Before long, the full details of Su Hang's injury were made public.
Real Madrid officially announced that Su Hang had suffered a severe strain of the soleus muscle in his right thigh, along with a hairline fracture to the tibia in his right leg.
The estimated recovery time was around two months.
Renowned German sports medicine expert and Bayern Munich team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt offered a detailed breakdown of the injury report:
"Real Madrid's Crown Prince, Su Hang, is dealing with two separate injuries.
"The calf injury likely came from that clash with De Rossi. It was a heavy knock—nothing unusual in football. From what I hear, De Rossi also suffered a similar problem, though his isn't as severe.
"All I can say is both players went in extremely hard at the time.
"But Su Hang's calf injury is not something to take lightly.
"I'm not saying a soleus strain is catastrophic—though many players have been troubled by it for years—but Su Hang is young, so a full recovery shouldn't be an issue.
"I've also heard he has his own personal team, including sports medicine experts, so fans shouldn't worry about him returning to play.
"But Real Madrid needs to reconsider his role in the squad."
What Müller-Wohlfahrt said next sent a chill through many European clubs.
"Su Hang's injury was triggered by that direct 36-meter free kick. It was a spectacular strike—one for the ages.
"But it also showed that this is the very edge of what his body can handle.
"His build, his right leg, his thigh muscles—none of them are made to repeatedly unleash that kind of power.
"He may have the technique and the vision, but he doesn't have the physical foundation.
"We all know a forward's ability to shoot is vital, and powerful strikes are an essential part of that skill set. But Su Hang's body can't withstand frequent, high-power shooting over the long term.
"This means he's not suited to being a center forward. He must strictly limit how often he takes big shots, as well as the distance and power of those attempts.
"Even if he can do more, without restraint he will get injured again. A couple of times might be manageable, but repeated injuries will leave lasting damage.
"From this perspective, it's hard to see Su Hang as a long-term first-choice striker.
"His body… is naturally better suited to being a substitute—and only a substitute.
"That's cruel for him.
"This might be related to his natural build or physical attributes. Of course, I don't believe in any kind of determinism, so I hope Su Hang can prove me wrong over the course of his career.
"I'll be following his development closely.
"He's a highly talented forward, but in Germany, we've seen far too many like him—you know what I mean."
Müller-Wohlfahrt's assessment brought many people back to reality.
And truthfully, he had a point.
In recent years, Germany had produced several prodigious talents, but many had been undone by injuries.
On this subject, Müller-Wohlfahrt spoke with great authority.
Soon, major sports outlets were running the analysis:
World Sports: "Is Real Madrid's Crown Prince made of glass? Barcelona fans can relax—Real Madrid has no future!"
Mundo Deportivo: "Bayern's miracle doctor delivers his verdict—Su Hang's ceiling is nothing more than a super-sub!"
AS: "Behind the spectacular free kick is Su Hang's fragile frame! What a pity he doesn't have the build for it!"
Marca: "No wonder Su Hang built his own medical team so early—he must have known about his body all along!"
Sky Sports: "A tragedy! A shooting star rises only to fall just as quickly—Real Madrid fans will struggle to accept this."
The Times: "There are plenty of clever players in this world, but physical conditioning is the foundation of lasting brilliance."
Milan Sports: "Both Milan clubs have ended their scouting of Su Hang—no plans to sign him now."
Manchester Evening News: "Not signing Su Hang may have been a blessing in disguise. Harsh as it sounds, he's lost his investment value—he's unlikely to grow any further."
A flood of headlines like these turned Su Hang into a tragic figure.
It was an image that clashed sharply with Florentino's vision for him.
The leader of Real Madrid was supposed to be a peerless hero, not a man brought down by cruel twists of fortune.
"Hey, Figer, it's time to bring Vanderlei to Spain for a visit. I've booked him the best ocean-view suite—he can relax for a few days." Florentino was on the phone with Luxemburgo's agent.
It was settled.
Vanderlei Luxemburgo was coming to Real Madrid.
Originally, after Simon and Su Hang had guided Real Madrid into the Champions League knockout stage, Florentino had all but abandoned the idea of hiring Luxemburgo.
Su Hang and Simon had shown him that even "small" figures could achieve great things—a story of a hero rising from humble beginnings, reminding Florentino of his own past.
Unfortunately, Su Hang's physical ceiling was simply too low.
He couldn't keep people believing in him forever.
He couldn't promise a future that fans could dream about.
Real Madrid kept moving forward like a giant on its set path.
A single butterfly had almost changed its course—but in the end, it just wasn't enough.
...
December 18 — La Liga Round 15
Ronaldo was unstoppable, scoring twice to lead Real Madrid to a 3-2 away victory over Santander.
December 22 — La Liga Round 16
Ronaldo couldn't repeat his heroics, and without Su Hang, Real Madrid fell 0-1 at home to Sevilla.
La Liga entered the winter break.
But as the match ended, during post-game interviews, Simon learned that Real Madrid had officially announced their new head coach—at the exact moment the final whistle blew… Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
Simon's eyes reddened. Furious, he walked straight off the pitch, refusing any further interviews.
It was unfair.
It was disrespectful.
The least the management could have done was tell him beforehand—it would have softened the blow.
When the news reached Roberto Carlos, he was more excited in defeat than he would have been in victory. Speaking to the cameras, he declared:
"Luxemburgo will bring us everything.
The league title! The Champions League! I'm very optimistic about Real Madrid's future—we're all fired up!"
At the reporters' urging, Zidane also offered a few polite words:
"I know Luxemburgo—he's an excellent coach. But as for the details, I don't know yet. I just hope we can work well together at Real Madrid."
Then Zidane turned away and sighed softly.
Su… this time, you've lost.
Can you take this hit?
As Simon's staunchest supporter, Su Hang was certain to be pushed aside once Luxemburgo took over.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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