Awakening the Messi template, Florentino Pérez begs me to join Real Madrid

Three days after the competition, just after training ended, the assistant coach called Wu Shi over as he was preparing for extra practice.

"Someone wants to see you in the head coach's office."

Wu Shi's heart skipped a beat.

He thought Lippi wanted to do a more in-depth review of the friendly match performance, or that he wanted to "advise" Lippi to rest because he had been training too much.

But when he opened the office door, he found that besides Lippi and a club executive, there was also an unfamiliar European face sitting inside.

He was a man around fifty years old, with gray hair, wearing a dark blue suit without a tie, which made him appear both formal and approachable.

He had a cup of tea in front of him and was talking to Lippi in English.

"Wu Shi, this is Mr. Carlos Mendoza, head of the international scouting department at Real Madrid," Lippi introduced in Italian, with the club translator immediately following up.

"Hello, Takeshi."

Mendoza stood up, extended his hand, and wore a professional smile.

"First of all, congratulations on your performance in the previous match. That goal was very composed, and the pass to Conca was also excellent in timing and trajectory."

"Thank you." Wu Shi took the initiative to shake hands with the other person.

"Please sit," Mendoza gestured, and after sitting down again, he went straight to the point.

"To make a long story short, in addition to commercial activities, the youth training and technical departments also commissioned us to conduct some preliminary investigations during this trip to China."

"To be honest, we have three young Chinese players we are particularly interested in: you, Wu Lei from Shanghai, and Li Haoran from Kyoto."

Wu Shi's heart raced slightly, but he tried his best to keep his face calm.

"Wu Lei's positioning and instinct impressed us, and Li Haoran's defensive toughness is outstanding among his peers."

Mendoza then changed the subject, "But you, Wu Shi, are the one marked 'key to watch' in our assessment report."

Lippi nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised by the assessment.

"There are several reasons." Mendoza took a thin folder from his briefcase.

"First, adaptability to multiple positions. In your limited professional match record, you have played as a center forward, attacking midfielder, winger, and even a midfielder in the youth team."

Although, as Mr. Lippi previously stated, this might mean being a "jack of all trades, master of none," such versatility is extremely valuable in modern football, especially in youth training systems.

Second, your technical characteristics, especially your passing vision and outside-of-the-foot technique, are distinctive and rarely seen among young players. Third…”

He paused.

"It's your competitive spirit. When facing our first team and youth players, you show a competitive drive and that little bit of... well, 'unconvinced' attitude."

"This is what we like. Of course, there's room for improvement, especially in terms of physicality and defensive commitment."

Mendoza thought to himself that without this indomitable spirit, he would probably have been discouraged by the performance of some of his peers in Europe and given up on himself.

"Therefore, after initial assessment and friendly communication with Guangzhou Evergrande Football Club,"

Mendoza glanced at the smiling executive from Evergrande beside him.

"We are formally extending an invitation: we hope that you will travel to Madrid, Spain, for a three-week trial at the Real Madrid Sports City after the end of this season's Chinese Super League – approximately a few months from now."

Trial training!

Wu Shi's mind went blank, even though he had been thinking about whether this opportunity would come his way for the past few days.

"The trial will be led by Castilla (Real Madrid B team) coaching staff. We will arrange for you to participate in team training and undergo comprehensive technical and physical tests. This is just an opportunity, a platform to showcase your abilities; no further commitments are made." Mendoza's tone was very serious. "Are you willing to accept?"

"I'm willing," Wu Shi said without hesitation.

"Very good." Mendoza nodded in satisfaction, pulled a document from the folder, and handed it to the Evergrande executive.

"Our team will discuss the specific timing and itinerary with your club in detail. Wu Shi, stay in shape and healthy. See you in Madrid."

The meeting was brief and efficient. After Mendoza left, Lippi patted Wu Shi on the shoulder:

"Don't overthink it, and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just play well in the upcoming matches and use your performance to earn a better chance for trials. Remember, this is just the beginning."

"You don't need to worry about the club holding you back. Lippi pointed to the air (national leaders) and said that the club has already given instructions. But the premise is that you have to work hard yourself. The club will not only not make things difficult for you, but will also assist you with some off-field business factors."

Wu Shi nodded vigorously, and when he walked out of the office, he felt his steps were a little unsteady.

