Chapter 38: Another Charity Event? Where Are the Young Models? (Two-in-One)

Post-match press conference.

Hecking still wore the air of a renowned manager.

"Incredible."

"But what I want to say is this: Li performed as expected. He is a genius, and geniuses can always create beautiful moments in a match with a flash of inspiration."

"That's right, it was I who successfully integrated him with De Bruyne into a dual-pivot midfield."

The Wolfsburg manager felt a sense of secret satisfaction. He was no longer like before, where even winning a match would draw criticism from the media. Now, for every word the reporters said off the stage, he only needed to respond vaguely, and he would still be hailed as an excellent coach.

A few minutes later, Mazzarri appeared in the auditorium with a despondent expression.

"Losing is the responsibility of the coaching staff."

"It is too early to talk about a revival. In the long river of time, Inter Milan's past two seasons can only be described as a minor growing pain."

...

Li Luo's inward-curling arc caused a sensation not only on the Chinese internet. Football fans around the world were deeply shocked as well.

In the video, the wind blew through the white jersey and black hair. The young Chinese player elegantly delivered a curved blade that pierced the night sky of the San Siro, stunning all of Europe.

GIFs and screenshots spread like wildfire across the internet. Major media outlets promptly featured close-up photos of Li Luo competing at the San Siro on their front pages.

Some "haters" were unconvinced and posted comments: "He's just handsome. If you replaced him with the faces of Huang Bo or Fan Wei, it definitely wouldn't be this viral."

...

Munich, Allianz Arena.

Having just finished a Champions League match, Bayern star Xabi Alonso walked to the advertising boards on the sidelines, looking puzzled as he took the tablet handed to him by a reporter.

He tapped the screen to play the video.

The next moment, Alonso was stunned.

"I..."

"I have kicked similar inward-curling arcs before, but this is a bit different... You cannot question the quality of Li's long pass. In that situation, he didn't have much time to observe, and there were two Inter players closing in on him. The time he had to process the ball was extremely, extremely short."

"I didn't teach him that. I haven't had the chance to meet Li yet."

"That's right, he's very handsome; he is a true genius."

"To be able to do this, one needs top-tier vision, defensive line reading, timing, courage, and creativity..."

"Haha, I'm not boasting about myself; I am describing Li's talent."

Suddenly, a bald head reflecting the spotlights leaned in. It was Guardiola.

"Li?" He glanced at it a few times, then couldn't help but reach out to drag the progress bar. Finally, he simply 'borrowed' the tablet, his eyes gradually becoming unfocused.

"He basically never makes a mistake..."

The Bundesliga media were used to this, as the Bayern manager in front of them had done many things that left people between laughter and tears.

...

Milan.

The entire Wolfsburg team returned to their hotel. Bendtner sneakily tried to slip out to experience the local customs of the fashion capital... but was caught in time by the assistant coach. It wasn't that the coaching staff wanted to interfere with the players' private lives, but the "Arsenal Emperor" had been caught causing trouble last time, which had left Wolfsburg's lineup planning very passive for subsequent matches.

In the elevator, Malanda was excitedly punching numbers into a calculator, whispering: "Li, it's so good to be your teammate. After I finish this season, perhaps I can afford a house for my siblings."

The young man stood behind Li Luo, feeling grateful. From a tactical configuration perspective, if not for the arrival of the Chinese teenager, he, a developing powerhouse, would never have had so many opportunities to play.

Li Luo thought for a moment and said, "You should also thank Mr. Hecking, thank him for his lineup arrangements."

"Yeah, yeah, he's a good guy too."

...

A short while later, Li Luo returned to his room and locked the door. He opened his laptop, preparing to write in his diary.

*Beep, beep, beep.*

His phone rang. It was a message from Rae. The content was simple: The German girl with the beautiful legs first mentioned that she happened to be working in Milan, then praised Li Luo's stunning long pass at the San Siro, and finally asked if there was a chance to meet up.

Li Luo shook his head and rejected the invitation with the excuse of "not wanting to go out tonight."

With a crisis at hand, how could he have the heart to go on a date? Shakespeare once said that the value of a person is decided in the moment they face temptation.

"Let's talk about it later," he thought. He put down the phone and continued writing his diary.

"Mazzarri's three-center-back system is not about how many center-backs there are, nor does it have any blood relationship with the three-back systems in history books. In essence, it is a product of Mazzarri's transformation of the ball-playing system and the strengthening of autonomous offense."

