, in the past, they always relied on foreign aid, and local players inevitably "lay flat" a little. Okay now, the stage is all yours, what are you waiting for if you don't perform well?
Let's talk about youth training. Having lost the opportunity to see foreign stars, some young fans may focus more on homegrown players. This can play an unexpected role in stimulating their enthusiasm for the sport of football.
Some youth training institutions have begun to take the opportunity to promote the concept of "Chinese football needs you" to encourage more children to play football.
Of course, for the Chinese Football Association, this incident is also an important wake-up call. It reminds us that over-reliance on international stardom to drive football is unsustainable.
On the contrary, more attention should be paid to long-term work such as infrastructure construction, the improvement of the youth training system, and the improvement of the quality of the league.
Interestingly, the turmoil also unexpectedly boosted the unity of the Chinese football community. In the face of external pressure, many clubs, players and fans have come forward to support the decision of the Chinese Football Association.
Some people even launched the topic of "supporting Chinese football" on social media, which sparked a wide discussion.
However, we cannot ignore some of the possible negative effects of this incident. For example, some international brands may re-evaluate their football-related investments in China.
In addition, some foreign coaches and players who originally planned to develop in China may be discouraged by the fear of market instability.
However, crises are often turning points. Some experts have pointed out that this incident may promote the reshuffling of the Chinese football market.
Some clubs that rely too heavily on star power may have a hard time, but those that are truly focused on long-term development may instead get more opportunities.
More importantly, this incident has made the Chinese football community realize that a true football culture cannot be built by "buying, buying, buying". It takes time, patience and, above all, love and respect for the game itself.
Interestingly, some cities have started to experiment with new ways to promote football culture. For example, some local governments have started to build more small football fields in parks to encourage citizens to play football on a regular basis.
Some places have started to hold community football leagues to get more ordinary people involved in the sport.
The butterfly effect in the world of football: a star that affects the world
First of all, this incident has made us deeply realize that in today's globalization, the every move of a star can trigger such a huge chain reaction, which is simply the "butterfly effect" in the football world.
Messi's gentle flapping of wings in Hong Kong actually set off a football storm in China and Europe. This can't help but make people sigh that modern football has long been more than just 22 people on the field playing football.
Secondly, this incident has also exposed some problems in the global football industry. For example, is over-reliance on the star effect a sustainable development model? Are we focusing too much on the stars and ignoring the charm of the game itself?
Moreover, this incident has also shown us the sensitivity and complexity of sports diplomacy. What was supposed to be an ordinary exhibition match turned into a test of international relations.
This reminds us that when conducting international sports exchanges, it is necessary to take into account not only economic interests, but also to fully respect the cultures and emotions of different countries.
Interestingly, the turmoil has also unexpectedly spurred a reflection on the part of some international football organizations. FIFA, for example, is beginning to consider whether it needs to develop new rules that balance commercial interests and sportsmanship.
Some experts have even suggested whether the business activities of top stars should be restricted to ensure they can focus on football itself.
In addition, this incident also shows us the importance and double-edged sword effect of social media in modern football. On the one hand, social media has increased engagement by allowing stars to communicate directly with fans. But on the other hand, an inappropriate remark or behavior can easily be amplified online and spark controversy.
Second, it tells us that in today's globalized world, cultural sensitivity is more important than ever. Both the stars and the club need to be more careful in their approach to cross-cultural communication.
Moreover, it also shows us that crises are often opportunities. Although this incident has caused problems for many people, it has also provided the possibility for the reshuffling and innovation of the football industry.
Everyone is welcome to share your thoughts in the comment area. Goodbye, we'll see you next topic!
Reference: Germany's famous football magazine "Kicker" published on the 23rd