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

April 16, 2011, Shanghai Hongkou Football Stadium.

rain.

It's raining again.

Wu Shi sat on the bench. This was Wu Shi's third time on the roster this season, but he was a "water boy" the previous two times.

"In this weather," Jiang Ning said, "the old man is even less likely to change his driver."

Wu Shi didn't speak, staring at the field.

This match against Evergrande will be very difficult. Conca has been pulling a thigh muscle during training and will miss the game.

Zheng Zhi plays as an attacking midfielder, but his strength lies in central midfield, although he can also play in the attacking midfield position. Without Conca, Guangzhou Evergrande's attacking ability has significantly decreased.

Another piece of bad news is that the team's main striker Cleo suddenly announced his transfer back a week ago. The club urgently brought in newcomer Elkeson in the transfer market, but he is still adjusting to the time difference and tactics and has not participated in a single training match or training camp. In this game, he can only sit on the bench and observe his teammates.

So the center forward used by Evergrande in this match is... Gao Lin.

In the 28th minute, Gao Lin received the ball in the penalty area, but because he didn't control it well, he took two extra steps to adjust. Then, seeing that the opponent's angle was about to be blocked by the defender, he finally shot – the ball hit the side netting.

"Ouch!" A collective sigh rippled through the substitutes' bench.

In Wu Shi's mind, the system calmly analyzed:

[Shooting timing delayed by 1.2 seconds].

[Too many steps adjusted]

[Optimal solution: Receive the ball and shoot directly into the far corner]

[Actual choice: Control the ball, adjust, and then shoot towards the near corner]

[Success Rate Comparison: 71% vs 34%]

He closed his eyes. He could see all this data, but what use was it? He wasn't even there.

The first half ended 0-0.

The atmosphere in the locker room was tense. Lippi spoke rapidly in Italian, the translator's voice urgent: "...They're packed in the middle, we need to attack down the flanks! Muriqui, cut inside more! Gao Lin, be decisive in your runs!"

Gao Lin nodded.

At halftime, the coach didn't give any tactical instructions, but simply told the players to execute the pre-match strategy.

The second half begins.

In the 51st minute, Shanghai scored from a corner kick. 0-1.

Lippi, looking grim, stood up from the coaching bench and walked to the sidelines. He began shouting instructions to the players.

Time passed by, second by second.

In the 60th minute, Muriqui broke through on the left and crossed the ball. Gao Lin attracted two opposing defenders at the near post, and the ball fell to the far post, but unfortunately no player was there to meet it.

In the 64th minute, Zheng Zhi's long-range shot went over the crossbar.

Wu Shi began to move his ankles. He had a premonition—not confidence, but a hint from the system:

According to the match data model, the probability of the head coach making a substitution between the 65th and 70th minute is 87%.

[Most likely to be substituted: Gao Lin (due to decreased stamina and reduced efficiency)]

[Most likely substitutions: Elkeson (new signing needs to adapt) or Wu Shi (training performance rating A)]

Wu Shi glanced at Elkeson on the other side of the bench. Elkeson was looking listless because he was jet-lagged.

In the 67th minute, the ball went out of play.

Lippi turned around.

Wu Shi felt his heart skip a beat.

Then he heard: "Wu Shi, warm up."

It wasn't a shout, but a calm command. But Wu Shi seemed to be electrocuted, and suddenly stood up.

"Replace Gao Lin," Lippi added. "Play him as a center forward, but he can drop back to receive the ball. Run more."

Wu Shi nodded and took off his coat. The rain hit his face, feeling icy cold.

During the two-minute warm-up period, the system continuously analyzed data for Wu Shi:

[Opponent defenders' stamina decreased: right center-back 68%, left center-back 71%]

[Recommendation: Prioritize attacking the right-center defensive zone]

[The track is slippery in rainy weather, so it is recommended to reduce sudden stops and changes of direction, and make more use of sprints and reverse runs.]

The fourth official raised the substitution board: Number 29 out, Number 21 in.

Gao Lin looked grim as he walked off the court, and he gave Wu Shi a hard high-five. Wu Shi didn't pay any attention and stepped onto the court.

The grass was slippery. He stepped on it a few times to get used to it, then looked towards midfield where Zheng Zhi was organizing the attack, and Muriqui on the left wing raising his hand for the ball.

The first touch was in the 71st minute.

Zheng Zhi intercepted the ball in midfield and looked up to find the striker.

Wu Shi is making a lateral run between the two center-backs. If the timing of the pass is good, it is easy to create a one-on-one opportunity by beating the offside trap.

However, Zheng Zhi opted for a long pass to Muriqui on the left wing.

The ball was intercepted.

