Wang Chu was filled with excitement and confusion. He had never felt this way before. Playing right wing had always confused him, but now he felt like a fish in water. He felt no discomfort, only a sense of liberation. This feeling was familiar, it was the same feeling he had when he captained the team in Metz.
The youth development coach, watching from the sideline, was beaming. He stared at Wang Chu with a look of desire. Genius! Absolute genius! As the youth development coach, he would be rewarded if he unearthed talent or nurtured players for the first team.
As a professional, he could tell that Wang Chu was incredibly skilled. It was obvious that Wang Chu was leagues ahead of his teammates in terms of technique. When he effortlessly breezed past the full-back, used a fake move to deceive the center-back, and then dribbled past the goalkeeper with ease before tapping the ball into the empty net, Wang Chu showcased a talent beyond mere passing.
The physicality issue, which he was most worried about, seemed to be a non-issue now. Though Wang Chu was slender, his physical strength was no joke. It was the first time he thought that he would regret not signing Wang Chu.
Indeed, only skill earns respect from teammates. After Wang Chu’s godly display, his teammates rushed over to celebrate with him.
Wang Chu’s godly performance caused a twinkle of meaning in the U19 head coach’s eyes. As the U19 coach, he was under a lot of pressure. If any player performed well enough, they would soon be promoted to the second team. This forced him to constantly devise new strategies. However, even the most skilled chef can't cook without ingredients, and without good players, the team’s performance remained lackluster. But now, Wang Chu’s emergence sparked a new idea in his mind.
He saw the makings of a team leader. He immediately adjusted his tactics and made changes to accommodate Wang Chu. He made Wang Chu the attacking core of the front line. With this subtle adjustment, the front line instantly came alive. Wang Chu was like an engine, orchestrating the offense from the front.
After seeing Wang Chu’s spectacular performance, the opposing defenders treated him with utmost caution. They sent two men to mark him every time he touched the ball. Eventually, after losing possession twice, Wang Chu stopped trying to take on the whole team. After all, he had already attracted two defenders and freed his teammates.
He used his presence to create opportunities for his teammates. On the sideline, the head coach saw how effortlessly Wang Chu had taken on the role of the team’s attacking core. The light in his eyes grew even brighter.
As the game progressed, Wang Chu’s performance became increasingly outstanding. He was full of confidence with the ball at his feet and wasn't afraid to make moves or lose the ball. The current intensity of the game was no challenge for him. In fact, it felt like a walk in the park.
As the attacking core, Wang Chu also assumed more defensive responsibilities. After successfully stopping the opponent, Wang Chu’s team quickly launched a counter-attack. A pinpoint long pass from midfield, like a cannonball, flew towards Hansen in the front. However, Hansen couldn’t get the upper hand in the tussle for the ball and the opposing defender headed it clear. Thankfully, the ball remained under their control.
Coke, having stopped the incoming ball, wasted no time pushing forward with the ball. As he reached the edge of the opponent’s penalty area, a dark figure flashed past the edge of his right peripheral vision. So, he decisively slipped the ball towards the right front. This lightning-fast figure was none other than Wang Chu!
After passing the ball forward, Wang Chu didn’t hesitate. He immediately sprinted forward to participate in the counter-attack. Coke’s pass was perfect, and Wang Chu received the ball comfortably. He then continued to lead the ball forward with two steps, reaching the vicinity of the right edge of the penalty area.
Seeing that Wang Chu had the ball, the opposing full-back immediately stepped up to guard him. Facing the opposing defender, Wang Chu performed a series of consecutive stepovers, disrupting the full-back’s judgement.
Approaching the penalty area, he suddenly accelerated, feigning an inward cut and dragging the ball sideways, aiming to create space. However, the opposing full-back anticipated his move and blocked his path. Wang Chu remained undeterred and used a scoop to flick the ball toward the touchline.
It’s undeniable that Wang Chu’s godly performance was truly unforgettable. The full-back saw Wang Chu trying to cut inside and immediately blocked that space, but in doing so, the area near the touchline suddenly became a wide open space. “Opportunity!” Wang Chu thought to himself because he had seen Hansen, unmarked, near the back post. He immediately raised his foot and passed the ball. True to his 100 passing attribute, the ball perfectly bypassed everyone and ultimately thudded onto Hansen’s head. This was a golden opportunity.
“Bang!! Whoosh!!!’’ The ball went in! The goalkeeper tried to save the ball, but couldn't even touch it. This time, the ball soared directly into the opponent’s goal. The opposing goalkeeper could only raise his hand instinctively.
2-0! The score seemed to be a personal show for Wang Chu, who was displaying outstanding individual skills on the right wing. He not only delivered an accurate pass, but he also managed to score. Everything was so unbelievable.
After scoring, Hansen ran towards Wang Chu and excitedly embraced him. Wang Chu, while slightly embarrassed by the sudden hug, still showed his composure. He looked towards Lin Dong on the sideline. After seeing this, Lin Dong smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
The head coach on the sideline said to the assistant coach, “We have to keep this Chinese kid.” His tone was firm, obviously, he had been completely captivated by Wang Chu. At that moment, Wang Chu’s image appeared in his mind. He even remembered the legendary figure who played for Manchester United—David Beckham. They both had exceptional passing abilities. But now, it seemed like Wang Chu had surpassed Beckham in terms of passing skills. He also liked Wang Chu’s previous efforts in training. He never imagined that he would be this good. He hoped that Wang Chu would stay. Signing him would definitely bring huge rewards.
On the sideline, Lin Dong smiled as he watched all of this. He knew that Wang Chu was staying. If this kind of performance wasn’t enough to impress Leicester City, then there was truly no justice in the world.
In the rest of the game, Wang Chu continued to perform brilliantly. His individual abilities left the opposing full-backs feeling helpless. Even with two defenders marking him, he always managed to pass the ball out from tight spaces. There were several instances where he nearly assisted, but he just missed the target by a hair’s breadth. In the end, Wang Chu’s team beat their opponents 2-0. In this game, Wang Chu was undoubtedly the MVP. His performance drew attention from countless fans and spectators.
A few days later, a headline appeared in China that grabbed everyone’s attention: “Chinese Player Wang Chu to Join English Championship Club Leicester City!” As soon as this news was released, it triggered fervent discussion and attention among Chinese fans. However, when people carefully read the news, they realized that Wang Chu had only signed with Leicester City, a club in the English Championship.
The name Wang Chu was not unfamiliar to Chinese fans. He was once a highly touted, super talented player, even earning a Guinness World Record. Because of the sabotage incident he suffered, his name spread among fans. Suddenly, he became the subject of much discussion among fans. In fact, since the start of the five major leagues, Chinese players had not featured in any of them for years. Before this, only Zhang Cheng Dong had played in one of these leagues. However, this year, he had returned to his home country—Beijing. Therefore, the second-tier leagues of the five major leagues had become a focus for many fans. In this context, Wang Chu became the most prominent figure for fans.
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