Ground football: Ronaldo thought I was going to assist him

"Dad, Mom, this is a good friend I met in the youth team. You can just call him Chris."

"Oh dear, what happened to you? You're covered in mud, and you even have injuries!"

"It's okay. Some other guys in the team were bullying me, and Chris stood up for me. Don't worry, we didn't lose out; they're in a worse situation now! I'm so hungry, let's get something to eat, how about our specialty?"

Mr. and Mrs. Deng knew that their child was quite independent; he would say what he wanted to say, and there was no point in asking him what he didn't want to say.

After dinner, everyone's mood improved considerably.

During this time, Trigra also called Deng's father to explain what had happened during the day and apologized to him several times, saying that he had let them down.

Finally, Trigla stated that he had already communicated with the head of the youth training department, and those young players who assaulted Deng Kai would definitely be severely punished.

Deng's parents didn't make things difficult for Trigra; they knew he had his own struggles too.

Afterwards, Deng's mother hid in the kitchen and secretly wiped away her tears, regretting sending Deng Kai to play football.

Although Deng's father also felt sorry for her, he still expressed his support.

"A real man will have to go through this eventually," Deng's father said, as he took out his Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor) and insisted on having a couple of drinks with Ronaldo.

With just a small bite, Ronaldo was knocked down on the spot.

I woke up the next day.

Deng Kai was surprised to find that his familiarity with Cristiano Ronaldo had skyrocketed to over 20%!

This……

Indeed, nothing enhances understanding more than living together.

Deng Kai looked at Cristiano Ronaldo lying on the floor, lost in thought.

Or... should we leave Ronaldo at home?

"Mom, could we make breakfast a little more substantial? Not Western-style, but steamed lamb, steamed bear's paw, steamed deer tail... Oh, please don't hit me, how about some twice-cooked pork...?"

……

On the bus.

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't stop talking about the outrageous breakfasts served at Chinese families, repeatedly telling Deng Kai that it was the best food he had ever eaten.

And he tried to hint that Deng Kai could bring some to the training ground in the future.

Looking at the boxed lunches his mother had prepared for him and Cristiano Ronaldo, Deng Kai said, "Chris, why don't you come stay at my place?"

"Huh?" Ronaldo was taken aback.

Deng Kai said seriously, "We played Andoa yesterday. He's a local. I heard his brother seems to have some connections with the Lisbon Mafia, and that's how he became the leader of the U14 team."

"If he wants to retaliate against you... the players' dormitory is obviously not as safe as my home."

"Our area is a Chinese community, and Chinese people don't fight with other Chinese people. Whenever a foreigner comes in, Grandpa Wang and Grandma Huang will question them."

"Besides, don't you like our family's food?"

"Give my parents the room and board fees you pay to the school every month, and they'll cook you delicious food every day. Maybe they'll even give you a hundred or two yuan back, which you can send home and contribute to your family."

"Furthermore, I've noticed that you have significant issues with football theory, while I happen to excel academically and am quite adept at theoretical discussions. I explain tactics and positioning to you, and you practice dribbling, passing, and shooting with me; we can both improve rapidly."

"I know a road that goes directly from my house to the training field. We'll dribble the ball there together, it'll be so much fun!"

Deng Kai unleashed a barrage of attacks.

After the last point was mentioned, Ronaldo was clearly tempted.

Men are young until they die.

Some behaviors that seem childish and meaningless always manage to strike a chord with them.

"But the youth teams..." Ronaldo still lacks experience in adapting to the rules.

Young players can even move out?

The rules for the echelon are all set in stone.

"I'll handle it. I'll talk to Mr. Trigla, and he'll agree," Deng Kai said, indicating that he would leave it to him.

Don't be fooled by the many rules and regulations in the West, and the appearance of a contract-based society. Once you get to know them, you'll find that everything can be communicated. Playing football is all about interpersonal relationships and social skills.

After arriving at the training base, the two were taken to a new youth team by Maksa, Sporting Lisbon U15.

Actually, we're all in the same place, it's just that the teammates have changed.

The teammates also welcomed the addition of Ronaldo and Duncan.

