I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 453: Chapter 77: The Battle Begins!

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

The loyal fans arrived here early to set up the field, and Barcelona’s bus received a ”warm” welcome from fans in Madrid. Inside the stadium, they also prepared giant posters to declare who is the true master here.

Outside the stadium, many fans who couldn’t get in lingered around, wanting to hear news of the team’s victory as soon as possible so they could celebrate together.

Among them were also many Asian faces, and whenever they conversed with the locals, they would all exclaim together: ”Chen, Chen, Chen~”

The sound was rhythmic, like singing, as if they had already witnessed victory.

By 2010, the internet had started to rise in popularity, and this included some network bloggers. A female blogger known for being ”broad-minded” held her phone aloft with a bright smile, saying, ”I am now outside the Bernabeu Stadium, and we can see the fans are very enthusiastic, ah~”

”They all know Chen Zhong, well, of course, Chen Zhong is the captain, of course, they know him.”

”When I spoke with them, they pointed to me, asking if I was Chinese. I said yes, and they started chanting Chen with me. I could feel that they were very friendly towards us.”

On April 11, 2010, at 03:00 Beijing time (21:00 local time in Spain), many people’s alarms began to awaken their owners sequentially.

Some who were particular had already started preparing beer and snacks, and even called up friends to gather at pre-arranged night snack stalls with those waiting for them there.

After three seasons at Real Madrid, Chen Zhong had become a true Asian leader, and on Transfermarkt, Chen Zhong’s transfer value had reached an astonishing 45 million Euros.

Of course, this kind of astonishing is what’s considered astonishing by domestic fans since most domestic players have a pitifully low value, and Chen Zhong’s value even surpasses the current ”national team.”

But this value, from the perspective of Real Madrid fans, is unacceptable because on Transfermarkt, Messi’s value reached 100 million Euros, making him the first player to break the hundred million mark there.

Following Messi is Cristiano Ronaldo with 90 million Euros, then Xavi with 65 million Euros, Iniesta, Kaka with 60 million Euros, Fabregas, Rooney with 55 million Euros...

Among this series of rankings, Chen Zhong’s Transfermarkt value did not even make it into the top ten, ranking 13th, just below Ibrahimovic’s 46 million Euros and equivalent to Chelsea’s Lampard and Inter Milan’s Sneijder, while Xavi, Gerrard, Fabregas, Iniesta are the only midfielders surpassing Chen Zhong in value.

From this perspective, Transfermarkt still acknowledges Chen Zhong, as his value ranks as the fifth-highest midfielder in the world, and now Chen Zhong is just 18 years old.

At this age, with this value and position, it is already very remarkable.

One must know that when Messi was 18 in 2005, he had just joined the first team, debuting. His Transfermarkt value was about 3 million Euros, then 5 million Euros in 2006, 18 million Euros in 2007, and not until 2008 did it surge to 40 million Euros, then 60 million Euros in 2009.

Yet Chen Zhong reached a sky-high 45 million Euros in less than three years.

Real Madrid fans are dissatisfied, and Barcelona fans are even more so!

They mostly think Chen Zhong is only worth 5 million Euros. Of course, if Real Madrid were willing to sell Chen Zhong to them for 45 million Euros, they would gladly take it, maybe even willing to raise the price a bit.

But naturally, Barcelona fans’ ideas are destined to fail.

Because no matter how much Transfermarkt values Chen Zhong, for a club like Real Madrid, a player like Chen Zhong is ”priceless.”

The current trend at Real Madrid is very clear.

The strategy is to build around ”you,” where all players can be replaced, except ”you” are irreplaceable.

In the locker room, both teams have received each other’s starting line-ups.

Real Madrid’s line-up is the traditional 4-4-2 formation:

Negredo, C. Ronaldo

Marcelo, Chen Zhong, Alonso, Kaka

Alvaro, Pepe, Albiol, Ramos

Casillas

In this match, Pellegrini obviously gave it some thought. C. Ronaldo’s position was adjusted to center forward.

The Portuguese player’s direct impact is very strong. He is no longer the ”Flower Luo” of his debut; he has increased his muscle mass over this period, making his movements somewhat ”stiff,” losing the agility of before, but his physical confrontation ability has increased, along with his shooting skills and awareness of positioning, which allow him to fulfill the center forward role, becoming a ruthless Terminator.

Negredo under Pellegrini has become completely a utility man. In fact, Pellegrini had considered whether to replace this position with Benzema or Higuain.

But Higuain’s attacking attributes were too strong, and Benzema since arriving at Real Madrid, especially during the earlier period, where he infamously tripped over nothing in unmarked opportunities, left a profound impression on Pellegrini.

Added to Benzema’s recent ”gloominess,” Pellegrini finally chose Negredo.

In fact, Pellegrini even considered Morata and Joselu, since both have an advantage in height. But considering the last time against Barcelona, the height disadvantage cost them. This time, Guardiola might not make the same mistake, so Pellegrini chose not to take the risk.