I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 507: Chapter 9: Everyone Wants to Be the Boss!

”Last season, Barcelona fans were still saying.”

”Their Super Cup victories are quickly going to surpass Real Madrid.”

”As a result, last season they won nothing at all, and this season, we’re definitely getting the Triple Crown!”

After Real Madrid clinched the Spanish Super Cup, they held a grand victory celebration to commemorate winning the La Liga championship last season.

This surprised some fans who were new to La Liga, but soon, recommendations from seasoned fans made it clear that in La Liga, the trophy is traditionally awarded in the second season.

Mourinho also frequently expressed his desire for victory in front of the media and didn’t shy away from talking about Barcelona and Guardiola. But on the Barcelona side, they remained somewhat silent, clearly not wanting to respond to Mourinho’s provocations.

There’s even a rumor that Guardiola told his friends that if Mourinho stays in La Liga, he might want to leave Spain.

Fortunately, the La Liga season was about to start, and Real Madrid’s first match would be an away game against Mallorca, with fans eagerly anticipating a big win.

This opener was at the end of August, just three days after the Spanish Super Cup final.

Because of the Super Cup, Mourinho made some rotations for this match, giving Chen Zhong and Kaka a break by not including them in the squad.

Mourinho originally wanted to give Cristiano Ronaldo a vacation as well, but when he approached the Portuguese and explained his intentions,

Cristiano Ronaldo asked just one question.

”What about Chen?”

”Is Chen taking a break?!”

After getting a definite answer from Mourinho, Cristiano Ronaldo declined the vacation offer, his eyes showing determination: ”I feel great; I hope to play in this match.”

The opening match against Mallorca was an away game, and after that, Real Madrid had the Bernabeu Cup and then the September league schedule.

Playing away, enduring long travels, and up against Mallorca.

Mourinho wanted to give the team a chance to rest with rotations.

However, it was evident that Cristiano Ronaldo wanted to showcase himself in this match. After returning to his room, Mourinho was a bit worried, even though his relationship with Ronaldo wasn’t very harmonious.

After all, he initially wanted Ronaldo to track back, just like he had his players do at Inter Milan.

But the Portuguese refused.

And now, he’s competing with Chen Zhong.

Even though both have Mendes as their agent, if Mourinho had to choose, he’d prefer Chen Zhong to manage the team’s locker room.

The reason is simple: Cristiano Ronaldo is too straightforward and a bit childish, potentially causing unnecessary trouble.

At least for now, Chen Zhong seems to be more suitable than Ronaldo.

The match day quickly arrived, and on this day, Chen Zhong, taking a rare break from training, accepted Kaka’s invitation to watch the match at his home.

Everyone was in a relaxed mood while watching the game.

After all, in the history of Real Madrid, losing to this team was almost unheard of, even away; victories were virtually guaranteed.

It was Mourinho’s first league match in charge of Real Madrid, so there was no way they’d lose.

Even many ”DG” fans just assumed a win, saying ”mosquito legs are poisonous,” but still confidently betting on victory, not too worried even after learning Chen Zhong wasn’t playing before the match began, thinking it’s only Mallorca, they won’t mess this up, right?

In this match, Mourinho started Di Maria, Cavaleiro, Ozil, Khedira—nearly a third of the players were new signings.

The lineup was still the 4-2-3-1 formation.

Higuain

Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria

Khedira, Alonso

Marcelo, Albiol, Pepe, Ramos

Casillas

On the bench were young talents like Granero, Vazquez, Callejon, and Morata.

On Mallorca’s side, unsurprisingly, they parked the bus in front of the goal.

”Cristiano is really active in this match!”

Kaka said while sitting on the sofa, looking at Chen Zhong.

Real Madrid had two Ballon d’Or winners, and Kaka’s easy-going nature didn’t cause any issues, whereas Cristiano Ronaldo remained close with Chen Zhong, though rumors of the Portuguese forming his own faction in the locker room had already surfaced.

But Chen Zhong wasn’t worried. After all, Pepe, Marcelo, and others had maintained long friendships, and they had good relations both in Portugal and Brazil.

Plus, Chen Zhong practiced with Cristiano Ronaldo every evening, and they had fought side by side for a season.

Cristiano Ronaldo was very competitive, but he preferred to achieve success through hard work rather than underhanded methods.

”He’s a very hardworking person.”

As Chen Zhong chatted casually with Kaka, Real Madrid initiated their first attack on TV.

With Chen Zhong off the field, Cristiano Ronaldo became the offensive core of the team—it might also explain why the Portuguese didn’t want to take a break.