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Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

Chapter 16: How Could He Not Be Considered a Promising Young Talent? · Nov 11, 2026

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Chapter List (401)

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1 Chapter 1: The Real Madrid Youth Product Set on Being Loaned Out 2026-11-11
2 Chapter 2: What Do You Mean I’m Unlucky? 2026-11-11
3 Chapter 3: Just an Ordinary Defensive Midfielder 2026-11-11
4 Chapter 4: Valerón’s Short Passing Talent Fragment 2026-11-11
5 Chapter 5: That Kid Might Really Start for Real Madrid 2026-11-11
6 Chapter 6: Facing the Future 2026-11-11
7 Chapter 7: A Decade’s Cycle — The Budget Makélélé 2026-11-11
8 Chapter 8: Mourinho’s “Dream Midfield Anchor” 2026-11-11
9 Chapter 9: Rich Rewards from La Liga – System Upgrade 2026-11-11
10 Chapter 10: Grinding and Pay-to-Win—Not the Strongest, Just the Most Durable 2026-11-11
11 Chapter 11: The Rapidly Improving Defensive Grind King 2026-11-11
12 Chapter 12 - 12 2026-11-11
13 Chapter 13: At First, I Refused—But He Spoke So Well 2026-11-11
14 Chapter 14: Don’t Charge Forward, Be the Defensive Grind King 2026-11-11
15 Chapter 15: A Completely Different Second Half—Li Ang’s Impact 2026-11-11
16 Chapter 16: How Could He Not Be Considered a Promising Young Talent? 2026-11-11
17 Chapter 17: If He’s Not a Freak, Then He’s a Prodigy 2026-11-11
18 Chapter 18: From Foe to Friend, Little Lion – The Low-Key, Versatile Prince 2026-11-11
19 Chapter 19: A Tragedy from the Start 2026-11-11
20 Chapter 20: The Ironclad Midfield Trio 2026-11-11
21 Chapter 21: Mourinho’s Real Madrid Sets Sail 2026-11-11
22 Chapter 22: Double Rewards! The Champions League Is the True Path to Wealth 2026-11-11
23 Chapter 23: Boss, Can You Guarantee Me a Starting Spot?【Double-Length Chapter】 2026-11-11
24 Chapter 24: Make the Most of This Time—Time to Grind! 2026-11-11
25 Chapter 25: If I Give Everything in My Prime, I’ll Never Regret It 2026-11-11
26 Chapter 26: As Long As He Hasn’t Left, He’ll Start in the Champions League for Real Madrid 2026-11-11
27 Chapter 27: His Path—The Loneliest, The Most Glorious 2026-11-11
28 Chapter 28: A Breakthrough in Growth 2026-11-11
29 Chapter 29: Li Ang’s “Lucky Record” 2026-11-11
30 Chapter 30: Germany or Italy? 2026-11-11
31 Chapter 31: Alonso’s Displeasure 2026-11-11
32 Chapter 32 - 32 2026-11-11
33 Chapter 33: The Twilight of a Dynasty 2026-11-11
34 Chapter 34: Allegri, Do You Want a Defensive Midfielder or Not? 2026-11-11
35 Chapter 35: Mourinho’s Decision Before Departure 2026-11-11
36 Chapter 36: Allegri’s “Accomplice” Arrives in Milan 2026-11-11
37 Chapter 37: First Day in Milan – Reviewing the First Half of the Season 2026-11-11
38 Chapter 38: Who Says He’s Just a Defensive Midfielder? 2026-11-11
39 Chapter 39: Everybody Loves the Little Lion 2026-11-11
40 Chapter 40: The Superstitious Kid 2026-11-11
41 Chapter 41: The Final Piece of the Championship Puzzle 2026-11-11
42 Chapter 42: We Want the Winter Title 2026-11-11
43 Chapter 43: The Butcher Version of Kaká 2026-11-11
44 Chapter 44: You Can’t Get Past Li Ang, You Can’t Break Milan 2026-11-11
45 Chapter 45: Let Me Show You What “Surprise” Really Means 2026-11-11
46 Chapter 46: If You’ve Got Questions, You Can Ask Me 2026-11-11
47 Chapter 47: Longing from Spain 2026-11-11
48 Chapter 48: Mourinho Was Right 2026-11-11
49 Chapter 49: From Now On, We Won’t Lose Again—Until We Lift the Trophy 2026-11-11
50 Chapter 50: You—Start Practicing Forward Runs 2026-11-11

Some midfielders are incredibly accurate and stable with their long passes, but in prioritizing precision, the pace of the ball inevitably slows—a drawback in counterattacking play.

Others prioritize speed, launching quick, powerful passes, but at the cost of accuracy.

These two seemingly irreconcilable contradictions, however, rarely appear in the long passes of Xabi Alonso.

Because he can do both—fast and accurate.

That’s his trademark—sharp, ruthless, effective.

Barely five minutes into the second half, freed from his earlier defensive overload, Alonso had already delivered two perfect long balls for counterattacks.

Sure, Benzema had fluffed one, and Ronaldo’s final cross was blocked by Osasuna’s center-back, meaning the scoreline remained unchanged.

But anyone who understood the game could see—Real Madrid had adjusted.

With Alonso back in full control of the midfield, their attacks began to flow.

