Team Spirit

Chapter 119 (Seeking Monthly Tickets at the End of the Month) Green Gun's Exorbitant Price Disintegrates, Frenzied Skill Collection Battle Against European Youth
Teng Hai's arrival is just the beginning.

With his arrival, Dartford's players were gradually put on the trading block.

Ten Hach: Is it my fault?
The main problem is that we really couldn't keep these players.

Now, offers from League One teams don't matter anymore; the main thing is that offers from Premier League teams are something Green Gunners can't refuse.

It's worth noting that just a year or two ago, most of them were discarded by the professional leagues.

Their biggest dream was to stay with their original team, but unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

After joining Dartford, their goal is to play in the Third Division or Second Division to make a living.

It's like you're a student from a second-tier university who wanted to get into a 211 university for graduate school, but ended up being admitted to Tsinghua or Peking University.

How could I not study?
Kevin was the first to leave the team.

As the team's main center-back, and occasionally filling in as a defensive midfielder, his abilities have been recognized by Manchester City.

Manchester City, who will be playing in the Premier League next season, spent £1.5 million to buy him.

This price is absolutely fair; it's basically like buying a defensive genius with unlimited potential.

In this era, the price of a striker is even higher than that of a midfielder, and naturally, it is far higher than that of a defender.

Moreover, this is England, where everyone is good at rough defense, but attacking talent is so rare.

Around the same time, Manchester City also bought Kevin's brother, Andy Dawson, from Scanthorpe.

Let the Dawson brothers reunite in Blue Moon.

But they only spent £300,000 on the deal.

Scanthorpe was overjoyed.

This further illustrates the high value of Kevin's net worth.

The source of this prestige is the EFL Cup title!
The presence or absence of the LV logo on a bag is very important!
Dartford were quadruple winners last season, but the EFL Cup adds more prestige to a player's value than the other three trophies combined.

It is precisely because of this trophy that Dartford has the means to raise prices.

Otherwise, even if your players are worth that much, someone can still easily lure them away for three or five hundred thousand pounds.

You're a lower-level team, you can't fetch a good price.

Do you understand the saying "the customer bullies the shopkeeper"?

While the prize money for winning the EFL Cup was indeed small, it secured at least a million pounds in benefits for Dartford afterward.

This Premier League team, though seemingly useless, actually tastes surprisingly good!

When Kevin left, he specifically asked Lu Kai for Sun Jihai's contact information.

If they quickly become acquainted, it will be a good thing for both of them.

Holt was the second to leave.

He joined West Ham United for £1.7 million.

Holt is a defensive striker who likes to pass the ball around and has a good shot.

If they continue to develop, it's entirely possible for them to become a top-tier player in the UK.

England has no shortage of physically imposing strikers, but it has always lacked a truly top-class target man.

This is related to their traditional long pass and cross attack, which requires tall players, but not tall players with good footwork skills.

If Holt can further develop his hold-up play, he will secure a regular place in the England national team.

Unfortunately, he himself wanted to leave, and Lu Kai hadn't been able to "teach" him the real pivot kick technique yet; the transformation had ended just as it began.

Lu Kai was definitely indifferent. He wished Holt well as he left, especially since Holt had left him such a large sum of money. It was best to part amicably.

However, considering West Ham United's style of play, Holt may never become the target man the England national team needs.

When Holt left, his Green Gun teammates all said, "If we ever have a chance to face him again, please don't beat us up!"

After all, West Ham United plays a fierce and intense style of football.

Holt laughed and said, "Definitely, definitely."

It's unclear whether they'll definitely not commit fraud or they will definitely commit fraud.

Dartford's third deal is Markofer.

As Morgan's good friend, how could he be content to stay in the same place when Morgan has already made great strides in Liverpool?

Moreover, his dribbling skills are sharp, and his playing style is very attractive; he already has several potential buyers.

This season, his transition from full-back to winger has been quite smooth.

Ultimately, Premier League relegation-threatened Sunderland, nicknamed the "Black Cats," signed Marko Foe for a hefty £2.8 million.

Lu Kai agreed immediately.

That's why they say black market clubs like to train wingers.

Centers require too many comprehensive qualities, and their performance is not strong enough, resulting in a large investment but small returns.

Defenders are practically worthless.

A winger is a player who can be quick to make a move, and if he also has good dribbling skills, he's a fast-selling player with a great price.

