If you are a brother, come and play football

Chapter 168 The Charity King, the Collapse of the Soviet Union (Please Subscribe)
Those unreliable bastards got Buffon drunk.

He's just a child.

Left with no other option, Lu Deyang and Redondo took him to a hotel for the night and called the youth team to tell him that he was staying at Redondo's apartment with the first team.

Otherwise, it would be a serious matter if young players stayed out all night.

The main concern is that the person in charge will worry about something happening to the child.

"That kid reminds me of Marco," Redondo said as they walked back.

"You like to show off, don't you?"

Lu Deyang said with a smile, without even using a question.

Redondo nodded and said, "This is a valuable quality. Conflicts often occur among Argentine players, but some people are not in it for the sake of victory; they just like chaos."

"The desire to destroy is also a kind of desire."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

That's how people in movies smash things when they get angry.

“So I think it’s great,” Redondo said with a smile. “It’s stable now, and there are some reliable young people for the future. It feels like I can see the end of my career at a glance. Maybe some people will find it boring, but I think this kind of stable life is precious.”

"Of course!"

Lu Deyang nodded and said, "As a player, you are already richer than 99 percent of the world's population. With stable performance and no conflicts within the team, this is the best job. Most importantly, we can do the work we love and don't have to do things we don't like just to make money."

Lu Deyang is certain that almost no one likes delivering food.

Compared to sitting in an office drinking tea and reading the newspaper, who the hell likes being exposed to wind and rain?

The best job is one where you can do what you love and don't have to worry about money.

No wonder Redondo and the King of the Road can get along so well.

Both of them prefer a stable environment.

When Lu Deyang got home, he saw Monica had just hung up the phone.

“It’s Diane. She wanted to come to Italy for Christmas, but she couldn’t shake off the reporters and is currently upset. I spent the whole afternoon comforting her,” Monica said with a smile.

"Maybe we could buy her an AK, and then sell it to the Middle Easterners."

Lu Deyang said sarcastically.

Anyway, every British celebrity wants to kill a journalist.

"It would be better to let her poison the entire royal family; the chances of success are much higher then," Monica retorted.

Lu Deyang gave a thumbs up and said, "Great idea. You would be a female emperor in the Middle Ages."

With the royal family all gone, Henry ascended the throne directly.

Similar things have happened in Chinese history; otherwise, why would the Zhu family members all have such short lifespans?

Even the most powerful empress had to rely on her son or adopt someone to rise to power.

What followed was a long period of imperial power grabs, during which even after regaining power, the emperor still had to treat his foster mother well.

For example, those female-oriented novels with the line "Royal brother, please abdicate" are things that even someone with an IQ over 60 wouldn't be able to come up with.

Princess Taiping was so powerful, yet she still allowed Li Dan to ascend to the throne.

This thing itself has no possibility whatsoever.

The only one that came about was a combination of skill and luck.

That night, the two of them watched a videotape together, "Escape to Victory" starring Pelé and Stallone.

Almost every household in Sampdoria's first team has a VHS tape of this movie.

It's considered a classic movie starring players.

"That's really inspiring!"

Monica breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Bailey and the others succeed.

She gets completely absorbed in whatever movie she watches.

"Watch your stance; Italy is an Axis power," Lu Deyang joked.

“If you said that in Rome, Lazio fans would become your loyal supporters,” Monica said with a smile.

"Hehe, then let me show you the evil of the Axis powers."

"You should submit your manuscript."

Monica said with a sly smile.

Lu Deyang immediately sat down on the ground and cursed, "I don't know what's wrong with the Japanese. They even have to publish special editions for Christmas. They have thousands of gods themselves, and they still need to hire someone from outside."

"Okay, fine, I'll just do this."

Monica whispered in his ear.

"Won't that be too exciting?"

Lu Deyang stared wide-eyed and asked.

"Then do you want it?"

"want!"

When Lu Deyang sat down to draw the original manuscript, there was another person under the table.

Lu Deyang didn't finish drawing until after 3 a.m.

Monica had already fallen asleep, but Lu Deyang felt that her lips were a little swollen.

Lying in bed, Lu Deyang opened the system and discovered a new notification.

