I AM the Football Star

Chapter 41: Chapter 18: Does Lu Yang Like to Drive Big Rigs?

”Is Sanremo Football Club really that good?”

”Has Italy produced another set of twin stars?”

”Is Maniero sure he wasn’t drunk?”

”Can anyone tell me what exactly happened?”

”It’s those two! Sanremo’s midfield dual core!”

Italian football is in a frenzy.

Everyone is scrutinizing the last round of the Italian D League that just ended.

In the match between Sanremo and Foggia, Sanremo’s old central forward scored a goal, and their substitute center-back Naji also found the net.

The team’s left forward Vedian contributed a goal and an assist.

The midfield core Morici provided two assists.

And the team’s newly promoted defensive midfielder Lu Yang got an astonishing two goals and two assists!

Maniero was amazed by the transformation of the Sanremo team and was also building momentum for his old friend Sotu.

He knew what his friend needed.

To get the wealthy but stingy chairman to spend more money, Sanremo had to undergo a qualitative change.

Qualitative changes on all fronts, from strength to fame.

Those who rushed to watch the match highlights or even the full replay because of Maniero’s speech were indeed filled with emotion.

”Oh my god, that number 23 player really reminds me of a young Maniero. The only difference is that the young Maniero had yet to develop the style of play where organizing falls to the back, appearing more dazzling instead.”

”Yeah, his name is Morici, he’s indeed a good midfield talent. Why hasn’t any big club taken notice of this guy?”

”There have been clubs noticing him, but they’re from the Italian Third Division.”

”What? The Third Division? With Morici’s ability to organize and control the midfield, surely he could play in Serie B, right? He’s only seventeen!”

”It might be his height! Morici is only 1.72 meters tall, and given his age, his final height is unlikely to surpass 1.75 meters. This doesn’t fit with the trend in Italian football in recent years.”

”Yeah, even Maniero is 1.77 meters tall, and he had a tough early career because of it. Morici might find it hard to succeed.”

”Look at the Italy National Team U21 and U19 recruits; the average midfielder height is over 1.78 meters.”

”Alas, physical attributes have become a hard requirement in modern football. I personally think this is undesirable. Although height is an advantage, shorter players have their strengths too.”

”Are you talking about that Argentine genius player who scores at will in La Liga? He’s indeed an exception!”

”This Lu Yang kind of plays in the style of a young Sotu.”

”Hmm, I heard this guy used to be a center-back. Is this his first match as a defensive midfielder?”

”Why does it seem familiar?”

”Is it the guy who scored in the celebrity match with a lumberjack-like shot, deceiving five Serie A players?”

”It’s him! He scored a breathtaking overhead kick two months ago, from thirty-three meters, can you believe it?”

”It was him?”

”What a pity, his small skills surpass, but the real fundamentals are not solid. Look at this pass, clearly misplayed. This happens quite often.”

”He’s undoubtedly at the Italian D Division level. At higher-level leagues, with increased pressure and pace, Lu Yang can’t exhibit such midfield control. Morici, however, might still have a chance.”

”Lu Yang’s defense is quite good even in the Third Division, but his ball handling and passing don’t meet the standard. His shots are good looking, but lacking power, unlikely to beat top-tier goalkeepers.”

”Those two fancy flicks were pretty, but depended on the defenders’ negligence.”

”His ball control is very elegant, he seems like a double-edged sword.”

”He could be considered a bankrupt version of Sotu. After all, Sotu showed offensive talent when he was young, but later couldn’t keep up with the team’s level, hence transitioned to a defensive role. Lu Yang’s offensive ability should be much less than Sotu back then.”

”Of course, considering the ages of Lu Yang and Morici, sixteen and seventeen, they still have potential. Perhaps in two more years, big teams looking for a lottery ticket might try to develop them, but it’s still too early.”

This time, many professionals came to focus on Sanremo.

Compared to ordinary fans just attracted by the excitement, their evaluations were not as pleasing but very precise.

This left some of the flocking football enthusiasts slightly disappointed.

The so-called Italy National Team as a mini Sanremo is indeed an exaggeration.

But considering the person who said this was Maniero, everyone could actually understand his affection and promotion for young players.

And Lu Yang and Morici do indeed have a hint of the young Sotu and Maniero in them.

Anyone getting older, if lucky enough to see a young person who resembles themselves in youth, will certainly pay more attention and even inexplicable help.

This is human nature.

Everyone understood Maniero.

But the fans coming just for excitement didn’t care about all that.

Lu Yang’s fancy flick assist and goal, so impressive!

That rapid descent shot, simply domineering!

The final headed flick, a literal classic!

The way Morici plays, he’s a dead ringer for Maniero, he’s a midfield maestro!

And Sanremo’s record is indeed incredible!

In the second half of the season, they made a mad dash from fifteenth place in the standings to seventh now.

And they are only two points away from sixth place!

They have played ten matches so far, eight wins, two draws, undefeated, truly invincible.