Because Markover was a master dribbler, seemingly dancing on the pitch, Dartford jokingly called him "Elvis" when they said goodbye to him.

Markov was very pleased.

Sunderland fans also have high hopes for him.

As the saying goes, where there is gathering, there is also parting.

The next player to leave Dartford was none other than Anqi, who had traveled across the ocean to Europe.

Birmingham City, who were promoted from League One to the Premier League like Manchester City, have their eyes on him. Taking into account the Chinese market and the attention he receives, Birmingham City have offered £3.7 million!

If the transfer goes through, this will be the most expensive Asian player transfer to date!

Keep in mind that An Qi is only twenty-one years old.

The career lifespan of a goalkeeper is at least three to five years longer than that of other positions.

The level of excellence in this comparison is practically overflowing.

In the past two years, Li Tong, one of the top Chinese players who have been playing in Europe, transferred to Everton for a price of around one million pounds.

Li Weifeng joined Everton with the help of sponsors, which meant there was no transfer fee and his annual salary was only £100,000.

Fan Zhiyi, who joined Cardiff City in League Two this year, was valued at around one million pounds.

Sun Jihai's transfer fee to Manchester City was two million pounds, which is the highest transfer fee at present.

An Qi, who couldn't get any opportunities at Dalian Shide, went to Europe for two years and made a leap forward, becoming the "de facto" number one Chinese football player in terms of both honors and market value!
This has made the already popular trend of players going to Europe even more popular.

However, this has also exacerbated the misjudgment of the market value of mainland Chinese players by domestic football clubs.

"See? I told you our players are valuable, easily worth tens of millions of RMB. Anything worth hundreds of thousands is no longer welcome!"

"Foreign clubs want to take our players away, starting at five million, with no upper limit!"

If in the past it was possible for young domestic players to enter Europe at a relatively low cost, then after An Qi, this path is almost completely closed.

There's always a way out, but it can't stop mainland Chinese football from digging its own grave.

The same thing is happening in the basketball world.

Wang Zhizhi was removed from the national team due to a scheduling conflict between the Summer League and the Asian Games, and his application to postpone his entry into the team was hampered by unscrupulous media outlets' "escape from the US" theory.

These events are not simply a matter of right or wrong; they all had their own historical context at the time.

During this period, China lacked self-confidence and desperately needed external recognition.

We crave any rankings and honors that can prove our excellence.

Conversely, when we become truly strong enough to compete with the world's number one, we lose interest in external praise.

Because I am invincible, you can do whatever you want.

Of course, in the process of becoming powerful, things concerning the nation's destiny, national policies, and the foundation of the nation cannot be equated with things that are simply for entertainment and leisure.

The national football model like that in England is not advisable.

"Brother Kai, what do you think? I'll reject them immediately if you just say the word!" An Qi said firmly on the phone. Although he was older than Lu Kai, he still habitually called him Brother Kai. "Hey, Brother Kai, hey, say something... What's going on, Brother Kai?"

Lu Kai really didn't dare to speak.

What if An Qi stays?
It's not that Anqi is bad, it's just that £3.7 million is really good.

This directly broke the transfer record held by the Morgan and Markov brothers in the history of the Green Gunners.

Don't think about how much money it will be worth in the future, just think about how much this money is worth now!

Do you know what nearly four million pounds means?

Of the 24 teams in League Two, only four are valued at over five million pounds, and two are valued at six million pounds.

Cardiff City, which Fan Zhiyi joined, has a market value of only over four million pounds.

There are also eleven League Two teams with a market value of less than two million pounds.

Luton only had £800,000.

This certainly doesn't mean that Luton can be bought for £800,000. The market value is a comprehensive assessment of the other party's actual assets, intangible assets, debts, performance, revenue, and other resources.

But this also shows how valuable money was at this stage.

Dartford's market capitalization cannot be estimated at this stage because their debt is too large and their revenue is too volatile and unpredictable, making it impossible to draw a stable conclusion.

Many clubs like this, from their rise to their fall, never leave behind a stable market value.

At most, there's a residual value left after being burdened with debt and taken advantage of by others.

"Um, I've packed up your things from Dartford and sent them to Birmingham," Lu Kai said with a smile. "Let's keep our contact to a minimum in the future, or Birmingham might misunderstand."

After a long silence on the other end of the phone, An Qi said with a sob in her voice, "Thank you so much, Brother Kai!"

Zhongguo people don't cheat Zhongguo people!

People from Zhongguo understand people from Zhongguo!

