Outside Spain's Di Stefano Stadium
The newly built stadium has yet to show signs of age, and amidst the bustling crowd, the silhouettes of two people appear particularly melancholic.
"I really envy you."
"At least you still have hope, right?"
A few days ago, on July 1, Juan Mata just joined La Liga Club Valencia as a free agent, but this isn't what he wanted. He wanted to be promoted from Castilla to Real Madrid, donning the white robe and becoming a "White Knight."
But reality is cruel. He didn't receive the expected contract, even if he is a genius: even if he helped the team win the Youth King's Cup in the 05-06 season with the decisive goal, even if he scored 10 goals in 39 matches after joining Castilla last season. Yet in the eyes of other clubs, his performance was qualified, even excellent.
But in the eyes of Real Madrid, he wasn't even deemed worthy of a renewal contract. The season ended, and without renewal, wearing that white robe seemed to be just an illusory dream.
He kept hoping, hoping, but the contract expired, he became a free agent, and finally, the dream ended.
"It seems he's back."
"Maybe he has a chance to enter the first team."
Alvaro Negredo did not directly answer Juan Mata's question. He also harbors uncertainties about the future, not worried about whether he has a game to play.
As one of the rare forceful center forwards in Spanish Football, Castilla's youth training has been his most brilliant emblem and resume. Yet even so, he was still transferred to Almeria this summer, although the current coach highly praised him.
Real Madrid also left a 4 million euro, two-year buyback clause in his contract, but he didn't have much confidence in returning to Real Madrid.
After all, it's Real Madrid!
"Hahaha, are you waiting for me?"
"Juan Mata, did the club renew your contract?"
"Alvaro! Want to hit the gym together later? Hahaha!"
Before he arrives, laughter precedes him. Under the hearty laugh, Chen Zhong strides towards the two, standing tall at 190 CM, although the youngest of the trio, he is the tallest and most robust.
"I tell you, this time in the final against Barcelona Youth, if you two were playing, we would have taken the lead in the first half. By the way, Juan, how about it? Did you renew your contract?"
Mata looks at Chen Zhong and smiles bitterly, saying, "I am now a player for Valencia."
"That's great."
"What?"
"I said, that's great."
Mata glanced at Chen Zhong, and for some reason, he suddenly felt relieved. He was really afraid Chen Zhong would keep comforting him, which would continuously remind him that he is the one who was "abandoned" by Real Madrid.
"Don't look at me like that, and you, Alvaro!" Chen Zhong said carelessly. "Both of you are not that young, unlike me at 16, still young; it's a good thing to go out and play now. When you perform well, the club will spend money to buy you back, won't they?"
"You should know that it's Real Madrid. Real Madrid isn't short of money, right? You go out, raise your value, and they'll spend money to buy you back directly. Is that a problem for Real Madrid?"
"Let me tell you, I'm also planning to go out and look for a team. I want to play in professional leagues; youth leagues are boring."
Negredo and Mata initially approached Chen Zhong, wanting to teach this careless talker a lesson from their seniors, but hearing Chen Zhong's talk about leaving Real Madrid, their expressions suddenly changed.
"Don't look at me like that, damn it," Chen Zhong muttered, looking at his two friends. "The difficulty of the current matches doesn't offer me any training value. When opponents see me, it's like seeing a partridge. Do you know partridges? Cluck cluck cluck, anyway, I can't improve here anymore, might as well go out to train. When I become a world-class star, they'll buy me back."
"Are you sure you can't improve anymore?"
"Have you thought this through?"
Chen Zhong shrugged at Mata and Negredo, saying, "Let's go, talk at the training base. You two won't be there when I'm back; everyone wants to see you!"
"Besides, I'm really not impulsive; I've thought this through quite well. In the youth league, I'm not improving anymore."
Seeing their expressions, Chen Zhong knew they didn't believe him, but what could he do?
After all, he couldn't be honest about having a system!
The functions of the system are simple.