In a team filled with explosive attackers, sharp finishers, and individual brilliance, what Madrid needed was simple: balance.

Balance between attack and defense. Clear distribution of possession. And against a mid-table La Liga team like Osasuna, that should be more than enough to dominate at the Bernabéu.

Mourinho nodded to himself and leaned toward Karanka, the two scribbling notes and quietly discussing adjustments.

This was only the second league match of the new season, and many issues had already surfaced.

Mourinho’s overhaul of the squad’s play style was still a work in progress.

Plenty of things needed fixing, but overall, he was quite pleased with the foundation left behind by his predecessor, Manuel Pellegrini.

From forwards to defenders, most of Madrid’s current roster suited his footballing philosophy.

And Alonso? A dream midfield general. Absolutely irreplaceable.

There was only one area where he felt partially satisfied—defensive midfield.

He couldn’t quite say he was content, but he wasn’t completely dissatisfied either.

At least until Lassana Diarra returned from injury, Mourinho had only one holding midfielder he felt he could truly trust:

Nineteen-year-old Li Ang.

Until Khedira showed a clear shift in mindset and fully embraced his defensive responsibilities, Mourinho had no intention of starting him again.

As for whether Li Ang had enough experience or ability to handle consistent minutes...

That would be observed and judged over time.

But there was one thing Mourinho knew he didn’t need to worry about.

Li Ang’s mentality.

In the past, Mourinho had been cautious about using young players because he didn’t trust their ability to handle pressure or regulate their emotions.

But with Li Ang, he didn’t have to lower his expectations during training or games.

The kid could take it.

In fact, his mental strength already surpassed that of many so-called ”mature” professionals.

If Mourinho had been pleasantly surprised by Li Ang’s debut performance in the first match, now he was convinced—Li Ang would be given more chances.

Because this kid was a genuine defensive talent—worth betting on.

”Coach, I got it! Let me take it!”

In the 56th minute of the second half, Alonso was about to position himself to contest an aerial ball against Osasuna striker Aranda.

But a familiar voice shouted from behind, and Alonso instinctively yielded the spot.

To the roar of the 80,000-strong Bernabéu crowd, Li Ang launched into a jump, smashing into Aranda mid-air.

At 1.83 meters, Li Ang wasn’t as tall as the 1.86-meter Aranda. And at 78 kilograms, he was lighter than Aranda’s 84.

But he still won the duel cleanly, powering the ball back into Osasuna’s half.

Because he had better timing, stronger hops, and rock-solid core strength.

Li Ang’s heading talent cap was rated at 88. Add in years of diligent practice, and it would be surprising if he didn’t excel in aerial duels.

Aranda, after landing, turned to glance at the youngster who had just bested him.

He couldn’t help but mutter in awe—Real Madrid’s academy really was something else.

Only nineteen and already so complete: good in the air, strong in tackles, and technically solid. On the market, this kid would easily be worth ten million euros or more.

It was just Real Madrid being Real Madrid—able to pull a midfielder like this out of nowhere.

Aranda didn’t know that Li Ang had been one of Castilla’s most reliable deep-lying defensive midfielders in recent years.

Betis had specifically requested to loan him last season to patch up their squad—and he’d helped them earn promotion from Segunda.

But his low-key playing style had kept him out of the spotlight.

Even though he’d helped Betis reach La Liga, he barely made a ripple in the Spanish media.

That same unfamiliarity, and misjudgment, was shared by most fans across Spain.

But even if they didn’t know who he was yet, it was clear—

If Li Ang kept performing like this, it wouldn’t be long before his name was everywhere.

It was rare for a defensive midfielder to become an overnight sensation in their La Liga debut season.

But if he could earn a place at Real Madrid, his career trajectory and reputation were guaranteed to soar.

With growing curiosity and scrutiny, more and more La Liga fans began to pay attention to Li Ang.

And with this Real Madrid vs. Osasuna match being the only one broadcast live during the evening slot, the nationwide viewership was high.

Across the globe, countless fans were watching this nineteen-year-old put in a stable, assured performance.

After his standout debut, many Real Madrid fans had started researching him.

A homegrown product from La Fábrica, playing in a position that had become increasingly rare in world football, and actually playing well?

Of course they had to support him.

Sure, he wasn’t flashy. Not many fans were shouting his name just yet.

But so what?

The world was full of flashy ”wonderkids.” In contrast, solid, disciplined young defensive midfielders like Li Ang were becoming rarer by the year.

Rarity equals value.

And just as Madridistas were scratching their heads, wondering how best to praise their newest youth product—

Li Ang once again read the play.

Osasuna tried to move the ball through midfield, and he intercepted the pass line before it even reached its target.

But this time, he didn’t immediately play the safe pass to Alonso.

He took a bold step forward—

And fired a driven, pinpoint ground pass straight through the lines!

On the right, Di María, already starting his run, blinked in surprise—but the pass arrived at his feet like it was magnetized.

Gasps filled the Bernabéu.

Di María was onside.

And now clean through, with a semi one-on-one chance developing!

In homes across Spain, Real Madrid fans leapt to their feet, their earlier worries washed away.

Rarity?

Forget that.

Look at the talent this kid just flashed.

A midfielder who could defend like a beast and play a pass like that?

How could anyone say he wasn’t a rising star?

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Read 20 Chapters In Advance: /johanssen10

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