Why did Kai sell him?

Is it because they look down on it?
Is it because his substitutes Casper and Scott are better than him?
Of course not!
Casper: Uh, that...

An Qi understood that although Lu Kai was not in China, he was very familiar with the public opinion environment in China at this moment.

It's safe to say that if An Qi had rejected Birmingham, he would have been labeled a "traitor," "self-degrading," and "damaging my country's prestige" in China in no time!
Why not play in the Premier League instead of League Two?
What's wrong?
Are you afraid that our Chinese players will shock the world?
Don't talk to me about long-term development. You just don't want outsiders to know that we've already made our mark in world football!
Honestly, who can withstand these soul-searching questions?

An Qi followed their lead, and that made him a hero, praised by everyone.

But if they don't listen, they're considered bad kids, and everyone will want to beat them up.

He absolutely had to go to Birmingham!

In any case, this deal involving Angie is actually a win-win situation for all parties.

Dartford received a very substantial return.

An Qi plays in the English Premier League.

Birmingham have acquired a great goalkeeper who can be used for at least ten years.

Everyone has a bright future.

After the deal was officially announced, Japanese and South Korean media outlets fell silent.

Sports Weekly: "Asia's record signing, made by Guo! Green Gun goalkeeper An Qi arrives in the Premier League for a super transfer fee of 45 million RMB!"

Football News: "Milu needs to take full responsibility for the national team's poor performance in the World Cup! Although he promoted An Qi, he didn't start him, thus wasting valuable opportunities for Chinese football!"

Dongqiudi: "An interview with 'China's Buffon' An Qi: I was not a star at Arsenal Green. There were many players better than me there, such as Barton, Duff, Brad, Eastwood, Ashley Young, and so on."

At first, domestic fans thought An Qi was just being modest.

With Guo Jingming already on the roster, could Green Gunner possibly have someone better than him?
But soon, everyone had to accept this reality.

because……

Manchester Evening News: "Welcome 'Gypsy striker' Fred Eastwood to Manchester United, a proud member of the Red Devils! Known for his 'one goal for every two' scoring ability, he will further bolster United's attacking line!"

"The Voice of Green Guns": "Farewell, Eastwood! We hope everything goes well for him at Manchester United. You don't need to come back to see us; we'll come to see you!"

Both sides' mouthpieces spoke out.

Eastwood turned from green to red, transforming into a demon through guns.

He became the highest-flying player among Dartford's group.

What Green Gunner meant was that he hoped to be matched with Manchester United in the EFL Cup or FA Cup so they could play a good game at Old Trafford.

Dartford have already played in London and Manchester, but they haven't faced the Red Devils yet.

It's somewhat of a regret.

Of course, this is just what the fans mean.

Lu Kai really doesn't want to play against Manchester United in the last two years.

The team has a high level of teamwork, strong tactical skills, strong individual player abilities, a strong head coach, and the Ferguson era... but let's not forget about all that.

Regardless of whether it's Arsenal or Liverpool, they all rotate their squads when playing cup matches.

Only Manchester United, especially this season's Manchester United, has fielded its full starting lineup in every match.

The second round of the EFL Cup, the third round of the FA Cup, playing against weak Premier League teams... Beckham, Van Nistelrooy, Giggs, Scholes, Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Roy Keane, Nicky Butt—not everyone was there for every game, but most of them were.

Can you bear this?
It seems that after almost losing Ferguson, everyone has started to cherish the days when Ferguson was coaching.

He never missed a single match.

Eastwood's transfer fee is a whopping five million pounds!

What is this concept?
Diego Forlán, who joined Manchester United in the winter transfer window earlier this year, only cost £6.9 million.

For some Premier League relegation-threatened teams, five million pounds would be their most expensive signing in recent years.

what?
You're saying it's lower than Ashley Young's previous £6.5 million?
Please!

Ashley Young is still a month shy of turning seventeen; age is money too.

Besides... let alone six and a half million, even if you asked for one and a half million pounds, do you think any team would still want Ashley Young?
Even half a million pounds!

Being disabled is worthless!
Ashley Young, who is very qualified to speak on this matter, said: No, not a single one!

He had cried his eyes out, but those who had previously praised him to the skies ignored him completely.

Even so, Eastwood failed to maintain his position as Dartford's most expensive transfer ever.

Sky Sports: "A low-league transfer miracle! Brad joins West Brom for £6.5 million! The Bass' duo drives the team, indicating that their goal for the new season will be more than just avoiding relegation!"

