I AM the Football Star

England.

”The TV, turn on the TV, watch the Champions League match!”

”Which match?”

”What else? San Remo is playing Paris Saint-Germain!”

”What’s going on? You seem excited.”

”San Remo is leading! San Remo is about to reach the Champions League semi-finals!”

”What? No way!”

In a game hall, young England national team player Rashim pulled England’s young superstar Mancini, who was playing games together, to turn on the TV.

Today is Rashim’s birthday, and he specially invited good friends to join him.

Mancini came all the way from Spain.

Rashim is a professional player, has been playing football since childhood, most of his friends are in this circle, now playing for different teams.

Everyone watched the camera focusing on the boy shouting ”San Remo Miracle, Last Sail,” feeling a sense of sentiment.

Isn’t this what they’ve always wanted to achieve?

Mancini sighed.

This year, if it weren’t for Real Madrid, Barça might have also had a chance to reach the semi-finals.

It’s a pity.

Moreover, the issue in the locker room is serious, and it’s tough for the team to catch up to Real Madrid in the league.

Unsurprisingly, this is a rare season where Barça may end with nothing.

It’s incredibly low!

Sometimes Mancini wonders if joining Barça was the right move or not.

He hoped to join a team with top championship competitiveness.

Not a team on the brink of destruction and needing years of dormancy.

...

Spain, Real Madrid office.

Old Buddha is on a call with Zidane.

Old Buddha: ”Are you watching the match?”

Zidane: ”Of course.”

Old Buddha: ”You’ve been promoting this Lu to me, and now I feel he might really be good.”

Zidane: ”It’s good news that my judgement is recognized by you. But... Real Madrid has already missed the best chance to acquire him.”

Old Buddha: ”You know, I only buy superstars. Last year he was sensational, but his stardom was really too dim. This summer, he will receive a bid from Real Madrid, which should appease his discontent.”

Zidane: ”No football player can say no to the call from Real Madrid, even if he’s Barça’s captain.”

Zidane mentioned a reference.

Real Madrid’s current player, former Mr. Golden Ball, Portugal’s king Madeira was a Barça player before transferring to Real Madrid, and he was even the captain!

Zidane said: ”But if there really is someone who would, I think it would be Lu Yang!”

Old Buddha frowned: ”Why?”

Zidane: ”Because there’s no place for him at Real Madrid.”

Old Buddha didn’t understand: ”I’ll promise him rotation opportunities, he won’t be like Collette guarding the water cooler.”

Zidane smiled: ”Even if you promise him a main position, he still wouldn’t agree.”

Old Buddha responded unhappily: ”You mean, he wants to be the core?”

Zidane: ”It might sound unbelievable, but if you can’t meet this condition, he will absolutely not join any team. His playing style is not that of a core player, sometimes it seems like he is a versatile and multi-functional player.”

”But this is his proactive contribution after establishing himself in the team, not forced. Last year, the reason I didn’t strongly support the team bringing in Izalelt, apart from my personal reasons, also had considerations regarding Lu Yang.”

”His future won’t be worse than Izalelt.”

Old Buddha: ”But this year, whether it’s the league, the Champions League, or the King’s Cup, we are utterly powerful. We can win the treble!”

Zidane: ”That would be for the best. Currently, Lu Yang might not match Izalelt in strength, but... his resistance to injury is perhaps what Real Madrid needs most at present.”

Old Buddha was speechless.

It seems almost mystical.

Real Madrid employs a lot of superstars, but injuries have always been the biggest issue.

Players are Ironman in other teams and leagues, but they become Glassman when they come to Real Madrid, not finding anywhere to justify it.

When Izalelt was at AC Milan, he played through minor injuries and rarely was sidelined for two to three months.

However, in this Champions League quarter-finals, he was out for almost a whole season, missing all upcoming matches for Real Madrid, including Champions League matches.

”Everyone, take care of your injuries. Don’t rush to return. Even now, Real Madrid still has a whole team of superstars to dominate the matches!” Old Buddha hung up the phone.

His secretary beside him asked: ”Then should we cancel the bid for Lu Yang?”

Old Buddha shook his head: ”Let’s watch this match first. If he really can reach the Champions League semi-finals, then he’ll earn a ticket to the Bernabéu Stadium.”

The secretary nodded, noting this in the memo.

...

Parc des Princes.

With match time plus stoppage, there are ten minutes left.

San Remo’s enthusiastic celebration left all Paris Saint-Germain fans in silence.

But they quickly reacted.

The match isn’t over!

With a big score of five to four, considering the away goal issue, Paris Saint-Germain must score two goals during this time to overturn San Remo.

It’s challenging, but it’s not impossible.

Suddenly, Paris Saint-Germain fans regained their confidence and began cheering for the home team.

Paris Saint-Germain’s head coach also complained to the fourth referee about San Remo’s celebration lasting too long.

The main referee received the complaint and started urging San Remo players to return to their half quickly, as Paris Saint-Germain players had been waiting to kick off for a while.

The whistle blew, and the match restarted with Paris Saint-Germain kicking off.