At first, Figo didn't notice anything unusual about Su Hang.
It wasn't until Su Hang casually dropped something sensitive into the conversation that Figo began to frown.
"Figo, your speed has dropped a lot, hasn't it? I feel like… you might not even be as quick as Beckham now."
Beckham had never been known for his pace.
And as the world's top right winger at one time, speed had been one of Figo's greatest weapons.
Why wasn't Su Hang being pleasant today?
Had the bone fragments from his fractured tibia somehow traveled up to his brain and lowered his emotional intelligence?
Figo didn't respond.
He decided to let it slide.
But Su Hang kept pressing.
"According to Mr. Luxemburgo's current plans, you and Beckham are direct competitors."
"Luxemburgo values defensive work. While the difference between a wide midfielder and a right winger is small, Beckham, as a traditional midfielder, is clearly stronger than you, a forward, when it comes to defensive duties."
"And because of this defensive focus, Raúl Bravo—normally a backup center-back—is now in the running for the starting right-back position. He can't offer much support to the wide midfielder. In that situation, you'll be fighting alone, and your impact won't match Beckham's with his deadly crossing."
Figo finally turned his head, irritation flickering in his eyes.
Did this junior have no idea that you don't hit a man where it hurts most?
"Su, that's quite offensive," Figo said. "You might be a hero of Real Madrid now, but five years ago, I was a god in the hearts of the fans."
"I've been where you are now."
"And as someone who's been there, I'm telling you—don't get arrogant."
"Because who I am today could be who you are tomorrow."
His words came from the heart.
Su Hang quickly waved his hands in apology.
"No, no, you've misunderstood, Luis."
"I'm not mocking you at all."
"The heights you once reached are something I could never hope to achieve in my lifetime."
"I would never—ever—dare to laugh at a god stepping down from the mountain."
A god stepping down from the mountain.
Those words hit Figo hard.
It was the truest reflection of his current state.
"I'm sorry, Su, I overreacted…" Figo's thoughts were a mess. His emotions were fragile, his mood, sentimental.
It was the classic sign of a man in decline.
"It's fine, Luis. I just didn't explain myself clearly." Su Hang pulled out a tablet. "This is Microsoft's first-generation tablet PC."
"My team pulled your match data from the last few seasons."
"We have to admit, your physical condition isn't what it used to be. You've slowed down, and you're not as strong in one-on-one duels."
Figo's face darkened.
"But your dribbling and ball control haven't declined. In fact, your vision and passing are still improving," Su Hang continued. "You're no longer a traditional right winger."
"Your skill set, your current ability, and your experience make you perfectly suited to be the attacking hub… an attacking midfielder."
Figo was taken aback.
"You mean I should compete with Zidane? That's impossible…"
No one who played in Zidane's era could deny his brilliance.
As a teammate, Figo believed that at his peak, his ability, talent, and stats were unmatched—
But he had to admit Zidane and Ronaldo Nazário were half a step ahead.
Even the likes of Rivaldo, Nedvěd, Shevchenko, Owen, and Ronaldinho—all Ballon d'Or or FIFA World Player of the Year winners—would agree.
Su Hang smiled.
"With you there, Zidane could drift to the left."
Figo's pupils tightened.
"This… was Zidane's idea?"
Su Hang nodded.
"Yes. And you can play on the left too, even if it's not your preference. If you take the attacking midfield role, you and Zidane could swap positions at will."
"Think about it—how could anyone defend against that? With you and Zidane in perfect sync, I can't think of a single player who could stop you."
Figo's heart stirred.
"Is that really possible? This…"
"Of course," Su Hang said, swiping on the tablet. "But first, you need to solve one problem. Otherwise, you won't convince anyone in that role."
"You need to get your ability to break through defenders back."
Figo's excitement faded.
His pace was gone—and there was no fighting nature on that front.
But Su Hang played a training video of himself.
"This is a breakthrough technique I developed. My dribbling isn't great, but you'll get the idea."
"You get a jump on him—it looks like you and the opponent start together, but you've already moved first."
"That early jump also gives you a faster burst."
"In short bursts, this gives you a huge edge."
"Over longer distances, the defender will catch up, so it's not suited for long sprints, especially for someone whose physical peak has passed."
"But for an attacking midfielder, this is enough to give you a ten-meter speed advantage—enough to look like your peak self over the first ten meters."
"I believe that's more than enough!"
"To beat the best defenders in the world, all you need is Figo at full throttle over those first ten meters."
"Good!" Figo slapped his thigh, eyes red.
He saw his chance to relive his peak.
This wasn't about defeating an opponent—it was about defeating time itself.
He, Luís Figo, would set sail again, reclaiming all the respect he deserved at his peak!
He wasn't some discarded piece of the Galácticos—he was their first true superstar, the original Galáctico who helped define the era.
"Ding! Your help has rekindled Luís Figo's belief in football. He now sees you as a true friend despite the age gap. Based on his observations of you, he gifts you the Moment Card: Right-Wing God Figo 2000, Crossing Basics, and Ball Control Basics."
"Crossing Basics: Player skill. Your crossing ability has improved."
"Ball Control Basics: Player skill. Your ball control ability has improved."
GOAT!
Figo will always be pure class!
Now that's generosity!
The skills Figo gave him were tailor-made.
Ball Control Basics meant that when Su Hang had the ball and was thinking, it would be harder for opponents to steal it.
When challenged or fouled, he'd be better at protecting the ball.
It was a must-have skill for a target man.
With his physical edge, it would make him a true pivot.
And crossing… Su Hang often had to move to the wing to make space for Ronaldo.
Dropping back into the middle occasionally was fine, but it wasn't a long-term plan—it would interfere with Ronaldo's runs and limit his performance.
...
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