The Echo: "When West Ham took Holt, they also tried to re-sign Brad, but Brad rejected the offer."

Once upon a time, Brad transferred from Greenfield to West Ham United for £30,000, full of youthful vigor.

Now, it's as if time has turned back; he's still the most expensive signing, and West Ham United are still looking to buy him.

But the ending is different now.

This time, he's not going to West Bromwich Albion to be a water boy; he's going to be a key player!

This transfer fee would rank in the top 30 in any of the past three years in the Premier League.

Of course, Dartford isn't saying they're going to sell to just anyone.

For example, Williams.

Southampton, nicknamed "The Saints," are looking to return to their old ways and have contacted him again, hoping he'll join them for a low price. However, they can't offer him a starting position or a high salary.

Dartford's former is very stable, and although the latter is not high either, there is no problem in promoting them to the League Two level.

And... Dartford will be playing in European competitions next season!

Have you ever played in the UEFA Cup with Southampton?

In addition, Millwall, a League One team nicknamed "The Lions," has approached Madeira in an attempt to sign the winger.

After communicating with Madeira, Lu Kai explained his plans for him and easily persuaded Madeira to stay with the team.

On the one hand, Madeira was discovered by Lu Kai, and he acknowledges this relationship.

On the other hand, the flying wing should be preserved if possible.

Selling Morgan to Liverpool is a necessary step to deter troublemakers.

Markov was a man of few words; his daughter was too old to stay at home.

But actually, the best time for all wingers to make their move is next year and the year after.

Because at that time, Abramovich will bring countless dollars to the Premier League and let the English people experience what it means to be controlled by checks!
Money-driven football is coming soon!
What were the most significant factors affecting Chelsea's performance in their early years?
The wing has too many injuries.

Despite having four wingers—Robben, Duff, Wright-Phillips, and Joe Cole—Chelsea could have easily launched six or eight wingers if they hadn't been looking for players of that caliber who were willing to compete with them!
What is a saturation attack?
Lu Kai believes that Abramovich would be willing to buy a player like Madeira just for those few words.

Madeira, just bear with it a little longer, and we will all have a happy future!

……

The Times: "Making money like water! Dartford's current transfer revenue is £21.4 million! That's more than 80 percent of Premier League teams!"

The Echo: "Terrifying! Dartford's total revenue for the season has surpassed £30 million, and it's not over yet!"

Mundo Deportivo: "Datford's collapse! For a mere £20 million, Dartford has driven themselves to ruin!"

BBC: "2002-2003 Season Preview! Dartford Drops Six Key Players, One Important Rotation Player, and One Assistant Coach! Out Before It's Over!"

France Football: "Transfermarkt has issued a risk warning for Dartford, as the team has suffered significant player losses and may face an epic defeat in the new season!"

Kicker: "Green Gunners stage a miraculous paradox! After successfully winning the EFL Cup, the entire team was dismantled by other Premier League teams! This is reminiscent of what Bayern Munich did to Leverkusen!"

Like Dartford, Bayer Leverkusen's two key players, Ballack and Ze Roberto, were poached by the dominant Bayern Munich, a move that was incredibly painful.

In this environment, how could any Bundesliga team possibly challenge Bayern Munich?

Similarly, given Dartford's situation, how could they possibly establish themselves in League Two next season?
Those betting agencies that suffered huge losses last year due to Dartford's chances of winning the League Three title are now eager to make their money back from Dartford this year.

However, even a fool knows that Dartford has no chance of winning the League Two title in the new season. Therefore, in order to fool everyone, the betting companies have opened the door wide – will Dartford be promoted from League Two in the new season?

Yes, the payout is 2,000!
Can they win the championship?

Yes, the payout is 5,000!
Fu Ge Yang Xiao Si placed two bets with a flick of his wrist, never forgetting his original intention.

But this time he didn't tell anyone.

After all, after becoming rich last time, he had seen the coldness of human nature, lost his three older brothers, and could no longer feel the warmth of family.

Instead, she had three more sons, and was annoyed by being fawned over every day.

Of course, some professional organizations have also carefully analyzed the hidden reasons behind Dartford's actions.

The Wall Street Journal: "Hello everyone, this is Teacher Stealing You. If you don't manage your money, your money won't manage you. Today, I'll analyze a case study in football economics. The subject of our analysis is a lower-league team that currently has considerable influence in the football world: Dartford..."