"Not all tactical problems from an opponent need to be solved; likewise, we are also creating tactical problems for the opponent."

The geometric model in his spatial perception rotated gently, quietly replaying the phase where Mazzarri's three-center-back system faced the "Wolfsburg Bus."

Li Luo did not write down the next part.

"The international A-level matches in half a month—no amount of tactical knowledge will be of any use there!"

"For the next Bundesliga match, I hope the mystery box I redeem can yield an efficient, ready-to-use module..."

Using a game as an analogy: At Wolfsburg, Li Luo was a midfield hero with a buff aura. In the national team, Li Luo had to switch combat forms, changing his playing style just like Alaba at Bayern or Bale at Real Madrid.

A long time later, he picked up his phone and saw a pile of messages from Lauren. He scanned them roughly and typed a serious reply:

[Li Luo: What Eastern girl? The Sun is making things up. Ever since I joined Wolfsburg, you are the only Dutch girl I know.]

...

*Plop.*

Large raindrops bloomed against the floor-to-ceiling window. Milan in the night was like a girl with a cluttered mind; the streets were her scattered skirt hem, rain gathering into winding streams on the stone pavement; the red brick walls were like her flushed cheeks; the top of the cathedral was like a high-raised...

At a hotel ten miles away from where Wolfsburg was staying, Rae, a 19-year-old German girl, sat alone in her room, looking at Li Luo's rejection on her phone, her expression dejected.

"I gathered up my courage..."

"However, this also proves that Li is an upright and self-disciplined boy."

"But who is the Eastern girl that The Sun talked about?"

Rae couldn't help but send another message to ask. A long while later, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, her heart fluttering, as she received a satisfactory reply:

[Li Luo: What Eastern girl? The Sun is making things up. Ever since I joined Wolfsburg, you are the only German girl I know.]

...

Great Britain.

The office of the Manchester United manager was brightly lit.

"Prepare to call it a day."

"The Red Devils are on the right track. We forced a draw against West Brom in the final moments; that's worth a drink!"

Van Gaal straightened his red tie and said encouraging words. The members of the coaching staff were all visibly moved. A moment later, only Van Gaal and Giggs remained in the large office.

"Li is playing better and better at Wolfsburg."

"We must prepare in advance, starting with the winter transfer window."

"But... Boss, Li won't return until next summer."

"Hmph, we have to prepare early. Some players might not be buyable if we wait until the summer window."

Manchester United's transfer budget was very high; they had already invested 130 million pounds in this summer window, and they were prepared to invest an additional 200 million pounds in the next two windows!

Of course, many media and fans recently thought that the 130 million pounds already spent felt like money down the drain... One could only wait and see how the next 200 million would be spent. In this era, such transfer investment was terrifying.

"Depay from PSV? You said he would inherit Manchester United's number 7 shirt..."

"No." Van Gaal waved his hand. "I've changed my mind. This Depay guy is too obsessed with the ball; he would affect Li's rhythm."

The Manchester United management respected Van Gaal and fully considered his transfer opinions. Many years later, the old man would often blast Manchester United for not giving the manager transfer power; these remarks were strongly refuted by many Premier League media: "If they didn't give you transfer power, how did Depay get the Manchester United number 7 shirt? Does he deserve it?"

...

As Giggs left, he took the draft paper handed to him by Van Gaal.

"The lineup for welcoming Li's return next summer?"

"Goalkeeper: De Gea."

"Defenders: Alaba, Boateng, Thiago Silva, Blind."

"Midfielders: Li Luo, Yaya Touré, Pogba."

"Forwards: Neymar, Lewandowski, Sanchez."

"Impossible, unrealistic, Boss... Is this your grandson's game lineup?"

...

In early October, in Lower Saxony, the Aller River was like a silver chain wrapped in gauze, winding through the chest of the lowland meadows, while the fields looked like an oil painting touched by time, outlined in lonely colors by the brushstrokes of autumn.

Returning to Wolfsburg from Milan was like returning from the city to the countryside. The population gap between the two cities was large, but each had its own advantages. Playing at a club in a big city meant more entertainment and rich social activities—for example, Morata, who had just arrived in Turin this season, was already getting hot and heavy with a newly met Italian model.

Speaking of the city of Turin, there was a Chinese female artist named "Dulin" because her father was a Juventus fan.

Playing at a 'remote' club allowed one to play quietly. The private lives of Wolfsburg players like De Bruyne were all very "quiet."

There was no rest on the day off. Li Luo was practicing overtime on the training ground alone.