[System: A major opportunity event has been detected. The trial training invitation has been confirmed.]

New long-term quest generated: 'The Road to Bernabéu'

[Phase One Requirement: Maintain consistent performance and avoid major injuries in the remaining games of this season.]

[Reward: Unlocks the 'European Trial Preparation' specialized training module. Upon achieving the required integration level, the 'Simulated European Youth Training Match' scenario will be unlocked.]

[Warning: Opportunity comes with risk. Your trial performance will directly impact scout evaluations and future development prospects. Please take this seriously.]

A few days later, Wu Shi was summoned to the club's business department again.

"Simply put, Real Madrid brought with them a regional GG project from their global sponsor, Coca-Cola," the business manager said quickly.

"The theme is 'The Team That Saves the Earth,' a classic formula of alien invasion and football showdown. We need some local players to film a few scenes with Real Madrid stars for promotional purposes in Greater China. You're one of the chosen ones."

Wu Shi then noticed that, in addition to a few staff members, there were also... Cristiano Ronaldo, Ramos, and several other popular stars from Real Madrid. They were having their hair and jerseys fixed with the help of stylists, looking relaxed and obviously used to the process.

On the other side, Wu Lei and Li Haoran were also there, listening somewhat nervously to the translator's explanation of the process.

"Your part is very simple." Director GG, a foreigner with a small mustache, communicated through a translator.

"See that green marker? Stand there. When the alien spaceship's CG effects appear behind you, you juggle a ball, then look at the camera and say a 'GG' line—'Fight for the world, Coca-Cola.' That's it, about ten to fifteen seconds of footage. Got it?"

Wu Shi nodded. He changed into a Evergrande jersey (but was told it would be redesigned into a more futuristic look later) and stood in his designated spot in front of the green screen.

The blinding lights made it hard for him to open his eyes, and the busy staff around him and the superstars chatting and laughing in the distance made him feel like an extra who had accidentally wandered into a blockbuster movie.

"Action!"

Wu Shi took a deep breath and began juggling the ball.

On the fifth bounce, he followed instructions to look up at the "sky" where a giant alien spaceship was supposedly floating, and then turned to the main camera lens.

"Fighting for the world, Coca-Cola," he said in Chinese, trying to make his tone firm and powerful. He had practiced this sentence many times in private.

"Cut! Great!" The director gave a thumbs-up in satisfaction. "Next, Wu Lei, get ready!"

Wu Shi breathed a sigh of relief and walked to the side. He saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Ramos filming a cool shot of themselves standing side by side, gazing up at the "starry sky," their movements skillful and their presence commanding. They were true world-class superstars, even if they were filming a scene from a movie.

When it was Wu Lei's turn, the shot showed him dribbling past several "alien obstacles" (green foam blocks held up by staff) before shooting. Li Haoran, on the other hand, made a crucial sliding tackle to clear the ball.

Filming continued intermittently for most of the day. During a break, Wu Lei came over and whispered, "A little nervous, right? It feels like a dream."

Wu Shi nodded: "I didn't expect it to be like this."

"I heard you got a trial invitation?" Li Haoran chimed in, his voice tinged with envy. "That's impressive. It seems like we were just noted down and put into the 'observation pool'."

"Just good luck," Wu Shi said. He knew that behind this "luck" was the system's special training and countless nights of extra practice, but there was no need to say more at the moment.

The shoot ended with a group photo, with all the Chinese and foreign players standing together, behind them a huge Coca-Cola logo and the slogan "UNITED BY FOOTBALL".

Wu Shi stood at the edge of the second row, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos' broad shoulders in front of him. He smiled as the shutter clicked.

On the night GG finished filming, Wu Shi returned to his apartment and turned on his computer.

There have already been numerous previews and leaked news reports online regarding Real Madrid's China tour and Coca-Cola's upcoming collaboration.

In a leaked short video clip, he saw himself—juggling a ball, looking up, and saying "GG." The scene flashed by, but in the comments section, sharp-eyed fans had already recognized him.

"That's a Hengda stone, right? Not bad, it gets to share the same stone as Ronaldo!"

"Even if it's just trying to get some screen time, it's still a form of exposure!"

"I heard Real Madrid scouts have their eye on him? Is it true?"

"Whether it's true or not, this kid has a bright future."