"Therefore, considering the discussions among Dartford City Council, the Football Association, and other parties regarding the planning of the new Greens Stadium, we can conclude that Lu Kai needs money!"

"In the past, Lu Kai's debts were all covered by Dartford's incredible revenue generation capabilities! This led to Lu Kai's inability to predict economic risks or his disregard for risk."

"He always believed that his profitability would be stronger than last year, and that he could repay all his debts, so he expanded without limit."

"He also tried to launch a new stadium project and prepare cash flow for it, which means selling people. Once the project is finalized, construction can begin as quickly as possible."

"But this time, he made a fatal mistake: he overlooked the most fundamental reason for the Dartford miracle's success!"

"What is that point? It's the team's strength! How can a team's strength not be affected when six key players, one important rotation player, and one chief assistant coach leave?"

Dartford's staggering revenue is due to their reputation, which far exceeds their actual capabilities. This reputation is built on their repeated victories against stronger opponents.

"This is not a balanced state, it's a state of over-expansion. Once they fail in a season, or even just fade into obscurity, their revenue will return to normal, which means a significant drop!"

"But Lu Kai is still building the club with the mindset that they'll continue to grow, engaging in massive construction projects that are ultimately detrimental to the country. He's far too arrogant." "So there's no doubt that Dartford's new stadium project will be a failed project, and the club will inevitably be placed under administration due to bankruptcy within three years. I'm telling you this: if it's not true, I'll quit Wall Street on the spot!"

"There is only one possibility, a very small possibility, that they can escape this disaster. That is the key to the Dartford miracle, not the team's overall strength, but Lu Kai's individual strength."

"In other words, the strength lies with him, not the team. His impact in crucial moments is greater than that of the other twenty-odd players combined. Or perhaps he brings his own system; if you gave him a different group of players, they could still win the championship and continue to advance."

"But if he really has that kind of ability, he wouldn't just be Dartford's captain and chairman; he should be the GOAT!"

"But in fact, there are no such players in football."

"In the basketball world, there might be one. I think LeBron James from St. Mary's High School is that kind of GOAT player who brings his own system to the table! I'd like to recommend a pizza stock related to him; you can keep an eye on it..."

"For those who want to learn more about making money, remember to join our group! 9.9 yuan for a free trial of ten lessons, 399 yuan for a basic course, 2999 yuan for an elite course, and 19999 yuan for seamless one-on-one private guidance to help you manage your investments! Guaranteed profits without losses!"

Lu Kai found it unbelievable when he looked at the newspapers that Jiang Mengyun brought back from Chinatown.

There really are many hidden talents among ordinary people.

Apart from the most crucial point, the rest of the analysis is actually quite accurate.

But why does this Wall Street Journal expert seem like a fraud?
Upon closer inspection, Lu Kai was astonished to find that the characters "西" (Xi) and "首" (Shou) in the West Seoul Street Daily were so small they were almost invisible to the naked eye.

This can't even be called a high-quality replica; it's pure counterfeiting!

Beep beep!

Lu Kai's phone rang.

It's Joyce.

The call at this time must mean there's been a result regarding the stadium issue.

“Hello, Joyce.” Lu Kai answered the call.

“Lu, this is the current situation…” Joyce went on and on.

The Smiths have basically finalized everything; in principle, they agree to the plans for Green Gun Stadium, including construction.

But the main problem lies with the masses.

The masses are not easily fooled.

If the project is made public and voted on by the public, although Green Guns are Dartford's most successful team in all these years, winning twelve titles in three years.

But... there's always a chance something might still go wrong.

If you're not careful, even if you can solve the problem, it can drag on for almost three years.

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium planning was completed in 1999, but construction did not begin until 2004.

Tottenham's new stadium was planned in 2009, but construction did not begin until 2015.

Green Gun can't wait.

Green Gun can wait, but Zhongjian can't.

Three years later, their masterpiece will have already been created. Why would they lose money building the Green Gun Stadium for you?

Of course, Lu Kai's money wasn't wasted.

Joyce added: "But we can actually continue the line of thinking from last year. Last year you won the U17 World Cup for England."

"The Queen personally praised you in the media, which, according to British law, is grounds for a pardon. Therefore, Dartford's stadium and land grants were granted through special procedures, without the need for the consent of the general public."

"Isn't there the U19 European Championship in mid-to-late July this year? If you can lead the team to a good result, then..."

