Bayern Munich Youth Academy.
Lance was furious, his fists clenched tightly. (T/N: Changed Lu Xiao to Lance)
Only his remaining sanity prevented him from punching the bald man square in the face.
Who does he think he is?
Just because he's bald doesn't mean he's Pep Guardiola, the decorated coach with numerous titles and current head coach of Bayern Munich!
No!
He's just Erik ten Hag, coach of Bayern Munich's reserve team!
He hasn't achieved anything significant in the Eredivisie, so what right does he have to act so arrogant?
This is absolutely infuriating!
"Listen, Asian boy. Yes, your training attitude is serious, you work hard every day, and you're aggressive in tackles on the field. These are all admirable qualities..."
Erik ten Hag shook his head, arms crossed:
"However, football emphasizes talent above all else. With all due respect, you lack the necessary talent and aren't suited for professional football. Your physique isn't strong enough, and your technique isn't polished enough. So forgive me, but I cannot offer you a professional contract. Please vacate your dormitory room by the end of today."
Erik ten Hag's approach was classic—praise first, then deliver the blow. His tone sounded courteous, but his words dripped with contempt for Lance.
Lance admitted his talent couldn't compare to players like Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, or Mario Götze.
But as a squad player, Lance believed he was more than qualified.
He excelled at making runs and creating space in the number 10 position, using his off-the-ball movement to help teammates create scoring opportunities.
Lance possessed genuine ability in crucial link-up play, passing, and finishing.
If he continued developing at Bayern, he might even become the next Thomas Müller.
Even if, hypothetically speaking, Lance truly lacked talent, he still had the System!
The System!
A Football System!
He had been waiting for nearly three years; he only needed to endure three more days, and the System would finally activate.
When that moment came, whether it was Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi, Lance could surpass them all and become the new King of Football—the one and only GOAT!
The numbers flickering before his eyes constantly reminded Lance that his destiny was within reach.
[Football GOAT System Loading — 997 / 1000]
[Friendly Reminder: You are currently in the activation zone. To avoid unknown errors, please do not leave the activation zone for more than 12 hours.]
Therefore, Lance swallowed his rage toward Erik ten Hag and forced a polite smile.
"Mr. ten Hag, could you please give me just three more days? Only three days, and I'll leave immediately!"
"No. Your youth contract expired yesterday. You must move out of the facility today... Oh, and the player cafeteria is closed to external personnel. If you need food, I suggest you find somewhere outside the base. Good luck and goodbye."
Erik ten Hag turned away coldly, giving Lance no opportunity to negotiate!
"Erik ten Hag, that bastard!"
Lance was beside himself with frustration.
Was he really going to miss his chance to become the King of Football because of Erik ten Hag?
Absolutely not!
...
Lance was Chinese, or more precisely, Chinese-Belgian.
Both his parents were Chinese nationals who had come to Belgium to seek better opportunities in their youth, settling in the small Belgian city of Genk.
Back then, everyone believed the grass was greener on the other side. After accumulating sufficient resources, the couple made the impulsive decision to immigrate and obtain Belgian citizenship.
This decision made it incredibly difficult for Lance to return to China as an adult.
Belgian nationality did offer certain Western European benefits—12 years of free education, universal healthcare, and social pensions...
However, the price of "free" healthcare was a two-month waiting list for even minor ailments.
By the time Lance's appointment came around, any illness would have long since resolved itself.
Setting these issues aside, everyone has their preferences, and these are matters of personal choice.
Lance simply loved his homeland deeply.
Of course, Belgium did have one major advantage: football pitches were everywhere.
Lance developed a passionate interest in football from the moment he could walk.
He began formal football training at age five and joined KRC Genk's youth academy at age eight.
During his time there, he also befriended Kevin De Bruyne, who was five years his senior.
Those years at the Genk Youth Academy were the happiest of Lance's life.
When Lance turned 12, his family decided to invest in a Chinese restaurant business and relocated to Munich, Germany, with their business partners.
Lance had no choice but to transfer schools and successfully joined the Bayern Munich Youth Academy to continue his football development.
The moment he stepped onto the Bayern Munich training ground, a line of mysterious text inexplicably appeared in Lance's vision!
[Football GOAT System Loading — 1 / 1000]
[Friendly Reminder: You are currently in the activation zone. To avoid unknown errors, please do not leave the activation zone for more than 12 hours.]
[After activation, you may choose from the following superstar templates:
Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, Ronaldo Nazário, Ronaldinho, Kaká...]
Eventually, Lance came to understand—this was the System!
He was the chosen one!
Spending two hours daily at the Bayern Munich training facility would increase the loading progress by one point!
Therefore, after Lance's 16th birthday, the System would finally activate!
He would become the King of Football!
From that day forward, Lance became virtually unmovable, visiting the Bayern Munich training base every single day.
Even Munich's most brutal weather couldn't stop Lance from making the journey.
When outdoor training was impossible, he would head to the indoor gym to maintain his routine.
Every day, Lance fantasized about his choice after System activation—would he select Ronaldo or Ronaldinho after activating the System?
Kaká seemed appealing too; he could use the System to fulfill Kaká's unfulfilled potential.
Then he would hoist the Champions League trophy, the World Cup trophy, the Ballon d'Or... Standing at football's summit, draped in ceremonial robes by members of the Qatari royal family...
This anticipation for his future made Lance embrace even the most grueling training sessions.
His dedicated work ethic even earned respect from Bayern's first-team players.
Thomas Müller, for instance—the first-team star actively befriended Lance, and the two developed a genuine friendship.
Unfortunately, everything was about to crumble to nothing.
Lance couldn't even access the cafeteria, let alone remain at the facility.
Erik ten Hag was truly despicable!
But wait... Lance suddenly realized—what was Erik ten Hag to him anyway?
Couldn't he simply endure for three more days?
He would temporarily find accommodation near the training base, sneak onto the grounds for two hours daily, and as long as he could activate the System, even sleeping under a bridge would be worthwhile!
His parents' Chinese restaurant was nearly 50 kilometers from the Bayern training facility—too far and impractical. Otherwise, he wouldn't be facing homelessness.
Grumble—
While weighing his options, Lance's stomach growled with hunger.
He hadn't eaten much that morning, and the day's intense training had drained his energy reserves. He desperately needed sustenance.
"What now?"
The area surrounding the training base was desolate; there were no restaurants nearby.
Just as Lance stood there feeling lost, he heard a familiar voice calling his name enthusiastically from behind.
"Lance! Hey there, brother! What are you doing standing out here?"
It was indeed his old friend, Thomas Müller.
Lance's eyes lit up!
Here was his salvation!