*Bang!*

*Bang!*

*Bang!*

The explosive sound of the soccer cleats meeting the ball frightened the two Collie sheepdogs brought over from Manchester, causing them to pull uneasily at their chains. When the Manchester United crown prince was loaned to Wolfsburg, he brought with him a chef, a fitness coach, a lifestyle assistant, and two dogs.

A long time later, Li Luo lay flat on the turf. He had finally fully mastered the Matthaus-style "cannon"... strictly speaking, the "cannon" within his physical load capacity.

Tom trotted over, handing him a towel, water, and a banana.

"Li, take care to rest. You have to attend a charity event later."

"What event? I don't remember."

"As a player representative, to help Wolfsburg donate money..."

Immediately after, a Wolfsburg logistics staff member ran over with a package: "Li, a package was sent from London. I forgot to tell you."

"What package?"

Li Luo unwrapped it and looked startled.

"An Arsenal jersey?"

"The signature on it is... Kelly?"

"Who is Kelly? I can't remember."

Tom frowned in thought and said, "In that match against Everton, a little girl asked for your match-worn jersey... Remember now?"

Everyone noticed there was a letter in the box and turned their heads away to avoid looking. The content of the letter was roughly: 16-year-old Kelly had successfully joined the Arsenal women's team. To thank Li Luo for the jersey he gave her that day, she returned the favor with her own signed Arsenal jersey, and stated that she would definitely become a star in the future.

Li Luo smiled and asked the staff member to help him keep it safe; he would take it home later. Fortunately, this kid was playing women's football. This kind of plot was often the rivalry bond seen in cartoons.

...

At 4:00 PM, Li Luo finished training and headed to the banks of the Weser with his assistant, Tom. This charity event was simple: donating on behalf of Wolfsburg.

The large venue didn't look like it had been decorated with much money; it was slightly crude. Several middle-aged men in suits greeted them enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you, Li."

"Lower Saxony has been committed to charity activities for many years; it has a historical origin."

"In the last century, the then-governor..."

"Forget it, if I start talking about it, it will take a day and a night. In short, we are good friends."

Everyone laughed. Li Luo nodded. He had learned about the history of Lower Saxony during this time and could probably guess what story the other party wanted to tell.

On the walls on both sides of the venue, framed, yellowed old newspapers were displayed. Two headlines were very prominent:

"The Warmest Christmas Gift."

"We are with you, no need to be afraid anymore."

He was just about to be moved by the local custom. Suddenly, he smelled a faint scent of perfume.

"Li, is it really you?"

Li Luo turned his head and saw a handsome face. Morata? The genius of Juventus. The "mentor" in the shooting instructional videos.

Meeting for the first time, the two smiled at each other.

Morata said, "Sorry, a bit presumptuous. I've seen the news about your match against Inter Milan. Um, I'm here accompanying my sister; it's really boring here."

Li Luo had no interest in any sister. He suddenly remembered something and asked seriously, "Your way of stopping the ball and transitioning into a shot is different from most players. In that Serie A round two weeks ago, Pogba made a passing error, the ball was falling from the air, how did you..."

Morata was slightly surprised. He never thought that someone would discuss such a question with him on such an occasion. Not long ago, Pirlo and Pogba had also expressed confusion about this. Was it the sensitivity of a genius midfielder?

...

The Juventus genius's expression gradually became serious. He said earnestly, "Um, I can't express it in words. It's very difficult. Others can't do it."

Internally, however, he thought: 'Got lucky. I tried that stop-and-shoot transition dozens of times in training afterward, and I couldn't find that feeling again.'

He gradually savored the magical moment. Research by relevant institutions suggests that some players' prefrontal cortex is in a dormant state during matches... meaning they don't need to think too much and rely on instinct to handle the ball. It is said that new-generation genius stars like Neymar, Hazard, and Morata often experience similar situations. It is often reflected in: the stronger the opponent, the stronger they become.

...

The two chatted casually. Morata gradually entered a state of "bragging," boasting about his call-up to the Real Madrid first team and his glorious moments in the Juventus campaign.

Li Luo didn't question him. He thought: 'I've heard that all the giants want to have Morata, which means his potential is limitless and his talent is extremely high.'

Moreover, this guy's instructional videos contained a lot of substantial content.

Before he knew it, the charity event ended. The time to say goodbye arrived.

Morata said seriously, "Next time we meet, it might be on the Champions League stage—provided you have the Champions League to play in after you return to Manchester United."

"Good luck, Li!"