The news detonated across the Premier League sphere.
Naturally, Liverpool fans were the first to erupt:
"Holy shit! £700 million?! We're sugar daddies now?! ALL HAIL LORD PIF!!"
"Julien De Rocca?! That kid who tore Benfica apart in the Europa League final?! Am I dreaming?! If he comes, I won't even miss Suárez when he leaves! But top wages at 18? Isn't that risky? Won't the dressing room explode? How will Gerrard and Suárez feel about some kid getting top dollar?"
"PLEASE let this be real! We need this kind of game-changing superstar! Better yet, let's replace half the squad—I'm so sick of Downing and Joe Allen!"
Other fans quickly joined the discussion. After all, this affected the entire Premier League landscape.
"Haha, another Chelsea! Oil daddy incoming, football's finished. Welcome to the Premier League—Liverpool vs. City oil derby!"
"They think they're signing Messi? Giving an 18-year-old who's had ONE good season top wages? More money than sense! Mark my words, he won't adapt to Premier League intensity. He'll be like Torres—Vidić and Ferdinand will teach him what real defending looks like."
"Getting a bit worried now. If they actually assemble Julien + Suárez + Sturridge, that's a frightening attack."
"Cautiously optimistic about Julien. But the Prem isn't Ligue 1. With that body, first let's see if he can survive a rainy night at Stoke and Shawcross's flying tackles."
"£700 million?! That's enough to finish our stadium renovation AND buy an entire new squad with change left over! Wenger, look! They're giving top wages to an 18-year-old! We take half a year to negotiate £50k a week for Wilshere! Honestly though, he'd suit our style... Sigh. Another dream crushed."
"Julien? That name sounds familiar. Wasn't he our academy kid? The difficult one? Fuck, we never should've let him go!"
"The Premier League keeps getting more exciting! United, City, Chelsea, Liverpool—four oil clubs in total war! Love it!"
"Top wages at 18? The pressure on this kid will be immense. If he doesn't perform, he'll get crucified. He dominated Ligue 1, sure, but the Prem is different. How many wonderkids have been broken here?"
"Liverpool's defense is full of holes—just stacking forwards won't work! Buy a center-back first!"
The news rapidly spread across Europe through various channels.
Julien De Rocca, this much-watched young talent was now linked with Liverpool.
The timing was significant. Last month, before the Champions League semi-finals, Bayern had officially announced Dortmund star Götze would join them next season.
This month alone had seen Moutinho and Rodríguez join Monaco, Neymar sign for Barcelona, and Falcao move to Monaco.
The 2012-13 season hadn't even finished, yet five blockbuster deals were basically complete, with combined transfer fees reaching a staggering €200 million. And this might only be the beginning.
People couldn't even imagine how much Julien would cost.
Across European football, with numerous top clubs experiencing managerial upheaval, the transfer market was brewing an unprecedented storm.
According to media predictions, Tottenham's Bale, Real Madrid's Di María and Higuaín, Fiorentina's Jovetic, Manchester United's Hernández, Juventus's Marchisio, Dortmund's Lewandowski and Hummels—all in-form players are likely to enter the transfer market.
Several of Bastia's rising stars were also on multiple clubs' shopping lists.
Though Cristiano Ronaldo's record €94 million transfer to Real Madrid remained unbroken, this summer's situation with so many established stars simultaneously embroiled in transfer speculation was unprecedented if not unrepeatable.
And Julien De Rocca was the most captivating name among them all.
There had been countless rumors before, but nothing concrete.
Now things were different.
As news of the Saudi consortium's Liverpool takeover and their intention to sign teenage sensation Julien continued to spread, another related story rode the same wave of attention—a website called "The Player's Tribune" had published a personal letter from Julien himself.
French fans flooded the site immediately.
Liverpool fans and Premier League supporters followed close behind.
The comment section was instantly overwhelmed:
"He's coming home! He said he'll retire here! Julien, Bastia will wait for you forever! However long it takes, we'll be here when you return!"
"This isn't goodbye—it's a journey. We're not losing you—we're sending our king to conquer the world! Carry Bastia's spirit with you—go! I've been waiting since 1978. Thought my heart had hardened, but your letter made this old man cry like a child. Worth it. All of it was worth it. For Bastia, keep conquering! I'll watch every match, whether at the grounds or on TV!"
"How could we blame you? We can only thank you! You gave us a trophy, but more than that—you gave us a story we'll carry with pride forever!"
"I'm in tears. This isn't just a player—this is a real man, a leader who values loyalty and honor! The YNWA spirit shines in him! Come quickly! Anfield will give you the same love—even more intense! We'll write this promise with you!"