Your good brother Roberto Baggio was blessed by fate.

[Ever since you mentioned your hearing problem, Baggio has been very curious about it. Is it possible to distinguish sounds so accurately? He always consciously pays attention to similar things in life. Since he can't beat you on the field, he tries to get closer to you in other ways.]

To protect his ears, he even commissioned expensive ear-cleaning equipment and had his wife, Andrena, learn how to clean them without damaging them. In addition, he consulted no fewer than ten instructors to learn ear massage techniques to stimulate his hearing. At home, he would listen to niche but distinctive music to aid in his hearing training.

After retiring, this obsession only deepened. The battlefield remained a place Baggio could never forget, and after converting to Buddhism, he developed his own understanding of war. He decided to go to Afghanistan, both to spread his faith, to help those suffering, and to train his hearing. Although Andrena strongly opposed it, Baggio was determined to go. He believed that everyone must embark on their own journey in life, and only through hardship can one truly appreciate the value of ordinary life.

To prevent Baggio from running away from home, the couple and their two children engaged in a battle of wits. One dark and stormy night, Baggio finally left home and embarked on his journey. He even took a smuggling boat; the smuggler, seeing this for the first time, even gave him a 97% discount. Baggio considered this a good start.

However, on his first day in Afghanistan, he almost faced execution for spreading "evil" ideas. As a heretic, he was too naive; the Afghans didn't see him as someone who had come to save them. At the crucial moment, they found a photo of him and Baggio in his backpack, and Baggio was spared. However, they still warned him not to spread his faith in the country.

Even after losing to you for so many years, Baggio wasn't discouraged; this little thing couldn't defeat him at all. This man with only one good leg has a complete mind. Since he couldn't communicate with the Afghans, he decided to try communicating with the Americans, hoping to persuade them to lay down their weapons and become enlightened.

Although the United States is a football wasteland, it still has a significant Italian and Irish immigrant population. Baggio was recognized immediately upon arrival, avoiding a near-fatal incident. The soldiers were delighted to see a football star on the battlefield, and the US military, not wanting to let him go, even hosted a lavish banquet for him, inviting him to share stories of his playing career. Baggio fell silent immediately; his career consisted entirely of losing to other teams—what more was there to say? Fortunately, he did share some interesting anecdotes about Italian football stars, which satisfied the soldiers' curiosity.

The officers quickly realized Baggio was a problem; he was constantly preaching his faith in the barracks, which had a strong negative effect on the soldiers' morale. Just as they were preparing to remove Baggio, someone offered a suggestion. Many soldiers who previously disliked combat had now become submissive, believing that their suffering was for a return to America and a better life, and had even accepted their current situation. After some investigation, it was confirmed that Baggio's preaching had indeed had an effect. The mid- to high-ranking officers held a meeting and decided to let Baggio continue, appointing him as a chaplain. Even if this chaplain was of another religion, there was no need for an application or any accountability—it was quite a good arrangement.

Baggio was a friendly person and quickly gained the support of the soldiers. Because of his excellent hearing, he was the first to spot survivors in the rubble, saving many lives. Coincidentally, Afghanistan has a species of crane known for its keen senses, always the first to detect danger. Baggio was like that crane, flying in the sky, instantly finding the wounded, and the soldiers affectionately called him the "Priest Crane Flying in the Clouds," or simply the "Cloud Crane."

After the incident was reported by war correspondents, Baggio suddenly became a focus of attention. No one in Italy expected that a football star would become a hero in the eyes of his American "father." In interviews after returning home, Baggio always said that he went to the battlefield to improve his hearing. American journalists thought the star was very humble, finding such an excuse quite remarkable.

One day, Baggio decided to prove himself by appearing on a television show where participants had to guess the car by its engine. The show attracted worldwide attention. Surprisingly, the engine sound posed no challenge for Baggio; he could even tell the car's year and approximate maintenance history.

The show decided to increase the difficulty, having Baggio guess the sound of a trunk being closed. ...A Ferrari Enzo, less than 10,000 kilometers...A Fiat 126p from Balenciaga, probably a taxi...Until the show's crew took a trash can and tapped it, Baggio finally guessed wrong: a Toyota Corolla. This mistake didn't embarrass anyone; everyone thought Baggio was joking. Only the Japanese were somewhat dissatisfied, but unfortunately, Baggio was an American hero.

