Then came a startling discovery.
Certain combinations showed up frequently in these kinds of matches.
Or rather, if you wanted a big score, one condition was essential... Ronaldo!
Almost every high-scoring game featured Ronaldo, and the number of goals was closely tied to his presence.
But Real Madrid no longer had Ronaldo.
That meant all those options were gone.
The next possibility was this year's Zidane + Figo pairing.
They too could explode with brilliance.
But the problem was... Figo couldn't play either.
So the third possible combination was... Su Hang + Zidane!
That was the theoretical lineup Real Madrid needed to rack up goals.
But the key issue... Su Hang still wasn't fully recovered!
It completely shut down Real Madrid's chances of finding a working solution.
Unless...
...
Sport: "Real Madrid plagued by injuries—the title will surely go to Barcelona!"
Mundo Deportivo: "Eto'o is delighted to help Barça reclaim La Liga! He says this is the fate Real Madrid deserves!"
AS: "Second place is the biggest loser! And losing to Barça makes it even worse! This season for Real Madrid is an outright nightmare!"
Marca: "Real Madrid fans gather at Plaza de la Cibeles to pray for their team. Barcelona fans crashed the event, sparking clashes!"
Kicker: "Barcelona supporters storm into Madrid's stronghold, mocking them for ending the season empty-handed!"
The storm was brewing!
Fans on both sides were growing increasingly irrational.
On the Barcelona side, some fans provoked trouble on Real Madrid's turf.
On the Madrid side, some fans smashed the windows of Puyol's home.
The tension only grew.
Hatred between the two sides deepened—ignited into open flame.
In this atmosphere, the pain of losing went far beyond a single match or missing out on a trophy.
It meant hundreds of thousands of people unable to lift their heads for a time.
It could directly trigger changes in club leadership—possibly even resignations at the top.
The problem had become severe!
Beep beep beep!
Su Hang's phone rang.
He signaled Raúl and Zidane to stay quiet, then answered.
"Hello, Su Hang. How was that winery I recommended last time?"
Raúl's eyes narrowed.
It was Florentino, the president of Real Madrid!
Su Hang laughed, "Not bad at all. They even had authentic 1982 Lafite. But I heard last time my dad and you secretly opened a bottle of Romanée-Conti, didn't you?"
"Hahaha! You brat… In a few days, I'll have someone deliver a bottle of Romanée-Conti to you. So you can't say I don't take care of you as president of the club." Florentino's hearty laughter came through the line.
But beside Su Hang, Zidane was already frowning.
Florentino didn't give gifts without reason.
His Romanée-Conti wasn't just wine—it was friendship, a promise.
But in return...
What would Su Hang have to give?
Judging from recent news, it wasn't hard to guess.
Ronaldo had already undergone surgery and wasn't even in Spain.
Figo was serving a suspension—unless the Spanish FA changed the rules, he wasn't coming back either.
Only Su Hang remained.
An Achilles tendon tear—it could be serious, but it could also be managed.
Just days ago, he was already walking like a normal person.
So if he could somehow return to the squad, even without playing, at least he could give the fans some hope.
Therefore...
"I'll announce my return to the team. Even if it's just being on the matchday roster, that's fine." Su Hang understood Florentino's unspoken request.
"Excellent, Su! I always knew you were Real Madrid's most loyal supporter. The club's future depends on you." Florentino's relief was clear. "If you ever need anything, just ask."
"Really?" Su Hang pressed.
Florentino hesitated, then said after a moment, "Yes. Really."
Su Hang nodded. "Then I'll need to think about it. Have a pleasant evening, my dear Mr. President."
"You too." Florentino hung up.
Raúl's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
Florentino had actually made a promise!
This was rare. Florentino almost never promised anyone anything—but when he did, he almost always followed through.
Raúl had given so much to Real Madrid over the years, yet never received more than houses or cars.
But Su Hang? He had just been handed what was essentially a blank check.
Even if he wanted influence over tactics, coaching choices, or transfer policy, Florentino would seriously consider it.
The influence he now held was unbelievable.
To this, Su Hang and Zidane could only think: Raúl, you really don't know how to negotiate.
You need to know your worth.
Through Su Hang, Raúl had just experienced a small taste of Florentino's shock factor.
Afterward, Su Hang personally accompanied Raúl and Zidane back to their homes.
Of course, it was Su Hang's driver at the wheel.
By the club's standards, his foot was healed enough to return to the pitch.
But by his personal team's standards, he still needed another week of rest.
Otherwise, the risk of relapse was too high.
On the surface, the muscles had knitted together without visible issue.
But internally, the nerves might not have fully reconnected.
Anyone who has suffered a deep knife wound would understand.
Even after it "heals," six months—or even a year later—pressing on that spot can still cause pain.
The damaged nerves and lingering internal bruising take a long time to fully heal.
These were the kinds of lingering injuries once described as "old wounds" or "hidden scars."
Raúl lived closer, so he got out first.
Once Raúl left, Zidane finally spoke:
"No wonder you invited me and Raúl over today to discuss tactics and how to secure a big win."
"So the real reason was you wanted us to overhear that call."
"What, showing your true colors already?"
"Can't wait? Eager to take over as captain?"
"You let Raúl hear Florentino's promise. Since Raúl was already considering stepping down, that means next season I should call you Real Madrid's official captain, right?"
"I'm starting to think that so-called winning lineup you mentioned was your doing! You had someone cook up false data to build up hope among the fans and the board!"
Zidane's displeasure was obvious.
He was clearly disappointed by Su Hang's maneuvering.
Raúl might not see it, but could Zidane be fooled?
Su Hang was leveraging the moment, flexing his influence.
He wanted Raúl to step aside sooner rather than later.
Raúl might think it was his own decision—but in truth, much of that idea had been carefully planted by Su Hang.
Raúl wouldn't lose anything—he never truly wanted the armband anyway.
But... Su Hang had, without question, played a calculated move against one of his own.