Super Wingstorm

In the days that followed, Yang Yang found himself with some time off again.

After returning to Amsterdam with the Champions League trophy, the entire city erupted in a series of grand celebrations. The Ajax victory banquet that evening, in particular, attracted many of the Netherlands’ most prominent political and business figures, who all came to offer their congratulations.

The next day, the team officially disbanded. Yang Yang saw off his parents, Shen Yuzhu, and Wei Zheng, while his uncle and aunt returned to Almere.

Yang Yang returned to his old routine: waking up early for morning exercises, then going to De Toekomst for individual training. Apart from having dinner at Van Gaal’s house once, he barely went out.

Wei Zhen, on the other hand, was enthusiastically sightseeing in Amsterdam. But every time he saw how hard Yang Yang was training, he couldn’t help but marvel. Yang Yang’s success was no fluke. Even after scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final to help Ajax clinch the title, he hadn’t slacked off in the slightest and was still just as diligent and hardworking.

’Seriously, if someone like him can’t make it, then who deserves to?’

On the morning of May 31st, Wei Zhen received a call from back home. The leader of the National Youth Team was calling to inform them that the team had departed from Beijing for Paris, where they would catch a connecting flight to Toulon. Yang Yang was instructed to meet the team directly there.

Yang Yang and Wei Zhen had already booked their plane tickets, so they immediately flew from Amsterdam directly to Marseille, and then traveled from Marseille to Toulon.

Along the way, Wei Zhen continuously briefed Yang Yang about the National Youth Team’s trip for the Toulon Cup.

”The main goal is to test out the squad. Many of the starters just finished their domestic league season, so there aren’t high expectations for our results. However, the German head coach, Klauen, will be in Toulon to scout us.”

”Klauen?” Yang Yang had heard the name online before.

In order to better prepare for the ’08 Olympics, the Chinese Football Association planned to organize a long-term training camp in Germany for age-eligible players, similar to the Jianlibao team back in the day. Klauen was the head coach recommended by the Germans.

”I heard that he’ll most likely take over this National Youth Team and be in charge of the ’08 Olympics,” Wei Zhen reminded him.

The Olympics and the World Cup were the two hurdles that Chinese Football could never seem to clear.

After qualifying for the World Cup in ’02, everyone was full of expectations for the ’06 World Cup in Germany, confidently preparing to break out of Asia and reach the World Cup once again. Arie Haan was tasked with this mission.

As for Klauen, he was tasked with the ’08 Olympics.

Wei Zhen brought this up to ensure Yang Yang was paying attention.

Given Yang Yang’s current situation and the skill he’d shown, let alone the National Youth Team, even the senior National Team couldn’t ignore him. Barring any accidents, he was a shoo-in to be a starter for the ’08 National Olympic Team.

”Tell me about the Toulon Cup. I don’t know much about it, and the Football Association hasn’t sent me any information. The match is tomorrow, and aside from knowing our opponent is Colombia, I have no idea who I’ll be facing, what his strengths are, or anything,” Yang Yang said with a wry smile.

’This level of preparation is worse than even the Ajax Second Team’s.’

But Wei Zhen just shrugged. ”I don’t know either. Nobody does.”

”Then how are we supposed to play?”

”Just get on the field and play. We’ll just have to wing it.”

Yang Yang gave a wry smile. ’That’s really not my style.’

’I’ve always held myself to a high standard. Either I don’t do something at all, or I strive to do it to the best of my ability.’

”The Toulon Cup has produced a lot of stars, like Papan and Henry. Portugal won it last year. That Cristiano Ronaldo, who’s playing for Manchester United this season, was on that Portuguese team. He played exceptionally well and was noticed by scouts from several teams. Ferguson had already been scouting him during the Toulon Cup, which is why he picked him up right after that friendly match.”

Yang Yang knew of the player. He had inherited Beckham’s No. 7 Jersey at Manchester United. His style was flashy, he loved to dribble, and he was incredibly fast, but his reception in the Premier League and at Manchester United was mixed, as many felt he held onto the ball for too long.

”Even though Portugal won the championship, the Best Player award went to Javier Mascherano, the key midfielder for Argentina, who only finished third.”

”Oh, I know him. He plays for the River Plate Team now. He came from the Solari family’s football academy and is seen as one of the most promising rising stars in the world.”

”That’s right.” Wei Zhen praised him internally. ’As expected of someone based in Europe, where professional football is so advanced. His information is spot-on. He’s even familiar with Mascherano. It seems Yang Yang doesn’t just blindly focus on playing football after all.’

”What about this year? Are there any rising stars competing?” Yang Yang asked curiously.

”You’re looking at one,” Wei Zhen replied with a laugh.

Yang Yang gave an awkward, wry smile. ”I’m serious.”

”I am being serious,” Wei Zhen repeated with a smile. ”Do you have any idea just how famous you are right now?”

Yang Yang was at a loss for words. He really had no idea. He only knew that after the Champions League final, the three major Dutch newspapers had featured him on their front pages, and many papers had reported on him for several days in a row. That was it.