After the initial buzz died down, Baggio finally came knocking on your door with a challenge. Roberto Baggio, as excited as if it were his first time in the bridal chamber, pointed at you and shouted: "Dejan, let's have a contest! I'm very confident in my hearing now!" You asked why, and Baggio explained that during a match you said you could pinpoint your opponent's location. You chuckled and said: "Brother, I was just kidding..."

[Acquired skill: Excessive Humility]

Skill: Excessive Humility – "I'm not handsome, and Inzaghi isn't handsome either." Baggio's character is recognized worldwide, so even his occasional remarks are often interpreted as humility. When you possess this skill, sometimes even telling the truth will be seen as modesty.

Lu Deyang: ...

This skill is useless.

Baggio's future development is quite interesting.

The next day, Lu Deyang saw a message that left him dumbfounded.

The Gazzetta dello Sport prominently featured the word "disgrace," writing: "The Italian Football Federation has announced its punishment decisions for Juventus players. Di Canio is suspended for one match with an additional two matches, but this suspension will be suspended for one month. This means that both Di Canio and Marocchi can be fit for the league match against Inter Milan, which is simply a joke. Although they haven't announced the punishment for Sampdoria, we believe their penalty will not include any probation."

Hey!
Lu Deyang couldn't help but curse.

This is the first time I've heard of a league suspension being granted a reprieve.

Suspension is a punishment in itself, and avoiding suspension during important matches is no different from not suspending at all.

The Agnelli family truly deserves to be called the local emperors of Italy.

However, even if they go to the European arena, they still have to consider the fate of Somalia. In European competitions, only Somalia can get a reprieve. If they had this earlier, Van Persie would not have been suspended in the first place.

The two giants of La Liga are truly taking turns on the stage, from their sugar daddy to the referee's whistle; UEFA is like a dog to the Spanish Super League.

It can only be said that football has been ruined by these bastards.

However, Lu Deyang was too lazy to bother with such matters.

Any conspiracy is futile in the face of absolute power.

With Lu Qiu Wang's talent, he wouldn't be afraid even if you blew the whistle.

Are your parents coming to Milan?

Lu Deyang asked.

“They said they would come, but now it seems they’ve given up on seeing you,” Monica said with a sly smile. “They said they could meet you once you have a child.”

"How about we come back when our child goes to college?"

Lu Deyang complained.

They're really too trusting of Lu Qiuwang.

Monica immediately reached out to hit her.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"It's Fernando."

Lu Deyang walked over, opened the door, and said.

Even if it's just three taps, you can still tell the difference.

This is much easier than listening to your teammates' locations, as everyone has different knocking habits.

"You've arrived, Fernando."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

Redondo handed over two bottles of fine wine and said, "I'll have to trouble you tomorrow for Christmas. I came to check in advance to see if there's anything I need to buy, so we can go shopping together."

"You don't need to be so polite."

Lu Deyang was telling the truth.

This guy always brings rather expensive gifts when he visits.

These two bottles of Lalique Macallan would cost more than half a year's salary, something even most players wouldn't be willing to spend.

“It’s nothing. My dad brought it over earlier. You just said that whisky suits your taste better, Dejan,” Redondo said.

Monica leaned out from the side and said, "Can I have a private jet?"

"I'll definitely give it to you when I make a lot of money."

Redondo said with a smile.

"Then you must keep it up," Monica said, giving a thumbs up. "Why don't you two go buy groceries together?"

As the two were leaving, they ran into Mancini, who looked miserable and said, "I'm going to the house over there for the holidays. There are four old people and a child. You guys wouldn't understand."

"That's also very good."

Lu Deyang said.

Mancini followed the two down the elevator and said, "You won't understand. You'll understand when you have children."

Neither Lu Deyang nor Redondo spoke.

There are quite a few people on the team with children, but this is the only one who complains every day.

After going downstairs, Lu Deyang reached out his hand and said, "Lend me your cell phone."

Mancini handed it over directly.

Lu Deyang called Materazzi and asked him to come and do the work.