"I only expected goals from him. Now I realize I'm about to fall in love with his soul. This is the kind of figurehead we need! He understands what 'home' means. He gets what Liverpool Football Club is about! That matters more than any amount of talent!"
"After reading this letter, I think he completely deserves that top salary. He has more than skill—he has a champion's heart. More importantly, he's educated. Most players couldn't write something this eloquent. Is it ghostwritten?"
"Manchester United fan skimming through. Honestly? Respect. If he has to leave, this is the most dignified, heartfelt farewell possible. This kid's emotional intelligence matches his football intelligence. Next season I'll boo him relentlessly, but privately, I respect him."
"Chelsea fan here—complicated feelings. Once our boy, now going to help Liverpool's resurrection. Best of luck, but not too much luck."
"Just a neutral, but I have to say: THIS is what football should be! Warmth, stories, heritage! Welcome to the Premier League, Julien!"
"All of France supports you, Julien! You're France's pride! Go win the Premier League Golden Boot, then come back and help us win the World Cup! From Oissel to Corsica to Liverpool—this is a classic French football dream! Go, son!"
"Wait—Julien only said he's transferring, that he won't stay at Bastia. But he didn't say he's definitely going to Liverpool, did he?!"
Within hours, The Player's Tribune surged into fans' awareness with tremendous momentum.
And they quickly discovered more.
This remarkable website didn't just host Julien's letter—it featured accounts from many Bastia players and French football legends.
Some accounts had no content yet. But others were already active.
De Bruyne, the Belgian midfielder who'd shone brilliantly at Bastia, had written a piece titled "My Football, My Teammates."
He detailed his journey, devoting significant space to life at Bastia.
Other teammates followed suit, each chronicling their treble-winning season from personal perspectives.
Even Martínez wrote about his decision to leave Arsenal for Bastia.
French legends contributed too.
Zidane's "French Football Needs a New Future" consisted of match diary entries watching Bastia games, with substantial commentary on the two French internationals, Julien and Kanté.
Deschamps wrote "France Will Rise to the World Summit Again," describing an ordinary training day at Clairefontaine from his coaching perspective—seeing vibrant potential in the national team, feeling their readiness to surge forward, his burning desire to lead them to World Cup glory.
The content was still relatively sparse. But even this much electrified football fans everywhere.
"This is a revolution in sports media! No editorial spin, no out-of-context quotes—just pure, firsthand stories! This platform concept is brilliant! It completely removes the media filter, showing us the most authentic side of players."
"I don't even support Bastia, but I've read every article. This depth is irresistible—it brings humanity back to football. Other clubs should take notes! This is real fan service, building emotional connections, not just selling jerseys!"
"My God! This is a sanctuary for us fans! Julien, Kevin, N'Golo—these top-tier players telling us their stories in their own words!"
Many journalists and media professionals sensed something unusual.
This website was too perfectly timed.
How did it appear before everyone's eyes at precisely this moment?
The signs of manipulation were blatant.
Yet they had to acknowledge that 'The Player's Tribune', with its unprecedented authenticity, depth, and emotional resonance, had successfully generated a sensation among fans.
It wasn't merely a publishing platform—it had become a sacred bridge connecting players and supporters emotionally, making fans feel they'd truly entered the changing room, become part of this magnificent journey.
Venture Capitals immediately smelled opportunity.
They contacted the website administrator, René, inquiring about investment possibilities and partnerships.
All of this fell within Julien's calculations.
He'd already authorized René to expand operations, recruit staff, and proactively reach out to players for commissioned content.
So, when the site actually launched, Julien paid it little attention.
He didn't want to handle these matters. Football was his primary profession.
These past two days, Bastia had been immersed in complex, overwhelming emotions.
From Europa League triumph to the articles appearing on The Player's Tribune.
Passion, gratitude, melancholy.
No one denied this Bastia side was the strongest in club history.
But everyone understood that after the season ended, this team would cease to exist.
Only fragments would remain.
The season had just two matches left, and Bastia's starting lineup didn't feature in either.
May 18: Bastia won 2-1 away at Nancy.
May 23: Bastia drew 0-0 away at Sochaux.
And with that...
Bastia's entire 2012-13 season officially concluded.
One Day Before the Champions League Final
The English football bombshell finally dropped, completed with stunning speed after the Saudi side conceded completely on price negotiations.
May 24: Liverpool officially announced the ownership change.
Simultaneously, they unveiled the club's first blockbuster signing under new ownership.
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