Lu Kai frowned: "No, this is football, not table tennis. I can play well, but no one can guarantee winning the championship. Besides, even table tennis is almost unable to guarantee winning the championship."

Joyce explained, "It doesn't necessarily have to be winning the championship. As long as the results are acceptable and there's something to show for it, that's fine. You already have a large following, and you also have the attention from your commentary during the World Cup. Your joining should be able to divert some of the World Cup viewership to that event and also increase its value."

"UEFA is happy, the Queen is happy, the host, the King of Norway, is happy, and everyone is happy, so the special approval is granted."

"Of course, like I said before, I'll handle the arrangements, you just focus on playing football, okay?"

Lu Kai nodded in agreement.

He knew that this move would actually help Joyce accumulate experience in UEFA. Even if he couldn't become the head of the English Football Association, he could still hold a high-ranking position in UEFA, and his career path would become wider and wider.

But as long as his plan succeeds, it doesn't matter whether Joyce has his own agenda or not.

Focus on the big picture and let go of the less important ones.

Only by winning together can we keep winning.

……

Sky Sports: "England U19 team calls up Lu Kai in the final stages of the tournament, ready to embark on the UEFA U19 Championship!"

Sports Weekly: "Has England found the secret to winning the World Cup? After the success of signing Lu Kai to the U17 World Cup, they're repeating the same tactic at the European U17 Championship!"

Mundo Deportivo: "The English are oversimplifying the issue! Lu Kai, who is not yet seventeen, looks like a child next to a group of nineteen-year-old players! Even someone who is 1.81 meters tall is still a child!"

"Young players progress step by step each year. Lu Kai may be unbeatable among 16-year-olds, but he doesn't have the ability to compete at a higher level! England U19 is not Dartford; he doesn't have the £21.4 million Green Seven to support him!"

Football News: "No rest after the World Cup, the exciting UEFA U-20 Championship is coming! Let's see if Lu Guan can lead England to their second major tournament title!"

Dongqiudi: "The strongest European Under-21 Championship in the world? Quaresma, Viana, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Odonkor, Huntelaar, Sneijder, Robben, De Jong, Torres, Iniesta, Reyes, a gathering of stars... Can Lu Kai reign supreme once again?"

Overshadowed by the World Cup, this year's European Under-21 Championship was virtually unknown.

But now, thanks to Lu Kai, the European Youth Championship caught the tail end of the world-class goal and suddenly appeared before everyone's eyes.

At first glance, the stars were dazzling!
In the group stage, Lu Kai scored one goal and provided one assist, demonstrating his strategic brilliance and helping England achieve two wins and one draw, perfectly integrating into the U19 team.

Compared to last year's U17 team, this U19 team is much stronger.

Lu Kai doesn't need to carry the team.

Of course, given the outstanding individual abilities of the players, England should be eliminated once they encounter strong opponents in the knockout stage.

For example, Portugal.

In the European Under-21 Championship Group B quarter-final, Portugal's Quaresma shone throughout the match.

Rather than calling him Sporting Lisbon's "new Figo," it's more accurate to say he's "Figo + Rivaldo."

It's incredibly strong!

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is on par with Lu Kai as an SSS-level golden boy, is only Quaresma's junior and can only watch his older brother shine on the field.

Meanwhile, Portugal's Hugo Viana is equally impressive, dubbed the "new Rui Costa".

Just over ten days ago, he joined Tottenham Hotspur, a strong team in the English Premier League, for 12 million euros.

This also adds a sense of destiny to the match.

Tottenham fans can be happy no matter who wins.

Despite his career not meeting expectations, Viana's eventual rise to become the sporting director of the mighty Manchester City is still remarkable.

Portugal's midfield also includes a future star, Meireles, who was Liverpool's Player of the Year in a certain season.

But they couldn't force Lu Kai to unleash his full potential.

Because Lu Kai's teammates suddenly erupted!

Darren Bent is the main striker for this England U19 team.

He comes from the youth academy of Premier League club Ipswich Town and has made five appearances for the team this season, scoring one goal.

He is also the future Premier League top scorer, having won the Premier League Bronze Boot twice and scored over 100 Premier League goals.

But I had bad luck with the competitions and missed them every time.

Carlton Cole, a 1.91-meter tall center forward, an upgraded version of Holt, a product of Chelsea's youth academy.

Chopra, a product of the youth academy of Premier League giants Newcastle United.

