I AM the Football Star

Ortiz was about to leave, but Lu Yang held his shoulder, making it impossible for him to go.

“I’m not finished yet, Ortiz.” Lu Yang said, “I came to Barça to play soccer, not to make friends. I helped you solve a problem, so you should equally return the favor.”

Ortiz frowned: “Your presence has prevented me from frequently pushing forward, but in doing so, you’ve become the team’s main player and will enjoy some of the team’s resources. I think that’s a fair trade!”

“I owe you nothing!”

Lu Yang shook his head: “No! Without me, how much longer could you hold on? How many more key matches could you watch Barça lose?”

“Enriquez is very fast, but the team has already tried, and he can’t perfectly integrate into Barça’s core tactics as a second threat. Otherwise, Moreira’s departure wouldn’t have caused such a stir.”

“Eventually, you would have to stand up! And once you do, a comparison between you and Mateo would inevitably begin, even if you don’t want it that way. But when the higher-ups realize you can replace Mateo, they’ll support you, just as they’re now supporting Mateo in every way.”

“Top ten in the Golden Ball Award! Barça’s top player! The first in line for Barça’s commercial resources! The primary target for various internal and external awards PR! Can you resist such temptation?”

“Even if you can resist, wouldn’t Mateo mind such actions from the top management?”

“It won’t even take that long; just the conversation we just had, if Mateo and Mebarak hear it, both you and Mateo would have to start a new battle for the throne.”

“You know Mebarak, your rise to power is more beneficial to him than Mateo’s.”

“So, you can no longer be a minister unless I’m willing to come out and help you fight this new war! Until the peak period of Mateo arrives, when he alone can completely solve all the problems.”

“The initiative is with me, my friend!”

Ortiz was a bit impatient, but perhaps because Lu Yang was entirely correct, making him a bit embarrassed and angry: “What exactly do you want?”

Lu Yang grinned, showing his white teeth: “Very simple, I want to be the first passing option in your mind!”

“I want your first choice in the team whenever there’s a chance to always be me!”

“You…” Ortiz’s pupils contracted, “Are you seriously going to compete with Mateo? You can’t win! Mateo’s sense for the ball is unparalleled, and his dribbling and breakthrough efficiency are the best in the world!”

“He is the most compatible forward player for Barça’s ultimate tiki-taka, bar none!”

Lu Yang said: “I’m not interested in Barça, I’ll leave at the right time. However, I’m not in the habit of being subordinate, at least while I’m here, what’s mine is definitely mine.”

Ortiz looked at Gudiola, but before he could speak, Gudiola said: “In his contract, everything the team can give Mateo has also been given to him.”

“The things not in the contract, you are discussing them now.”

Ortiz pondered for a moment and still shook his head: “I can’t make choices that damage the team’s interests just for my own sake. If I had another chance, I would stand up in that match.”

“As I said, you can’t be more suitable for Barça than Mateo, my first passing choice is always the person with the greatest threat, which is Mateo!”

Lu Yang smiled: “That’s good, because no matter what the game, my threat is always the greatest.”

Ortiz realized he was being played by Lu Yang: “What you want is the same ball and finishing rights as Mateo, not above him?”

This was actually something Ortiz could give.

Lu Yang said: “Of course! I don’t need special treatment, but I want fair treatment. As for competition… I’ve never been afraid of any competition! No matter the environment!”

Ortiz: “Then why did you initially want superior ball rights over Mateo?”

Lu Yang: “How could there be a skylight now if I didn’t first say I wanted to lift the roof? It’s just a little communication trick, a gift to you, no need to thank me.”

Ortiz almost spat blood.

Did I fucking ask for your gift?

Old man, I already knew that!

…

The next day, while everyone was busy reporting on Barça players’ training in Shanghai.

Far away in Spain, the “Daily Sports Report” actually published a news article: “According to a Barça player, Lu Yang hosted a banquet last night to invite Barça teammates, offering an apology and hopes for future forgiveness from his teammates for his previous recklessness!”

Following this, various headlines emerged.

“The First Tough Guy? Nothing worth mentioning! Inviting to dinner as an apology, Lu Yang got scared!”

“This is Barça’s Renown! Lu Yang caved in!”

“Ortiz attended, Lu Yang apologized to the local group!”

“Mebarak refused to attend, Lu Yang’s apology has a long way to go!”

“Mateo did not attend, His Majesty the King did not approve! Lu Yang’s future at Barça is bleak!”

“One by one? Ortiz, Mebarak, Hernandez, Burgos, Ava, Mateo, Lu Yang needs to apologize six times to get forgiveness!”

“Is this the king of San Remo? Just a coward!”

“San Remo, did Lu Yang ever bow down to you like this?”

This news, once spread, caused a huge dispute again.

The Italian media immediately countered the Spanish media’s insinuations.

“Don’t take others’ civility as your license to run wild!”

“It’s just the Eastern way of hospitality! Host Lu Yang giving a reception dinner for Barça is perfectly normal!”

“Lu Yang’s dinner invitation is etiquette, while more than half of Barça’s players not attending shows a lack of etiquette!”