The first is [Aura]. One can gather an aura based on others' perception of you once a year. The aura can enhance various abilities. After joining Real Madrid Youth in 2004, the first aura gathered was [Genius], the second was [All-Powerful], and the third was [Butcher].
These three auras respectively enhance training effectiveness, learning ability, position adaptability, learning enhancement, long-term growth, pressure enhancement.
The second is [Panel], which can check your various data abilities. Chen Zhong has reached the limit of his potential in the youth team, and there are only two ways to improve: become a first team player of a glorious club, or win trophies.
The third is [Badge], the specific function of the badge is still gray-black; only after becoming a first team player and signing a professional player contract can it be officially unlocked.
Walking and stopping, the three arrived at the notice board, where the starting lineup for the upcoming friendly match is posted. Seeing this, they couldn't help but pause.
Mata and Negredo showed a hint of nostalgia in their eyes. The scenes of them squeezing here, eagerly wanting to see if they were on the match list are still vivid.
The joy of seeing their names on the list for the first time is still deeply etched in memory.
"Alright, there's nothing to see, let's go!" Chen Zhong urged the two lingering in front of the notice board, avoiding them being saddened by the reminiscent scene.
"Chen." Mata spoke strangely, looking at Chen Zhong. "Aren't you going to check the list?"
"The list? What's there to see?" Chen Zhong said indifferently, "During training or in the locker room, the coach will announce it. Why? Am I playing goalkeeper this time?"
Saying this, Chen Zhong couldn't help but laugh. As a versatile member of the team, he was always moved to where needed. Initially, the coaching staff worried about whether it would affect his growth, but later found Chen Zhong not only unaffected but eager, so they let him be.
Yes, mainly because different positions focus on different abilities, affecting the increase in single ability magnitude. Otherwise, no matter how many auras Chen Zhong had, it would be impossible to maximize his capability limits.
"No, what Juan means is that your name isn't on the list."
"What? My name isn't there? How is that possible!"
Chen Zhong looked incredulous, and Mata and Negredo exchanged glances, a "terrifying thought" lingering in their minds.
Could it be, he's been promoted to the first team?
But how is that possible, he's only 16!
It's Real Madrid.
"No way." Chen Zhong reached out and tore off the paper from the board, looking at Mata and Negredo. "I must go and ask that old man what this means! Could it be they think I'm tired after the match and want to give me a vacation? I'm not tired, not at all. I love playing football."
"I'm really pissed off! How could he treat me like this when I just helped the team beat Barcelona!"
"Even though it's Barcelona Youth, it's still Barcelona! How could he do this to me!"
With these words, Chen Zhong grumbled and marched towards the coach's office, with Mata and Negredo following; they exchanged a glance and wanted to laugh but refrained.
The door to the coach's office was open; Chen Zhong knocked lightly, walked in, placed the paper on the table, took a deep breath, and softly said, "Mr. Hulun, I noticed my name isn't on this paper. Is it because you're worried I'm too tired? Actually, I feel energetic enough to compete."
Mata and Negredo couldn't help but chuckle, exchanging a glance as if saying, we knew he would react this way.
Hearing the laughter, Chen Zhong turned around aggressively, looking at the two; they pursed their lips, signaling with their eyes, "Weren't you going to scold him?"
Chen Zhong raised his eyebrows, using eye signals to convey, "Do you think I'm dumb?"
Julen Lopetegui watching the three with lively eyebrows, took a tactical sip of water and then, leaning back in the chair, first looked at Mata and Negredo, saying, "Juan, Alvaro, good to see you both; couldn't have imagined seeing you this soon."
The three chatted for a while, leaving Chen Zhong red-faced with urgency until Lopetegi finally said, "Just like those two, Chen, you are no longer under my supervision."
With this, a smile couldn't help but appear on Lopetegi's face, looking at Chen Zhong with a touch of pride in his eyes, saying, "You are now a player for Real Madrid."