I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Class

Nyon Stadium, countless fans are venting their emotions over this goal, which is likely to be a championship-deciding goal.

In the Barcelona Youth supporters’ area, Barcelona’s head coach Frank Rijkaard furrowed his brow. The legendary star, once known as one of the ”Dutch Trio” along with Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten, seemed deep in thought.

Time had left its mark on him, with streaks of silver in his naturally curly black hair and signs of weight gain on his once lean and resolute face. The ”Black Swan” looked at the bald man next to him and after a moment said, ”What do you think of him?”

”He’s not like Messi. Messi is unique, incredible.”

The bald man was named Josep Guardiola, who, in his playing days, was known as the ”on-field coach” for Barcelona; even then he was correcting teammates’ positioning errors and demanding tactical changes.

After retiring, he became a coach, entering the Spanish Football Association’s coaching program in 2005, obtaining his coaching certificate in 2006, and becoming the head coach of the Barca Athletic Team in 2007.

At the Barca Athletic Team, Guardiola led the relegated team back to the third division, achieving a record of 28 wins, 9 draws, and 5 losses.

Rijkaard had a feeling that if he were to leave Barcelona one day, it would likely be Mourinho or Guardiola succeeding him.

If he stayed long enough, it would be Guardiola, as he had once secured the coaching position thanks to the upper management’s appreciation, despite an unspectacular resume.

”He’ll enter the first team this season. He has potential and will grow,” Rijkaard smiled at Guardiola, kindly looking at Bojan on the field, who was still striving. Rijkaard was here primarily to see this prodigy who might surpass Messi, and even considered giving Bojan a significant role in the new season.

Guardiola didn’t argue, simply watching Bojan on the pitch indifferently. To him, Bojan was like a spoiled child, too comfortable within the team without having to press opponents or cooperate much; he merely needed to position himself well, receive the ball, seize opportunities, and attempt to score.

Compared to Bojan, he was more impressed by Chen Zhong, who displayed multiple characteristics on the field, sparking many ideas in Guardiola’s mind.

As for Bojan?

What does he have to do with me?

Guardiola couldn’t help but recall the conversation between the two, wanting Bojan to continue honing his skills in the youth team, yet Bojan was eager to join the first team.

He wasn’t comprehensive enough and still required training.

Guardiola maintained his stance that if he were the first team coach, Bojan wouldn’t meet his criteria.

Throughout the conversation, neither mentioned Chen Zhong’s name, but he was on one person’s mind and not the other’s.

The whistle signaling the end of the match blew.

Real Madrid Youth achieved final victory, defeating Barcelona Youth with a corner kick opportunity, celebrating wantonly under the unwilling gaze of their opponents.

Rijkaard and Guardiola stood up from their chairs; they had no intention of communicating with the young players but were merely here to watch Bojan.

Schuster and Francisco also stood up from their chairs; with the new coach coming in, they had many things to do and no time to waste here. However, adding a name to Real Madrid’s first team training list was already a certainty.

Bojan sat on the ground, having squandered the last opportunity. When the match ended, when everything was over, only then did his ”soul” gradually return, a surge of emotion welling up inside him.

It was called regret.

Why did I have to get past this person?

Bojan looked at Chen Zhong, his eyes filled with complex emotions, as if his gaze could turn into blades that would pierce Chen Zhong all over.

Chen Zhong noticed Bojan’s gaze but was too lazy to respond, never caring about the feelings of the defeated, their unwilling stares, their saddened faces, their dejected backs. The feedback he got from Chen Zhong was always only one word: ”Cool!”

”Don’t take it too hard!”

”Yeah! After all, you’re about to join the first team.”

Barcelona Youth players surrounded Bojan, offering comfort. Some had played with Messi, some hadn’t, but regardless of whether they had or hadn’t, they all thought Bojan could possibly surpass Messi after all he broke Messi’s records and might even play for the first team earlier than Messi.

”I’ve already received notice from the coach; I will represent the first team in the new season.”

In April this year, Bojan had already played for Barcelona in a friendly against Al Ahli from the Saudi Professional League, scoring one goal in that match.

By the end of June, Bojan received notification that he would join the first team in July to head to Scotland for pre-season training, with many speculating that Rijkaard would call Bojan up to the first team.

But speculation was just that, and Bojan saying this now was confirmation he would join the first team.

Bojan was pulled from the ground by his teammates, and while these words seemed directed at his teammates, they were actually aimed at Chen Zhong, who was about to leave.

”Is that so?”

”You definitely won’t be worse than Messi.”

Barcelona Youth players praised Bojan; most of Messi’s peers had already joined the first team or left, while they grew up with Bojan, who had been their ”boss,” their core, since childhood.

At 17, entering the Barcelona first team, this ”boss” seemed truly poised to surpass Messi comprehensively. It’s worth noting that Messi played in a Barcelona first team friendly at 16, only joining the first team at 17.

Listening to his teammates’ comfort, thinking about joining the first team soon and becoming a Barcelona player, the vexation in Bojan’s heart largely dissipated.

He glanced at Chen Zhong walking away, a sense of superiority washing over him.

Seventeen-year-old Bojan couldn’t help but shout loudly to Chen Zhong, who was gradually walking away, ”I’m already a Barcelona player at 17, and you?”

Chen Zhong didn’t reply, nor did Bojan mind.

They were in different ”classes” now.

Real Madrid’s situation was different from Barcelona’s. The protagonist Pavin of the famous ”Zidane + Pavin” only got a chance to play for the first team at 20. The ”Door God” Casillas of Bernabeu, Casilla got his chance to join the first team at 19. The youngest record holder, Bernabeu’s Golden Boy, the well-known ”Lord of the Rings” Raul, made his first team debut at 17 years and 124 days.

Sixteen-year-old Chen Zhong?

It’s still uncertain if he can make it to Real Madrid’s first team!

After all, it’s Real Madrid!