"Manager Du, I want to know why I wasn't allowed to play in yesterday's match?" Chen Anno stood in the office, his eyes stubborn, staring intently at the pot-bellied man in front of him.
"Eh... it's Little Anno." Du Ziteng looked up, a mechanical smile on his face. "Look at you, always so impatient. Young man, why haven't you learned to be more composed?"
"Manager Du!" Chen Anno's voice rose. He didn't want to hear any more of this guy's PUA tactics. Since joining the U17 National Team nearly two months ago, he had heard enough of these words.
He stared into Du Ziteng's eyes and said word for word, "I just want to know, in yesterday's match against the Myanmar team, it was clearly such a struggle, so why still didn't you let me on the field?"
Seeing Chen Anno's eyes turning red with anger, Du Ziteng's expression instantly soured. "Chen Anno, which players get to play is the Head Coach's arrangement. What does it have to do with me?"
"Du! Cut the crap with me. I've already been to see the Head Coach!" At this point, Chen Anno truly had enough.
Slam... Du Ziteng threw the documents on his desk and looked at the young man with a dark face. But the stubborn Chen Anno didn't back down at all, still staring at him without blinking.
"Tch..." Du Ziteng curled his lip in disdain. "Chen Anno, I advise you to be more polite when talking to me. Don't think that just because I'm only a U17 manager, you can shout at me..."
Du Ziteng leaned forward slightly, supporting himself with his left hand on the desk, his face filled with arrogant conceit as he pointed a finger with his right hand.
"One word! I only need one word! I can absolutely make it impossible for you to survive in the football world, including your current club. You... do you believe me?"
Sure enough, the stubborn young man's pupils constricted, and a flash of retreat appeared in his eyes, but he quickly raised his head again.
"Manager Du, you've already taken my money! You can't go back on your word!"
"Money?" Du Ziteng's face remained disdainful. "Aren't you already a player for the National Youth Team? If it weren't for your second uncle's begging, do you think a hundred thousand would get you here? Don't be so naive!"
Du Ziteng sat back in his chair, leaning back as he looked at Chen Anno, whose eyes were turning red. "Still want to play?"
"Hehe... Don't think I don't know. You wanted to join the National Youth Team just to show off in next year's Asian Youth Championship, then use public opinion to pressure your club for a chance to join the first team and play in the Chinese Super League.
I suggest you give up on that idea. If I really let you play, how would I explain it to the other players who paid three hundred thousand or five hundred thousand?"
"Pant... pant..."
The young man's chest heaved. Having grown up in Brazil, he didn't understand why it was always so complicated when he just wanted to play football well based on his ability.
It was like this at the club, and it was still like this after coming to the National Youth Team—even worse.
"Little Anno..." Du Ziteng's voice came again.
"If you ask me... you just can't let go of your past idol baggage. Still thinking about being the 'Twin Stars of São Paulo'?" Du Ziteng shook his head.
"Look at Neymar. He transferred to Barça for 88 million euros this winter window. What about you? You, one of the former Twin Stars, can't even play in the Chinese Super League yet. (Note: Neymar went to Barça in the 2013 summer window; for the plot, he's been moved earlier here.)"
"Little Anno... you've lived in Brazil since you were a child and don't know the rules here, so I won't hold today's matter against you.
In our place, whether it's a national-level team or a club, things need to be done according to seniority. You're only 17, and those U23 seniors are still waiting in line. What's the rush?
It's not that I'm lecturing you, but isn't it better to take things one step at a time? As long as you're'sensible', you'll eventually become a starter, won't you?" Du Ziteng emphasized the word'sensible'.
Knock, knock, knock... At that moment, a knock sounded outside the office.
"Come in..." Du Ziteng called out, while waving his hand at Chen Anno to tell him to leave first.
Chen Anno took a deep breath. He knew that continuing to argue wouldn't lead to any progress, so he simply turned and left.
As he walked out, he brushed past the person coming in. It was Ma Ping, Du Ziteng's number one lackey.
Click... Ma Ping closed the door once Chen Anno was out. As he turned around, his face immediately took on the expression of a sycophant.
"Hehe... Coach Du can still find time to guide young players in his busy schedule. It's truly the National Youth Team's blessing. No wonder that kid likes to practice extra alone; it seems it's all thanks to Coach Du's guidance..."
Du Ziteng rolled his eyes, reached for a pack of Nanjing Jiuwu on the desk, and casually tossed a cigarette to Ma Ping. "Say what you have to say, and be quick about it. I'm busy!"
"Yes, yes, yes..." Ma Ping caught the cigarette with both hands, quickly took two steps forward, and pulled a lighter from his pocket to light it for the leader first.
Du Ziteng was very satisfied with Ma Ping's performance and gestured for him to speak.
"It's like this, leader. The Guangzhou Team said they want to send someone in. What do you think...?" Ma Ping spoke cautiously.
Hearing this, Du Ziteng immediately frowned. "Didn't you tell them the spots are already full?"
"I did, leader, but... but they insisted I apply to you..." At this point, Ma Ping lowered his head and leaned into Du Ziteng's ear. "They said... they can offer eighty."
Hearing this, Du Ziteng's eyebrows shot up. "Quite generous, aren't they..."
"Then... leader, should we take one out from the current group?"
"Eh..." Du Ziteng immediately raised his hand, interrupting Ma Ping. "The current players, as you know, have all paid their entry fees. How can we be so undisciplined in our business?"
When these words were spoken, Ma Ping was suddenly stunned, wondering to himself: Has this gluttonous beast actually started talking about integrity today?
However, before he could speak, Du Ziteng spoke again.
"But... football itself is a high-contact sport. If someone suddenly gets injured and withdraws during training, wouldn't that be a very normal thing?"
At this point, Du Ziteng glanced at Ma Ping. "Xiao Ma, what do you think?"
Ma Ping's eyes lit up instantly. Good heavens, how ruthless. No wonder he's the leader.
"Yes, yes, yes... the leader is absolutely right! Then... who should be the one to get injured?"
Du Ziteng immediately glared at him. "What kind of talk is that? How would I know who will get injured? I'm not a fortune teller!"
Thump!
Slap... Ma Ping immediately knew he had misspoken and quickly slapped his own face. "The leader is right. How could such an accident be known in advance... Then... leader, I'll go get to work?"
Du Ziteng waved him away in disgust. Just as Ma Ping turned around, he spoke again slowly.
"Ahem... I think that Chen Anno just now might not be in good health. Look at how long he's been with the team and hasn't even played a single match. Find some time to ask the Head Coach's side. No matter how busy we are... we still have to care about the players' physical health... right, Xiao Ma?"
Ma Ping, who was still thinking about who to let get injured, understood immediately. He turned and bowed. "I understand, leader. I'll go find the Head Coach right away..."
Bang... Suddenly, a loud noise rang out as the office door was violently kicked open.
"Du Ziteng! F*ck you!"
Then a roar followed as a figure rushed in, first kicking the stunned Ma Ping away, then lunging at Du Ziteng behind the desk.
"Chen Anno!! How dare you! Ow... Chen Anno, you're finished... Ow... I'm not done with you! You little brat, don't even think about surviving in the football world... Ow..."
In less than a minute, two pig heads appeared in the office. Under the astonished gazes of the onlookers, Chen Anno snatched an old-school phone from under the desk, stuffed it into his pocket, and strode away.
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