That guy is all alone after breaking up with his girlfriend, he must be very lonely during the holidays.

Materazzi arrived in a taxi shortly afterward.

Mancini scoffed, "You came so quickly when I asked you to do the work."

Materazzi grinned.

"Let's go shopping. We'll make some garlic oil shrimp for you to try tomorrow. If the stores weren't closed tomorrow, we should have bought the ingredients today."

Lu Deyang said.

He often ate seafood in Calabria.

I often make this garlic oil shrimp because the ingredients are simple and the taste is good. Fry the minced garlic until fragrant, then add the shrimp heads. After frying out the shrimp oil, remove the shrimp veins and fry the shrimp over low heat until cooked.

Garlic flavor can remove the fishy smell to some extent, and most importantly, it enhances the aroma.

Redondo also has an interest in cooking.

Needless to say, Materazzi was neglected by his father and had to cook for himself since he was a child.

The three of them were exchanging kitchen tips as they walked to the market; a reporter would have been very surprised if they had overheard.

The apartment was quite spacious, so the two of them decided to stay overnight.

The four of them spent Christmas together.

On the 26th, Lu Deyang left two people behind, and everyone sat in front of the television to witness history together.

European media outlets were reporting extensively that the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union held its final meeting, declaring the cessation of the Soviet Union's existence and its formal dissolution into 15 countries. Russia became the sole successor state of the Soviet Union.

Lu Deyang knew this would happen as early as the collapse of the Eastern Bloc.

But watching it all along, I still felt like I was witnessing an important historical moment.

"The Soviet Union is gone?"

Materazzi asked, bewildered.

He was worried the Soviets would attack, and now he's just gone like that?

"Aren't you aware that many countries have recently declared independence?" Redondo asked.

Materazzi nodded and said, "I thought it was just a quarrel, I didn't expect they'd split up."

Lu Deyang nodded; the family had indeed separated.

Er Mao will soon become the world's number one spendthrift.

Next came the oligarchs selling out the country.

They competed to sell, each trying to outdo the other in price.

This is a major event for people of this era.

Not long after, the Soviet Union's video was broadcast on TV. Mao Zedong was already eager to embrace "civilization." His family had no secrets at all, not even as good as the Bayern Munich dressing room.

Lu Deyang felt even more sorry for those who truly had ideals, those who would sacrifice their lives for their country.

"Aren't you happy?"

Redondo looked at Materazzi and asked.

Materazzi shook his head and said, "It feels complicated, but I don't think it's necessarily a good thing."

"Your feeling is correct."

Lu Deyang said, "Without the Soviet Union's checks and balances, the Americans would show a completely different side." The media reaction was one of shock.

While feeling fortunate, I was also worried.

The Soviet Union had a huge influence in Eastern Europe.

The Gazzetta dello Sport reported on the matter from the perspectives of economic hardship, corruption, ethnic conflicts, and international relations, which was generally fair.

British media, on the other hand, were celebrating.

The Iron Lady went straight to the point, repeatedly emphasizing the superiority of Western liberal democratic systems, while describing the Soviet system as oppressive and backward. Her previous speeches on how to peacefully evolve and influence the Soviet Union were brought up again.

Some people were celebrating in the streets, after all, the nuclear threat had been publicized for so long.

The Soviet Union thought the world would be safe once these people were gone.

Others had mixed feelings.

Under these circumstances, Lu Deyang and his teammates flew to Switzerland to participate in the newly crowned FIFA World Player of the Year award.

The suspense surrounding the Ballon d'Or is longer than that surrounding the FIFA World Player of the Year.

This originated from a suggestion by FIFA Secretary General Blatter to create a football Oscar, which is how this award came about.

Leaving the suspense until the end will indeed encourage more people to attend the awards ceremony.

This is very helpful for viewership ratings.

As soon as the entire Sampdoria team arrived at the theater entrance, reporters surrounded them and asked questions.

"Dejan, do you think you can be the victor again?"

"Mateus is also a popular choice. Can you give your opinion on him?"

"Dejan, what are your thoughts on the collapse of the Soviet Union?"

"Deyang..."

