Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 308: 308. Controversial Events Before the Madrid War

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Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

After Real Madrid completed their adaptive training session, Cristiano Ronaldo was intercepted by reporters before he could even return.

”What are your expectations for tomorrow’s derby?”

”Atlético Madrid responded that they can defeat Real Madrid even without Lance. What are your thoughts on this?”

”Ronaldo, what do you make of Saúl’s response? He said he would freeze you out.”

”How confident are you in this year’s Ballon d’Or selection?”

”Not being able to win the last match, will that affect Real Madrid’s title contention?”

Facing the reporters’ chattering questions, the Ballon d’Or candidate, Cristiano Ronaldo, with his slick, shiny hair, smiled arrogantly:

”First of all, my last interview was serious. Whether Lance is here or not, we will easily crush Atlético Madrid, just as our league performance has been for the past 10 years.”

”But you lost in 2013. You also lost the Champions League Final...” a reporter next to him muttered quietly, almost causing Cristiano Ronaldo to stumble. He glared fiercely at the reporter.

”Ahem.” Cristiano Ronaldo cleared his throat and continued.

”This season is our strongest season. Our goals, besides the La Liga title, also include the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. A treble is an unshakeable goal, so a Madrid Derby is just that. The winner will only be us, Real Madrid! A team that attaches itself to foreign capital, spends a fortune to bring in flops, a mere flow team, how could it be an opponent for our deep-rooted powerhouse?”

As soon as these words were uttered, the reporters present exchanged glances.

Wait, buddy.

Is there any team in European football more of a flow team than Real Madrid?

Who is more fond of spending exorbitant prices to buy big-name stars?

Who is more fond of creating hype?

Who was the team that signed James Rodríguez, the transfer market king, for 80 million last year, only for him to play less than a season and then be benched?

Why is Cristiano Ronaldo scolding himself?

How dare he provoke Atlético Madrid with such words?

Yet, Cristiano Ronaldo’s expression was completely serious, not joking at all.

In the internet age, there was no need to wait until the next day.

That afternoon, Twitter exploded.

#CR7 Provokes Atlético Madrid

#CR7 Boasts of Crushing flow Team Atlético Madrid

#Lance Not in Starting Lineup

Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid fans started their war early, passionately clashing online.

Among them were many socialites from both sides.

Lorenzo Sanz Durán, the official commentator for Real Madrid TV, retweeted a clip of Cristiano Ronaldo’s interview on his Twitter, with the caption:

”Is there something wrong with CR7? No problem, just a hyped-up hundred-million-dollar man, he should go back to Asia to farm.”

The caption alone would have been enough, but he also included an emoji of Fu Manchu’s squinting eyes and an image of someone wearing a conical hat.

At first, Lorenzo Sanz Durán’s Twitter didn’t cause much of a stir. Atlético Madrid fans clashing with Real Madrid fans were insensitive to such symbols; they were only focused on verbally attacking Real Madrid fans.

It wasn’t until many Chinese people and netizens who bypassed the Great Firewall saw the retweeted message that they instantly became enraged!

The news quickly spread to the Chinese internet. That evening, Spain time, was early morning in mainland China.

The topic became the top trending search on Weibo.

#Real Madrid TV Commentator RH

The news spread like wildfire, and by noon, it had already alarmed the authorities.

Although Lance was not born in China, he had already turned 18 and applied for a national ID card and a domestic passport. Theoretically, by exploiting a loophole, he had obtained citizenship.

At 1 PM that afternoon, the Chinese Embassy in Spain quickly issued an official document on its website, severely condemning Lorenzo Sanz Durán’s public discrimination and RH behaviour.

”The Chinese Embassy in Spain has noted that recently, an official commentator for Real Madrid Club’s official television channel publicly made extreme remarks on his social media account, which are of a vile nature. Our embassy is deeply shocked and angered by this and has immediately lodged solemn representations with Real Madrid Club...”

Two hours before the Madrid Derby, Lorenzo Sanz Durán’s Twitter remarks escalated, with the fervour even overshadowing the match itself.

”Puta!!!”

”Mthfker!!! This pig is too much!”

”A bunch of arrogant fools!”

Although Atlético Madrid players initially did not accept Lance, Lance completely won over the entire team with his performance in just a few matches.

Now that Lance was facing public discrimination from an opposing commentator, everyone at Atlético Madrid was filled with righteous indignation, wishing they could rush out and fight Real Madrid.

”It’s infuriating!”

”Lance, I feel it’s unfair for you!”

”Let’s beat them!”

Discrimination on the La Liga pitch has never ceased. Not long ago, Barcelona defender Alves also experienced discrimination when a banana was thrown from the stands to mock him. Alves, however, remained composed, ate the banana, and then took the corner kick, powerfully responding to those fans.

The remarks of ordinary fans are already serious, let alone when they come from an official Real Madrid commentator. The words of a public figure are even more egregious.

Spain reacted quickly, immediately putting pressure on Real Madrid Club.

Real Madrid also publicly responded to the Embassy an hour before the match:

”We firmly oppose all forms of discrimination and xenophobic behaviour. The club will thoroughly investigate this matter and apologise to player Lance, the person concerned.”

However, this official Twitter message seemed to lack sincerity, being lukewarm and not mentioning any disciplinary action.

And with the Madrid Derby about to begin, both teams’ players had already entered the pitch, and the attention of fans and netizens was shifting to the match.

Madrid local time, October 3rd, 9 PM during winter time.

East Eight Zone time, October 4th, 4 AM sharp.

The highly controversial and explosive Madrid Derby officially began!

...

”Commentator, be careful, don’t let your emotions show.”

”I understand.”

Thirty seconds before the whistle, the CCTV director specifically emphasised repeatedly in his earpiece, fearing that Commentator would be affected by this controversial incident, forget the principle of commentary neutrality, and intersperse any emotions in the live broadcast.

If an incident like Huang Jianxiang’s were to occur, not only would Commentator be disciplined, but the entire broadcast team would suffer.

Commentator’s eyes blazed with anger, but he forcefully took a deep breath to suppress it, giving an OK gesture to the backend.

”CCTV, CCTV. Viewers, what you are watching now is the pivotal match of the 7th round of the 2015/16 La Liga season. Atlético Madrid is hosting Real Madrid, currently ranked 3rd, at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. In this fiery Madrid Derby, Lance is not in the starting lineup due to his previous ankle injury.”

Atlético Madrid 4-4-2

Goalkeeper: Oblak

Defenders: Juanfran, Giménez, Godín, Filipe Luís

Midfielders: Saúl, Koke, Thiago, Carrasco

Forwards: Griezmann, Torres

Real Madrid 4-3-3

Goalkeeper: Navas

Defenders: Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo

Midfielders: Casemiro, Toni Kroos, Modri?

Forwards: Bale, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo

”Lance is on the bench. He resumed training with the team last week, but the extent of his injury is unknown. Let’s hope he can play today.”

Commentator’s commentary was unusually calm, but only his partner Xu Yang knew that Commentator was commentating with clenched fists.

”Lance!! You must play!”

”We must win today!”