CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 26: COURTING DEATH

A long time ago, probably around the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup.

Because of an injury to Germany’s main center-back, Metzelder got the opportunity and delivered a phenomenal performance.

He even won the European Young Player of the Year award.

The European Young Player of the Year award, also known as the Bravo Award, was established by the authoritative Italian sports magazine "Guerin Sportivo," with selections beginning in 1978, recognizing the best newcomer in Europe each year.

In 1992, "Guerin Sportivo" amended the selection criteria to limit the scope to players under the age of 23 playing for European clubs, while players who hadn’t participated in the three major European cups had to be under 21.

This is a highly authoritative award, considered a prestigious reference in international football for newcomer evaluation, with some even calling the European Young Player of the Year award the "Little Golden Ball."

In the past decade, recipients of these awards include Ronaldo, Buffon, Casillas, Hargreaves, Metzelder, Rooney, C. Ronaldo, Robben, and Fabregas.

Among them, Ronaldo won this award for two consecutive years.

And this year, the "Little Golden Ball" went to Messi.

Judging by the award winners of the past decade, it also indirectly proves the value of this list.

Due to his performance and this award, Metzelder attracted the attention of many clubs in 2002, including Real Madrid.

Seeing this situation, Dortmund decisively negotiated with the then-injured Metzelder, discussing future team-building plans, treating him as the team’s core, and even gave Metzelder the captain’s armband.

This deeply moved Metzelder, leading him to reject joining Real Madrid.

However, frequent injuries in the subsequent years made Metzelder’s position in Dortmund awkward, and the most frustrating thing was that he was always healthy when playing for the national team but would get injured as soon as he returned to the club.

Last season, when Capello was still the head coach of Real Madrid, he hoped to acquire a high-level center-back.

During a Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, in Germany, contacted Metzelder, who was then playing for Dortmund, and both parties quickly agreed on personal terms.

The 4 million Euro annual salary represented the team’s high regard for Metzelder.

After Schuster became the coach of Real Madrid, he initially regarded Metzelder as an important member of the defense line. In his mind, although Metzelder lacked speed, his performance with high balls and in direct confrontations was impressive, making him the team’s third center-back. If Pepe underperformed, a healthy Metzelder would be the best partner for Cannavaro.

"Chen’s performance is good." Francisco noted Schuster’s indecision and couldn’t help saying, "I don’t think it’s suitable to make changes to the lineup now."

"What’s the fans’ opinion on Metzelder?"

Schuster is a "fashionable" person; he values the fans’ opinions. In some sense, he and Calderon have adopted the same approach.

Francisco showed some fan comments, most of which were optimistic about Metzelder’s joining.

[He came here without costing any transfer fee, but I’m just worried about his injuries.]

[He will be Cannavaro’s best partner. I hope Schuster can see this message.]

[Messi won the "Little Golden Ball," I’ve grown tired of hearing them boast. I remember Metzelder did too.]

[If it were the Metzelder of 2002, that would be great, but now I hope the club can give him more opportunities. He’s a very capable player.]

...

Some scattered comments were pessimistic, yet even the pessimistic ones believed Metzelder was better than Pepe.

As for Chen Zhong?

No one anticipated that the 16-year-old Chen Zhong would have the chance to compete with Metzelder.

"I will give him a chance." Schuster still made his decision, involving many complex factors: "Who is our next opponent?"

"Almeria."

"Let Metzelder start, Chen will be a substitute."

Later, Francisco announced the starting lineup for the next match in the locker room.

When Chen Zhong heard he didn’t make the starting lineup, he remained calm, but Marcelo next to him seemed anxious. He wasn’t even this upset when he lost his starting spot to Heinze.

Hearing he was selected for the starting lineup, Metzelder visibly relaxed, as Chen Zhong’s outstanding performance had put him under considerable pressure. He knew in the friendlies, he was already at a disadvantage against Pepe.

However, now was his time to regain trust.

After reading out the lineup, Francisco left. Marcelo was chattering beside Chen Zhong, but Chen Zhong didn’t mind and just thought of a friend.

Surprisingly, Raul, Guti, Soldado, and Casillas, as if by prior agreement, all casually spoke with him today.

Meaning not to mind these things; with hard training, opportunities will surely come.

Perhaps, due to their own rain-soaked experiences, they could genuinely empathize!

After finishing training for the day, Chen Zhong returned to his dorm. When preparing to turn off his phone and sleep, the phone rang.

Connecting the call, a familiar voice came from the receiver.

"Hahaha, Chen!"

"Negredo!" Chen Zhong was a bit surprised; he had thought of him in the locker room today, and the other party called: "What made you suddenly think of calling me?"

"I wasn’t going to call you, but aren’t we playing against each other soon?"

"I’m telling you, I’m in the starting lineup."

"I heard you’ve been doing well lately! I won’t go easy on you when the time comes."

"Wait, why aren’t you saying anything?"

Negredo, not hearing a response from Chen Zhong for a long while, grew puzzled and asked, "Haven’t you guys announced the lineup? Relax, with how well you’ve been doing lately, you’ll definitely be selected."

"ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh" Chen Zhong sighed, not wanting to discuss the topic because it could involve leaking the team’s starting lineup, and he didn’t know if Schuster would mind. But with a good friend, disclosing within reasonable scope was probably okay.

"I made the squad."

"What do you mean?"

Negredo seemed to sense something, recalling recent Real Madrid news that Pepe was injured and that Torres probably couldn’t compete with Chen Zhong, leaving only the possibility that Metzelder had returned from injury?

Then did Metzelder push Chen Zhong out?

After sharing some fun stories from the club with Chen Zhong and hanging up, Negredo clenched his fist.

Metzelder!

You’re looking for trouble!