Wu Shi stopped and slowly lowered his raised hand.

Muriqui waved his hand at him, roughly meaning "my problem." But Wu Shi knew that Zheng Zhi hadn't considered him at all when making that passing choice.

Second chance.

In the 75th minute, right-back Zhang Linpeng made a run and crossed the ball. Wu Shi got into position at the near post, started his run half a second earlier, and took advantage of the space created by the opposing defender's half-beat delay in turning.

The ball is here.

He jumped—

The ball flew over his head; the pass was too deep.

As he landed, he heard the opposing center-back sneer: "Kid, what's the rush?"

Wu Shi ignored him and ran back to his position.

the third time.

In the 79th minute, Muriqui cut inside and played a through ball. Wu Shi successfully beat the offside trap, instantly leaving the defender a full body length ahead!

Raise your hand to ask for the ball—

Muriqui chose to shoot himself. The ball hit a defender's leg and went out of bounds.

Corner kick.

Wu Shi stood in the restricted area, panting. The rain was getting heavier.

It's not a matter of ability. It's a matter of trust.

In their eyes, he was just a 16-year-old kid, a newcomer from the China League One, and a "backup" who wasn't worth passing the ball to in crucial moments.

The corner kick was taken and punched away by the goalkeeper. Shanghai launched a counter-attack and almost scored again.

The score was still 0-1 in the 85th minute.

Wu Shi glanced at the sidelines. Lippi stood with his arms crossed, his face expressionless.

Five minutes to go.

He recalled his last match in Shaanxi, the decisive goal in the rain that secured promotion. He remembered saying when he signed his contract, "I want to play in the AFC Champions League."

And now? They can't even play in the Chinese Super League?

No.

He took a deep breath, and rainwater filled his nostrils.

System prompt:

Stamina Remaining: 72%

[Suggestion: Increase off-the-ball movement to wear down the opposing defenders]

[Special Reminder: The opponent's right center-back is showing signs of cramping]

Wu Shi started running.

It's not about waiting for the ball, it's about pressing. Starting from the forward line, chase the opposing defender with the ball, chase back to the goalkeeper who passed it, and chase all the way to the corner flag.

Annoyed by his pursuit, the opposing defender launched a long ball forward.

Possession changes.

88 minutes.

Evergrande's last attacking opportunity. Zheng Zhi receives the ball in midfield and looks up.

Wu Shi is making a run in the open space on the right. This is the "best receiving area" given by the system, and there are no defenders within two meters of him.

He raised his hand.

Zheng Zhi saw it and hesitated for half a second.

Then they chose to pass the ball diagonally to the left wing.

Muriqui controlled the ball, but was then double-teamed and lost possession. Muriqui raised his hand to signal his loss.

Wu Shi gritted his teeth and could only retreat to defend. When he was near Zheng Zhi, "his positioning was good."

I don't know if it's a compliment or a consolation.

In the 90th minute, the fourth official held up a sign: 3 minutes of added time.

In the stands, Evergrande fans had already begun to leave. 0-1, an away loss, ending their three-game winning streak.

Wu Shi felt his legs getting heavier and heavier. It wasn't fatigue, but a feeling of powerlessness. He had been on the field for 23 minutes, touched the ball 4 times, lost possession 2 times, had 0 shots on goal, and 0 key passes.

The data column was so clean it looked like it had never been used.

This is the last chance.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Shanghai team players were passing the ball around in their own half to waste time. At this point, the opposing defenders were already exhausted, and Wu Shi used his physical strength to rush forward and press the defenders.

The center-back was a little slow to turn, and Wu Shi poked the ball with his toe!

The ball is rolling towards the sideline, but it's still in bounds!

Wu Shi and his opponent chased after the ball at the same time. He got a half-body lead and won the ball.

Turn around and face the goal.

The player's current position: right side of the penalty area, at a very tight angle. The opposing left center-back has already covered, and the goalkeeper has blocked the near post.

In my mind, the system:

[Excellent Opportunity]

[Suggestion: Use the outside of your left foot to curl a shot into the far corner]

Success rate: 63%

[Special Note: The opposing goalkeeper has a habit of moving ahead of time; observe his center of gravity.]

Wu Shi didn't have time to observe.

He glanced up at the goal hastily, then kicked with his left foot.

The outside of the left foot. The point of contact with the ball is the outside of the instep, near the ankle.

The ball leaves the ground.

There was no spin, or rather, the spin was strange—not the sidespin of a curveball, but a bizarre, forward-leaning backspin.

The goalkeeper positioned himself to block the near post, but seeing the ball heading towards the far post, he could only desperately dive to make the save.

late.