The midfield includes David Fox, a product of Manchester United's youth academy.

John Joseph, Liverpool youth academy graduate.

Jermaine, Arsenal youth academy graduate.

Pennant, Arsenal's talented star. He was sent to Watford by Wenger in the second half of the season, but he will return to Arsenal next season, and Wenger is looking forward to his transformation.

Gerrard Jenas, who recently transferred from Nottingham Forest to Newcastle United for a hefty £5 million fee, is known as the "Little Gerrard".

Barton: ???
The defense consists of Hoyt and Ryan Gary, Arsenal's...

Clark, from Sunderland.

Glen Johnson, a West Ham United star, is being targeted by numerous top clubs including Chelsea and Liverpool. He is a powerful right-back.

Goalkeeper Lee Grant, a good friend of Ashley Young from Watford's youth academy, will make two appearances in his three-goal career at Manchester United in the next four years before retiring with a regret.

In short, they are all talented individuals.

Compared to the U17 team, which is largely unknown, this lineup could be a formidable force in the future.

Furthermore, the starting left winger for this team is... the in-form Liverpool striker, Morgan!
Apart from Lu Kai, there really weren't any ordinary people.

The team can be described as follows:

They chatted and laughed with everyone, and had no dealings with anyone else.

No amateur distractions to disturb the ears, no semi-professional labor to toil the body!

London nightclubs, featuring a group of young European models.

Everyone was vying to say, "It's my treat today!"

They're all at the fifth or sixth level!
Ultimately, thanks to goals from Morgan and Jenas, England defeated Portugal 2-1 and advanced to the semi-finals of the European U-21 Championship.

In the Group B semi-final of the European Under-21 Championship, England will face Germany.

The Germans, fresh from their runner-up finish at the World Cup, are in high spirits.
England fielded their starting lineup, with Lu Kai continuing to play in midfield.

On the German side, the players like Lahm mentioned at the beginning are not absolute core players, at least not the strongest in terms of performance.

On the contrary, Michael Rensing, Christian Schulz, and Trochowski were in better form.

Mike Hanke is the team's "only true core".

He topped the European Under-21 Championship scoring charts with four goals.

This result is enough to compete for the ultimate Golden Boot.

His team is none other than Schalke 04, the winner of this season's German Cup!

Both teams played with extraordinary intensity in this match. The English players seemed to feel as if they had won the World Cup after defeating the German U19 team, and their motivation was boundless.

As a result, Darren Bent and Pennant each scored a goal, defeating the Germans 2-0.

They achieved a great victory and advanced to the Group B finals.

The key to this match was that Lu Kai pulled "Little Gerrard" Jenas back to participate in the defense, limiting the performance of wingers such as Odonkor, Schweinsteiger, and Lahm, and then launched a counter-attack to score.

If the Germans had had one more midfield maestro of Toni Kroos caliber, the outcome of the match might have been different.

Unfortunately, Kroos has only just joined Rostock U13 with his father.

……

Group B final: England vs. Netherlands!
Two of the thirteen Golden Boys from the first Golden Boy Awards have finally matched up.

Robben and Lu Kai.

In a pre-match interview, Robben stated without hesitation: "We will win, I will beat Lu Kai! I have full confidence in our lineup..."

Watching Robben talking non-stop on TV, Morgan laughed and said, "He looks so old."

The England players burst out laughing.

Only Lu Kai didn't laugh.

Because he was taking stock of the system's achievements over this period of time.

With the season ending fast-paced and transfer window packed with things to do, he didn't have time to properly review everything.

You won't know until you try it, and once you do, you'll be amazed:
【Magnet - Black Iron 5】

[First Shot - Iron 5]

[The Rogue Assassin - Bronze 2]

[Destroyer - Bronze 3]

[Card Dealer - Bronze 4]

[Lion's Head Shake - Bronze 5]

[Fast Horse on the Sidelines - Bronze 5]

【Cruyff Turnaround - Silver 2】

【Focus on Marking·Silver 5】

[Quick start upgraded to launch control]

[Launch Start - Bronze: Your burst damage receives a slight boost. Your first step stride is longer.]

[Fancy ball control upgraded to glue ball control]

[Glue Ball Control - Bronze: Your ball control ability has been improved. There is a chance to make the ball bounce completely when controlling it.]

