Arsenal's win in the first leg of the Round of 16 passed without much noise.
Most expected it. Beating Basel was seen as routine, especially at home. Still, those who watched closely noticed something else.
Basel's opening thirty minutes left an impression, especially the performances of Ouyang Fei and González, who showed composure and intent against a stronger side.
That opening spell did not change the result, but it changed how certain people viewed Basel's young players.
At Arsenal, Arsène Wenger had quietly asked about Ouyang Fei. It was a passing interest, not a pursuit.
Kai noticed it and understood it for what it was. Wenger saw potential, but not enough to act immediately.
In Germany, the reaction was different.
Clubs there tend to move faster, especially when it comes to talent from leagues like the Swiss Super League or the Eredivisie. The pathway to the Bundesliga is well established, and movement between those leagues is common.
This time, Borussia Dortmund did not hesitate.
Ouyang Fei's performance, combined with the growing presence of Chinese players in top European leagues, made him an appealing prospect. The success of Shinji Kagawa in Dortmund still lingered in memory.
Add to that the commercial value of the Chinese market and the player's visible upside, and the decision became straightforward.
Dortmund made their offer.
There was little back and forth. Within three days, the deal was agreed in principle.
That speed raised eyebrows across Europe.
Elsewhere, the news hit differently.
"Seriously? He's off to the Bundesliga already?"
Chen Man's voice came through the phone, half-amused, half-frustrated.
"He's been in Europe for half a season. I've been at FC Porto for almost three years. No one's come for me."
Kai sat with his meal, listening, a faint smile forming.
"Then tell your club to lower the price," he said calmly.
That was the issue.
It was not that clubs had ignored Chen Man. It was that Porto had set his value at 40 million euros after the World Cup. Before the current spending trends, that number was enough to make most clubs hesitate.
Teams had considered it. Then they looked closer.
Chen Man had pace, clear and obvious.
Beyond that, his game still needed development. For top clubs, that combination did not justify the fee. They wanted finished players, not projects.
Mid-level teams were interested, but they could not afford him.
He was stuck in between.
"I've already told the club I want out," Chen Man continued. "If nothing happens, I'll just run down the contract and leave for free."
Kai nodded. It was a practical plan.
"How long left?"
"After next season, I'm done," Chen Man said, then let out a long sigh. "But I want to move next season. Look at you. The Premier League every week. Bayern, Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Liverpool, United. Then look at me, same teams in Portugal every season."
"Then improve your overall game," Kai replied.
"I'm trying," Chen Man shot back. "But they just run me into the ground every session."
Kai paused. That told him enough.
Porto had no intention of developing Chen Man; they just wanted to maintain value.
"Then it's time to leave," Kai said.
On the other end, Chen Man exhaled. "Yeah."
They spoke a little longer before ending the call.
After finishing his meal, Kai headed straight for the training facility.
Pat Rice was already there, waiting.
"On the scale," Pat said, pointing.
Kai stepped on without complaint.
82 kilograms.
Three kilos down in four months. Slow on paper, but balanced against match demands, it was steady progress.
"No rush," Pat said, glancing at the number. "Consistency matters more."
Start with the rope."
Le Kai nodded, picked one up, and got to work. Two-foot jumps first, steady tempo, nothing rushed. The rhythm settled in quickly. After a few minutes, he switched to alternating feet, sharper steps, quicker cadence. The rope snapped lightly against the floor in a consistent beat.
It was simple on the surface. The purpose was not. This kind of work built foot frequency and control, the same principles drilled into boxers. Perhaps demanding even more from it. Every turn, every adjustment, every burst on the pitch depended on how fast and clean your feet could move.
Ten minutes later, they stepped out onto the training ground.
Pat Rice had already set up six cones, split evenly on both sides.
Le Kai stood between them, bouncing lightly on his toes, staying loose.
"Ready," Pat said, thumb hovering over the stopwatch. "Go."
Le Kai exploded left.
He closed on the first cone, dropped his center of gravity, feet chattering in tight rhythm. A quick side turn, touch, then he pushed off and accelerated back out, straight into the next movement.
Pat watched closely, eyes fixed on the details.
Four months ago, Le Kai's turns were heavy. Every plant looked like it might slip. Sometimes it did. His body could not keep up with the change of direction. Too much weight, not enough control.
Now, the movements were tighter. The slide was gone.
Click.
Le Kai crossed the line as Pat stopped the watch. Both glanced down.
"Better," Pat said, a small nod following.
Le Kai exhaled, hands on his hips. The result helped, but it did not settle him.
"The turns still feel off," he said. "When I drop and rise, there's a jolt."
"Because you're still carrying weight," Pat replied.
He crouched, pressing a hand against Le Kai's calf.
"And your explosiveness has dipped."
That was the trade-off. The weight had come down. Some power had gone with it.
"We build it back," Pat added.
Le Kai stretched his legs, rolling his shoulders loose.
"Two kilos left," he said. "Eighty's close."
"Too close," Pat shot back. "You think that's the finish line?"
Le Kai gave him a look.
"Losing weight is the easy part," Pat continued. "After that comes the real work. Explosive strength. Balance. foot speed. Match adaptation. You haven't even started that phase yet."
Le Kai let out a quiet breath. "So when do I actually become a complete midfielder?"
"What does that even mean?"
Le Kai waved it off.
Pat smiled at that. "Two years."
Le Kai stared at him. "Two more?"
"You're not building this in a gym," Pat said. "Training prepares you. Matches change you. That's where you learn what you actually are."
"You've learned how to sit and protect. You've learned how to pass from deep. Pass from the front. We now need to put some Cazorla in you."
"Really? Cazorla." Le Kai laughed. "I am not the most finesse player."
"We never know." Pat shrugged.
"From tomorrow," Pat said, "we add tactical sessions. Midfield roles. Different responsibilities."
He paused for a moment.
"I'll also speak to Arsène Wenger. You need minutes in other positions."
Le Kai looked up. "Like where?"
"Central midfield," Pat replied.
He pointed across the pitch.
"And after that, you learn the flanks. If you want to play box-to-box, you don't stay in one lane. You understand the whole pitch."
. . .
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