The ball suddenly dipped in front of the goal, skimming the bottom edge of the crossbar, grazing the inside of the far post, and crashing into the net.

1: 1.

The entire room fell silent for a second.

Then the Evergrande fan zone exploded.

Wu Shi stood still, neither running nor celebrating. He looked down at his left foot, then looked up at the goal.

They're in?

Did they really make it in?

The opposing defender collapsed to the ground, and the right center-back he had dispossessed was cramping up. The team doctor ran onto the field.

His teammates rushed over. Muriqui hugged him, speaking in Brazilian languages, while Zheng Zhi ruffled his hair.

Wu Shi was still confused.

Until the sidelines, Lippi clapped a few times and then said something to his assistant coach.

Teaching assistant Chao Wushi gave a thumbs up.

The final whistle blew.

1:1, a draw.

"Wu Shi! Look this way!"

Flashes of light rained down on us.

The interview area at Hongkou Football Stadium was packed. Wu Shi was stopped and surrounded by dozens of microphones and recorders.

"You scored a last-minute equalizer in your first appearance in the Chinese Super League. How do you feel now?"

Wu Shi wiped the rain off his face, panting, "I was stunned... really, that ball was a fluke."

"A fluke?" The reporter from Sports Weekly raised his voice. "That position, that angle, using the outside of your non-dominant foot to create such a bizarre arc—you're telling me that was a fluke?"

A burst of laughter erupted around them, who assumed the child was imitating the big shots at "Versailles".

"What did Coach Lippi say to you when Gao Lin left the field?" another reporter pressed.

"He said... to move around more," Wu Shi replied honestly.

"We saw your movement, but the key was that goal!" A reporter from a local Guangzhou TV station practically shoved the microphone in his face. "Did you ever think you'd be playing before the match? Did you ever think you'd score?"

Wu Shi shook his head. He genuinely hadn't thought about it. During those sixty-seven minutes sitting on the bench, his most frequent thought was, "I've come here for nothing again."

But that's not the answer the reporters wanted. They wanted a story, a legend, a groundbreaking script.

"Some netizens said that your goal reminded them of Messi's unpredictable chip shots from certain angles. What do you think?"

The question was posed, and the interview area fell silent for a moment.

"I'm not like anyone else." Wu Shi heard his own voice, calmer than he expected. "My name is Wu Shi. The goal was a fluke, but the name is real."

His words were blunt, but given his youthful face at sixteen, they actually made for a very typical answer for a young person.

"Wu Shi!" someone shouted from the back of the crowd. It was a CCTV sign. "Did you know that the national team's assistant coach watched your match from the sidelines?"

Wu Shi was truly stunned.

"I heard that Coach Gao Hongbo has already put your name on the scouting list for the Asian Cup training camp!" the reporter said quickly. "You're only sixteen years old, are you under pressure to join the national team?"

Pressure? Wu Shi's mind went blank. The national team?

"I... I'll focus on playing well in the club's matches first," he managed to say.

But it was too late.

"Sixteen-year-old prodigy saves the day with a last-minute equalizer, prompting emergency call-up to the national team?"

"Lippi's brilliant substitution sets a new record for the youngest goalscorer in the Chinese Super League!"

"Wu Shi: I'm not like Messi, my name is Wu Shi!"

That night, these headlines spread across the internet at viral speed.

Back in the locker room, the noise was shut out by the door.

Wu Shi slumped in his chair, took out his phone from the locker, and wow, he saw 27 missed calls and 99+ unread WeChat messages.

Besides old friends like Li Jianguo and Lao Chen, there were a bunch of unfamiliar numbers labeled "XX Sports", "XX Brokerage Company", and "XX Brand Endorsement".

Three more key news items:

The first message came from a number I didn't save but recognized: "Xiao Wu, this is Coach Liu from the national youth team. I saw your performance today, it was excellent. I hope you can come to the next national youth team training camp. The club will receive the details."

The second message, from an even more unfamiliar number, read: "Hello Wu Shi, I am the team leader of the National Olympic Team (U23). Your age aligns with the national Olympic team development plan, and we have been following you for a long time. Please maintain your form; you will be called up later."

The third message, only one line long, was unsigned, but the tone was completely different: "Wu Shi, you performed well. Stay focused; the national team needs young players who can fight tough battles."

This third point... that tone... sounds a lot like a high-ranking official in the Chinese Football Association.

Triple jump?

The lists of players being considered for the national youth team, the Olympic team, and the national team... all arrived in one day?

"What are you spacing out for?" Zheng Zhi walked over, drying his hair, glanced at his phone screen, and laughed. "Not bad, you've already been spotted?"

Wu Shi quickly locked the screen.