The reason for the welcoming ceremony was not because Ronaldo and Duncan had joined, but because the team had a new coach – Maxi!

He got promoted!

He climbed up step by step, from U14 to U15.

Deng Kai has every reason to believe that Maxi came to this team with a mission.

It was Trigra who assigned him the task.

The mission is definitely to do everything possible to develop Cristiano Ronaldo.

This task likely also receives support from higher-ups and is an important part of Sporting Lisbon's business strategy.

Perhaps, this mission also involves self-cultivation and care.

But that might be the benefit Trigra sought to gain by falsely claiming imperial orders.

After one training session, Ronaldo won over the team; at the very least, most people acknowledged his ability.

As for Deng Kai... he still needs time to adapt. His strength in this team is currently at the bottom level, after all, he is more than two years older and much shorter.

During the lunch break, Deng Kai was surprised to find that several of the U14 players next door were missing.

He found out that the seven U14 players who had fought with him yesterday had been expelled from the youth training team!

Cristiano Ronaldo was very worried after hearing the news, fearing that the club would also hold him and Deng Kai accountable.

If someone is labeled a "troublemaker in youth training," it will be very difficult for them to find a new club.

As it turns out, few troublesome players succeed in the game.

Even if they manage to make it in the early stages, they'll likely fall behind by their early twenties.

Their talents will be wasted in nightclubs and alcohol, and they will never reach their full potential.

Compared to Ronaldo's worries, Deng Kai was quite relieved.

Dealing with Andoya and his group naturally means that Deng Kai and his group will not be dealt with.

Only a fool would offend both sides.

Trigrago.

They acted swiftly and decisively.

Seven youth training programs were abandoned without warning.

Such decisive and ruthless actions.

He is destined for great things!

It's believed that he will become the future head of Sporting Lisbon.

……

Three days later, Deng Kai successfully shared in Ronaldo's talent boost.

After training that day, his speed and dribbling skills had each improved slightly.

He truly deserves the title of "peerless genius".

In comparison, the "genius" is utterly unremarkable.

After researching the talents of other players in the youth training team, Deng Kai basically understood the system's evaluation criteria.

For example, João Moutinho, who skipped from U13 to U14, has the same level of talent as Deng Kai, belonging to the category of exceptionally gifted individuals.

With talent at this level, if he properly realizes his potential, he could basically become a key midfielder for a second- or third-tier footballing nation.

He would likely be a starter for a team in one of the top five European leagues.

Anyone who can reach the level of the top five leagues must at least be "exceptionally talented".

The terms "unparalleled talent" and "unique genius" are basically just some star players whose names everyone can recall, but definitely not those star players that everyone thinks have exceptional talent.

Jordan Henderson, the future captain of the Red Army, is a prime example.

In the future, probably no one will consider Henderson a gifted player. His running, attitude, and commitment to defense were the key reasons he earned his place in that powerful Liverpool team.

Is his talent really that ordinary?

But in fact... his talent level is actually "unparalleled genius"!

Not only him, but many players whose talents are unknown to most people also have extremely high levels of skill.

In his early career, Henderson was hailed by The Guardian as England's U19 superstar of the year, a prodigy considered England's hope for winning Olympic gold, the European Championship, and even the World Cup in the next decade!

Therefore, any player who can make it to the top five leagues, or even any player who can establish themselves in the second division, is highly talented.

Countless extraordinary talents and even peerless geniuses perished along the way.

The football world has never lacked talented players.

But the success rate of talented players is extremely low.

Some media outlets have compiled a list of the top 20 promising young players from the youth academies of clubs in Europe's top five football leagues each year.

Looking back a few years later, of these players, less than five out of every twenty were able to establish themselves in the second division, and only a handful were able to establish themselves in the top five leagues.

No superstar was born.

The ceiling is the starting player of a top team, but not the core player; rather, they are a workhorse player.

The key issue is that these aren't ordinary youth training players; they are already top-tier talents, yet their injury rate is still so high.

Therefore, in the world of football, talent is really worthless; even the most outstanding genius is nothing.

Deng Kai: ? ? ?

Deng Kai: Who the hell are you cursing?