[Tough Guy Transforms into a Basketball Ruthless Player]

[Site Bully - Silver: Your physical strength has been enhanced. You will receive significant damage reduction in on-field clashes. After receiving a yellow card, you will receive a 5% ability boost on your next appearance. After receiving a red card, you will receive a 10% ability boost on your next appearance.]

Aggressive steals have evolved into an impenetrable wall.

[Iron Wall - Silver: Your one-on-one steal ability has been improved. You are less likely to make mistakes on defense, and the probability of own goals is reduced.]

[Chain bikes upgraded to electric bikes]

[Electric Bike - Silver: Your dribbling skills are enhanced. Perform five super-fast feints, during which your bike loses its deceptive ability but greatly increases its explosive power.]

[Zone 20 Positioning - Special: Enhances the effectiveness of the team's zone 20 positioning training]

Beckham's Flying Boot: Player Item. Right Foot +1. Throwing the right boot will always hit the target.

[Defensive positioning: 71+2+2]

Volleys: 52+3

Off-the-ball movement: 67+1

[Short pass: 71+2]

Headers: 65+2

[Speed: 67+3]

[Cadence adjustment: 66+1+3]

Man-to-Man: 52+2

[Vertical Jump: 59+2]

[Ball control: 59+2]

【Strong: 62+3】

Steals: 59+3

Tackles: 57+1

!!!

[All attribute values ​​have reached 60, current: 21/27]

Six attributes did not meet the requirements.

The maximum attributes at level 75 are also six.

Any attributes that do not meet the requirements can be made up for by using the excess attributes from the maximum level after the season ends.

At the start of the new season, Lu Kai will be able to complete the elite path.

It didn't really hinder his growth; instead, it transformed his advantageous attributes into a well-rounded one, allowing him to completely outclass his peers.

His overall growth this season is even faster than last season!
There are so many good things this time, we need to study them carefully before we can turn them into combat power.

For example, the "launch start" may seem to only add a little bit of explosive power, but its essence lies in the enhancement of the first step.

McGrady's first step is unparalleled, and his pull-up jumper can kill instantly.

If you don't take that quick and long first step, and you encounter something with strong coverage, you can pull it up and press it down for you.

In football, a long first step can also give you an early advantage.

No matter how fast you are, I'll block you from behind in the first step, and you'll just be left eating my dust and committing a foul.

For many players, once you're outpaced or stuck behind them, you're essentially nonexistent.

[Ball stop with glue], in one word, amazing!

In actual combat, it can often create a time difference for the opponent, with endless applications.

[Basketball Thug]

!!!

Tactical skills!
This was the first time Lu Kai had encountered a skill that could be effective across different competitions. It was practically like a pre-battle training camp, and he was already feeling incredibly skilled.

I estimate that its reputation won't be very good in the future.

"This player always commits fouls at insignificant moments at the end of the game, which is very annoying."

That's Lu Kai.

【Iron Wall】I recommend that every professional own goal scorer has one.

Every single one of these passive skills that can reduce negative effects is an amazing ability.

Football is not just about skill; sometimes luck also plays a part.

[Electric bicycle], those who know, know.

Forget about the results, just tell me how fast it is!
As one of Ronaldo's signature skills in the later stages of his career, it greatly created shooting opportunities for players while sacrificing his technical rating.

Like the backheel flick to change direction, this is an important part of Ronaldo's transformation into a god-level shooter.

The combination of the electric bicycle and the first step of the launch start is simply too beautiful to look at!
[20th Zone Positioning] is a team boost that only takes effect after training. It can be used by Dartford, but it has no effect here for now.

[Beckham's flying boot] It must have been taken from Beckham's left eyebrow, which made Lu Kai's right foot reach the top level of 7!

Since the system equipment can change its appearance at will, there is no need to worry about it being discovered by outsiders.

These sneakers look unconventional and are a perfect match for the clashes on the field. They inherit Beckham's "lock" effect, guaranteeing a hit after a throw, making them a targeted skill.

Pantheon's Q without the rework is only this good!

"Let's go, get ready to go on the field," Stanley reminded the players.

After winning the championship last year, he was promoted.

I didn't think they would get good results this year, since they didn't play very well in the qualifiers.

Unexpectedly, Lu Kai skipped a grade and advanced.

Stanley had a gut feeling.

He might get promoted again after this competition!

Therefore, he was exceptionally polite to Lu Kai: "Lu? Do you have any instructions... or ideas for this match?"

Lu Kai shook his head.

Both teams lined up in the players' tunnel.

The match is about to begin!
(End of this chapter)