”Seventeen years old, Champions League final, a last-minute game-winner... everyone in the world who cares about football is paying attention to you. All the media and reporters are watching you. I’m not too clear about the situation abroad, but back home, my colleagues tell me your fame is on par with the Yao Giant. So I suggest you find someone trustworthy to handle your commercial affairs in China, and do it quickly.”

”What do you mean?”

”Soon, a whole bunch of domestic companies and brands will come looking for you. The sponsorship fees they’ll offer probably won’t be any lower than what the Yao Giant gets. You can’t possibly handle everything yourself, right? So, if you want to focus on playing football, you’d better find someone reliable.”

This was already giving Yang Yang a headache. ’I can’t believe this is something I have to worry about.’

”Just tell me about the Toulon Cup,” Yang Yang, feeling overwhelmed, quickly changed the subject.

’I’m really not cut out for business,’ he realized.

”The strongest team in this year’s Toulon Cup is the host, France. They didn’t participate last year, but they’ve come prepared this year. The overall strength of this France Team is not to be underestimated. They have Liverpool’s twin stars, Pongler and Letai, as well as Serie A’s Bologna’s core midfielder Mezini, plus midfielders Flamini and Mawuba. Their backline also has stars like Berthod, Columbus, and Zianni, who have already made a name for themselves in Ligue 1. Their overall strength is outstanding.”

Among the players Wei Zhen mentioned, Yang Yang was familiar with some, like Pongler and Letai. The two players were cousins and were heavily favored by Houllier at Liverpool. Everyone had high hopes for them both.

The others were less familiar, but anyone who could get playing time for teams like Bologna and Lyon was certainly no pushover. And with so many stars gathered together, the strength of this France Team was clear to see.

”If I remember correctly, we play France in our second match, right?”

”That’s right. First match Colombia, second France, third Turkey. If we can make it out of the group stage, the opponents will be even tougher,” Wei Zhen said, his expression grave.

Besides France, Colombia, and Turkey, the other four teams were Japan, Sweden, Portugal, and Brazil. In Yang Yang’s eyes, every single team was a formidable opponent.

”Scoring the winner in the Champions League final is a good thing for you. Competing in a top-tier tournament like the Champions League is valuable experience. I’m sure that after that, you’ll be much more confident playing in the Toulon Cup. That’s your advantage.”

Here, Wei Zhen’s tone shifted. ”However, the downside is that other teams will definitely be watching you. They’ll do everything they can to mark you tightly. Whether you can perform well under that pressure will be up to you.”

Yang Yang nodded slightly. He wasn’t afraid of being marked tightly; in fact, he could use it as an opportunity to practice his first touch.

”Oh, right, one more thing. You’re used to playing with the Ajax players in the Netherlands, but on the National Youth Team, you’d better be mentally prepared. Your teammates definitely won’t be as good as the ones back in the Netherlands.”

After all, Ajax were the newly crowned Champions League champions. Yang Yang was used to playing with European stars like Ibrahimovic and Van der Vaart. Even Sneijder was a rising young player for the Dutch national team. The players on the Chinese National Youth Team simply couldn’t compare, which was why Wei Zhen wanted Yang Yang to be mentally prepared.

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By the time Yang Yang and Wei Zhen arrived in Toulon, were picked up by the tournament organizers, and checked into their pre-arranged hotel, his National Youth Team teammates were still on a flight to Paris.

That evening, the National Youth Team arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France. But on the way to another airport for their connecting flight, their chartered bus was a full half-hour late due to a traffic jam.

They finally reached the connecting airport as night fell, but to make matters worse, the plane was delayed. By then, everyone was hungry and exhausted, so they could only buy something at the airport to hastily fill their stomachs. As it turned out, they only had US Dollars with them and were forced to suffer the double-whammy of the airport’s high prices and terrible exchange rate. A few sandwiches and sodas ended up costing them nearly three hundred US Dollars.

They waited until ten o’clock at night before everyone finally boarded the flight to Toulon.

An hour later, they arrived in Toulon. Fortunately, staff from the organizing committee had been waiting for them and immediately took them to the hotel upon arrival. By then, it was already past midnight.

From seven in the morning Beijing time to past midnight Toulon local time, they had been traveling for a full twenty-four hours. Everyone was tired and worn out, completely exhausted.

When the team arrived at the hotel, the team leader suddenly remembered Yang Yang. He immediately asked the front desk receptionist if a player from the Chinese Team had arrived at the hotel early.

”You must be asking about Yang Yang, right?” the receptionist asked with a smile.

”Yes, right, Yang Yang. You know him?”

”Of course! His goal in the Champions League final was incredible. How could I not know him? He arrived at the hotel at noon, went to a nearby stadium to train in the afternoon, and should be resting now.”

The members of the National Youth Team were both envious and jealous. On one hand, they envied Yang Yang’s fame—that even a hotel receptionist here in Toulon knew him. On the other hand, they were jealous of his good luck.

’We’re all on the same National Youth Team. He’s well-fed, rested, and sleeping, while we’ve had to suffer through this miserable journey. How can our situations be so different?’

The comparison was galling.