"That's normal." Zheng Zhi sat down. "At your age, with a goal like that, it would be strange if it didn't make the news. But..." He paused, "The more the media hypes it up, the more you need to stay calm. You might score one today and be back on the bench tomorrow. In this industry, there are plenty of cases where people who are praised too highly fall hard."

Wu Shi nodded. He believed him.

While taking a shower, Wu Shi looked at the system notification:

[First appearance in Chinese Super League completed]

[Goal: 1 (Equalizer, media influence bonus)]

[Key stats: Running distance 3.2km (23 minutes on the field), 80% success rate in contact sparring]

[Template integration improved to: 1.3%] (Media buzz + national team attention provide additional boost)

[Unlock New Module: Resilience to Public Opinion Pressure (Beginner)]

The next morning, Wu Shi was called to the assistant coach's office. Lippi wasn't there; several newspapers were spread out on the table.

Guangzhou's rising star shines in Hongkou District; his perfectly flat outside-of-the-foot strike seems divinely inspired.

The accompanying photo is a close-up of him stunned after scoring, with a Shanghai defender collapsed and a despairing goalkeeper in the background. The article states: "...This goal evoked a fleeting glimpse of some South American geniuses, but Wu Shi insists 'it was a fluke.' Perhaps, Chinese football has truly awaited its own once-in-a-lifetime genius?"

From Xi'an to Guangzhou: A Sixteen-Year-Old's Triple Leap

This article details his resume:

Shaanxi Chanba youth training, stunning promotion from China League One to the Chinese Super League, transfer to Guangzhou Evergrande, and a last-minute draw in his first Chinese Super League match.

The last paragraph reads: "It is understood that the national youth team and the national Olympic team have issued call-ups immediately, and the sixteen-year-old's name may also appear in the national team's Asian Cup training squad."

Lippi's gamble: Why bring on Wu Shi at the last minute?

He analyzed the tactics, praised Lippi for his keen eye for talent, and took the opportunity to criticize Gao Lin for his poor form.

The final speculation is: "The benching in the Super Cup might be Lippi's way of protecting this young man. Now that the sword is drawn, its cold gleam is already visible."

The teaching assistant tapped the table: "See? The whole of China is talking about you right now."

Wu Shi remained silent.

"This is a good thing, but also a pressure," the teaching assistant said.

"The boss (Lippi) told me to tell you:"

First, maintain a calm mindset and continue training as usual;

Second, do not accept any individual interviews; all media requests should be made through the club.

Third…” He paused, “The club will handle the national team matters for you. All you need to do now is play well in the next game.”

"Can I play in the next match?" Wu Shi asked.

The assistant coach laughed: "That depends on the boss's arrangements. But do you think someone who scored that goal can just sit quietly on the bench?"

On my way back to the dorm, my phone vibrated again. This time it was my mom.

When I answered, I heard a suppressed sob on the other end: "Son... Mom's watching TV... You scored... and the national team too..."

Wu Shi's nose tingled with emotion: "Mom, don't cry. It's just a goal."

The mother choked up, "You've brought honor to our family. If only your father could see this..."

Wu Shi tilted his head back and took a deep breath.

In his past life, his father gambled away the family fortune on soccer and died. In this life, his father passed away early, and his mother raised him alone. Now, it seems he can finally do something to make his mother proud.

"Mom, I'll play well," he said. "Take care of yourself."

After hanging up the phone, he stood downstairs at the apartment building for a long time.

He recalled his outside-of-the-foot shot from yesterday. At the moment of contact with the ball, there was no "Messi template" as a cue; it was purely a desperate reaction from his body.

But the ball went in.

Perhaps the system only provides tools. How to use them, and how well they are used, is ultimately his own business.

My phone vibrated again. This time it was Zhang Hao, my best friend from a past life.

"Stone!!! You fucking appeared on CCTV!!! I told my colleagues that's my brother, but nobody believed me!!! Hurry up and sign one and send it to me, I want to slap them in the face!!!"

Wu Shi laughed and replied, "Get lost. Go to work."

"Screw your job! Let me tell you, the internet is calling your shot the 'Wu Shi Curve,' isn't that awesome?"

Wushi Curve?

Not bad. Much better-sounding than "China League One Messi".

I went upstairs and opened the door. The apartment was still the same apartment, but it felt a little different.

The half-torn Messi poster on the wall was still there. Wu Shi walked over and stared at the smiling face.

In the past, I felt disgust and resentment towards it.

Looking at it now...

He reached out and tore the poster off. He put it in the drawer.

Then he took out yesterday's game jersey from his bag—number 21, with "WU SHI" printed on the back.

He hung it where the poster used to be.