Lu Deyang said with a wry smile, "First of all, I am also a player, and just a player. I have no right to comment on other players. Awards depend on the selection results. As for international politics, I don't know much about it. I can only say that I am very sorry that this happened."

As soon as Lu Deyang finished speaking, Redondo immediately pushed the reporter away.

He has very little patience.

I usually only give interviews when I feel like it.

"I had the coach vote for you before, so you should thank me for winning the award," Mancini said, taking credit for the win.

When the FIFA World Player of the Year award was first established, only the head coaches of the member associations were invited to vote, that is, the national team coaches of FIFA member countries, and they could not vote for the members of their own national teams.

There are three spots: 5 points for the first place, 3 points for the second, and 1 point for the third.

From its inception, the professionalism of the FIFA World Player of the Year award has been questioned.

Just like the expansion of the Champions League.

Many national team coaches are unaware of the latest developments in European football, and some countries don't even have many leagues broadcast. They write about Maradona simply because they've heard of him, and about Matthäus simply because they've heard of him.

Therefore, Lu Deyang did not know whether he would win the award.

Judging solely by performance is certainly not a problem.

But this is similar to a talent show; skill isn't the most important factor.

Lu Deyang was also unsure.

Upon seeing Cruyff, Ludyan could only nod and immediately went to find Boskov.

Every time I see Ke Sheng, I want Lu Qiu Wang to go play football in Catalonia.

The key issue is that he really wasn't interested.

Fortunately, Trapattoni walked over at that moment.

The veteran coach didn't give Lu Deyang a hard time despite the team's continuous losses. Instead, he took the initiative to greet him, saying, "How about we score a few fewer goals next time we meet?"

"But that would be unfair to my salary."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

“Well, if that bastard DiCanio heard you, he’d be ashamed and hang his head,” Trapattoni said.

"I don't think so."

Lu Deyang said.

The old coach immediately burst into laughter, patted Lu Deyang on the shoulder, and said, "Even you know how annoying his personality is, so it's really not surprising at all."

"I've heard a little about it."

Lu Deyang nodded and said.

“I’ve decided to find a chance to kick that guy out, provided I don’t leave,” Trapattoni said mysteriously.

Lu Deyang nodded and complimented, "That was a wise decision."

When someone shows goodwill, you can't just stand on airs.

That's what it means to have real strength.

Everyone will be friendly to you.

The two chatted undisturbed until the awards ceremony began.

FIFA's event really does resemble the Oscars; they even hired a host.

However, the process was quite simple; it involved discussing some recent events in the football world.

The female host then announced the player who came in third place: "Jean-Peter Papin..."

Some applause rang out in the audience for the losers.

"Second place...Lothar Matthäus."

Matthäus's face immediately darkened.

He immediately searched for Lu Deyang in the auditorium, since only Lu Deyang could defeat him.

But Matthäus felt he deserved the award more.

Yes, Lu Deyang and Sampdoria had better results.

But he still performed like this despite being rejected by the whole team. How can it be the same when teammates often don't cooperate?

In comparison, it was much more difficult for him to achieve his current success.

"First place..."

"Sampdoria, Lu Deyang."

boom--

A huge round of applause erupted from the audience.

"yeah……"

The younger Materazzi shouted out in excitement.

Lu Deyang stood up, hugged his teammates, and walked onto the stage.

Platini, holding a silver disc, extended his hand and said, "Congratulations on your extraordinary achievement. You will break even more records in the future."

"Thank you."

Lu Deyang shook hands briefly and then said.

After retiring, Platini really had little desire to communicate.

"Is there anything you'd like to say, Dejan?"

The female host came over with the microphone and asked.

"I'm delighted to be the first FIFA World Player of the Year. It's a recognition of our achievements. I think the trophy symbolizes unity. This award doesn't just belong to me, but to everyone on the team and to our fans. If I could offer a suggestion, I would recommend also selecting a World Team of the Year to recognize the team that achieved the best results this year. After all, football is a team sport. That's all, thank you."

After Lu Deyang finished speaking, even more enthusiastic applause rang out from the audience.

Matthäus couldn't help but mutter, "How hypocritical."

"At least he didn't forget his teammates."

Klinsmann frowned and retorted.

Matthäus breathed through his nose without saying a word.

Bremer watched from the side and shook his head.

Even though he and Matthäus were friends, he couldn't stand that jerk's temper.

He originally wanted to congratulate Lu Deyang.

As soon as he saw the AC Milan players approaching, Brehme stopped in his tracks.

Because they had never played for a national team, they didn't have much of a relationship with the Milan players; they were just derby rivals.

Maldini looked at Lu Deyang with a pleading expression and said, "Please don't mention my name during the interviews, okay?"

Because Lu Deyang often said he performed well and always mentioned that he finished tenth in the Ballon d'Or.

His teammates always joked that he was the real number ten.

Even if he's talented, he should still be embarrassed.

Is number 10 a position that just anyone can play? At the very least, his technique isn't good enough.

Oh shit.

Lu Deyang is the best at being sarcastic and sarcastic.

Are you treating us?

Lu Deyang asked.

"please!"

Maldini nodded vigorously as he spoke.

"Alright then, I'll let you go."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

Maldini finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Later that evening at a UEFA reception, Lu Deyang met with many football legends.

The awards ceremony was scheduled for the evening, and most teams chose to stay overnight before flying back.

That's the good thing about a small place.

For major leagues, a flight of about two hours will land tomorrow, which is about the same as taking a long-distance bus.

George Best moved closer to Lu Deyang, peeking out from the side.

Is someone looking for you?

Lu Deyang asked.

George Best immediately raised a finger to silence and whispered, "The captain always nags when he sees my glass."

“You really should quit drinking, George.”

Lu Deyang advised.

"It's good that football players don't drink alcohol. I've already retired."

George Best said nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter if I drink."

Lu Deyang didn't know what to say.

He never managed to quit drinking until his death.

It really was caused by drinking.

Fortunately, Bobby Charlton came over at that moment, glared at Best, and then said to Lu Deyang, "This guy caused you trouble, didn't he?"

"No, it was a pleasure to communicate with a genius like George."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

"If he had focused even half his energy on the court, he wouldn't have retired so early," Charlton said with a hint of disdain.

He truly felt sorry for Best.

"You're looking down on me because I've been to prison," Best said with a grin.

He couldn't say anything to the old captain, so he could only laugh it off.

“Dejan, as long as you use this bastard as a negative example, your career will be smooth sailing,” Charlton said mercilessly.

"I will."

Lu Deyang said with a smile.

"Hey, Captain, I'm Miss World's favorite."

Best protested, clearly dissatisfied.

“If you weren’t George Best, they wouldn’t even give you a second glance,” Bobby Charlton said irritably.

"I'm actually quite handsome."

George Best muttered.

Watching the two of them interact is quite interesting.

George Best acted like a good boy in front of Charlton.

When he returned to the hotel, Lu Deyang had drunk quite a bit.

Unable to sleep, he opened the system again and, as expected, saw a new notification.

[You were voted the inaugural FIFA World Player of the Year by national team coaches worldwide—an unparalleled honor and a testament to their recognition. However, as the FIFA World Player of the Year, your status within your team clearly doesn't match your standing in the football world. You've become the most disliked person in the locker room. Please improve your relationships with your teammates before the end of the season, gain the approval of at least five teammates, and secure your place with the team for the new season.]

[Gain skill: Charming Bastard]

Damn it, Matthäus!

This description is clearly from Lothar Matthäus.

It's probably because of his status as the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Lu Deyang always felt a pang of emotion whenever he saw or thought of Lothar Matthäus's name.

Because there really isn't another person like him in the football world.

Even the most skilled players with the worst tempers will still gain some respect from their teammates.

It takes skill to make the whole team hate you.

This is not something ordinary people can do.

Even Balotelli couldn't do anything about it.

So whether someone is stupid or malicious, it's not as good as some people performing normally.

Matthäus's personality was beyond bad.

Keep reading.

Skill: Charming Scoundrel – Lothar Matthäus may not be handsome, but he's never short of female admirers. From the team doctor's daughter to her classmate, Matthäus has his way with them all. Having this skill will significantly boost your popularity.

Lu Deyang curled his lip; this thing was completely useless to Lu Qiuwang.

His problem is what to do about being too popular...

(End of this chapter)