July 16, 2018.
Germany, Hamburg, Harburg Training Ground's auxiliary pitch.
Hamburg II of Germany was playing a pre-season friendly against Hansa Rostock II. The reason for arranging this friendly was simple.
1. The first team had just called up key players from the second team, and new recruits promoted from the U19 youth team needed to be tested.
2. Hansa Rostock II was a team with a relatively good defense, perfect for testing the team's offensive capabilities.
Both teams belonged to the German fourth-tier League—the German Northern Regional League—making them evenly matched opponents.
This match garnered a very high level of attention. Normally, a fourth-tier League wouldn't attract so much attention, but the Hamburg main team had been relegated from the Bundesliga to the 2. Bundesliga in May.
As a result, the Hamburg club became a hot topic.
Angry fans burned jerseys, paraded effigies resembling the head coach through the streets, stomping on and burning them, venting their rage.
Overall, as a traditional powerhouse of the Bundesliga, Hamburg's relegation caused a huge uproar.
After more than a month of cooling off, many fans turned their attention to Hamburg II, hoping that a young talent would emerge there to help Hamburg return to its peak in the future.
Today, Chinese reporters stationed in Hamburg also came to the Harburg Training Ground, because a Chinese player had just been promoted from Hamburg's U19 youth team to Hamburg II. He was Fan Tao, 18 years old.
Fan Tao's promotion, besides aiming to attract the Chinese market, also took into account his excellent vision.
In the U19 youth team, he often contributed unexpected passes, and his creativity was recognized by the youth team's head coach, who recommended him to the Hamburg II head coach—Tobias Schweinsteiger.
But at this moment, Fan Tao was still sitting on the bench.
“Fan, can we play?”
Substitute striker Bollas nervously wrung his fingers, his thigh unconsciously trembling. He was only 19 this year, just promoted from the U19 youth team, but starting striker Witek was a key development prospect, which undoubtedly squeezed his playing time.
Fan Tao sat calmly on the bench, composed: “Since it’s a stalemate, we naturally need a surprise player.”
Bollas gave a wry smile: “I really wish I were as optimistic as you.”
Looking at the scoreboard, the score was 0-0.
Fan Tao knew very well that an opportunity would come sooner or later.
After transmigrating, he had long shed the impetuousness of his previous life. The setbacks in his overseas career, the slump after returning to China, and the shattering of his football dream had already made his heart as firm as a rock.
In modern football, no one can tolerate a forward who doesn't run fast or defend. Just one good pass is clearly not enough.
Fortunately, fate gave him another chance. He returned to being 18 years old. He swore he would actively compete, train hard, and strive to become a more versatile attacking playmaker.
His football dream reignited with hope.
The match reached the 67th minute.
Hamburg II's striker Witek suddenly fell to the ground, clutching his thigh in pain.
There was no physical contact; he just collapsed, clearly cramping.
Head coach Schweinsteiger muttered to himself: “Stamina! Stamina! Stamina!”
Fortunately, it was just a friendly match. He quickly signaled for a substitution, and the substitutes began warming up.
The opportunity came!
Bollas and Fan Tao started warming up.
Bollas whispered nervously: “I can do it! I can do it!”
Fan Tao glanced at him. This wouldn't do; he couldn't let his assists go to waste if an opportunity arose. He whispered into Bollas's ear: “Relax, buddy! If an opportunity arises later, I’ll prioritize passing to you. Just don’t get so nervous that you’re offside.”
“Really?” Bollas’s eyes lit up. “Fan, thank you so much. As long as you pass it to my feet, I’m sure I can score!”
As former youth team players, they knew that scoring and assisting were the best stepping stones, especially for attacking players. In the youth team, they needed to be involved in at least one goal per game to be promoted.
In the 70th minute of the match, Hamburg II's formation was 4-2-3-1, and Hansa Rostock II's formation was 4-4-2.
Striker: Bollas replaced Witek.
Attacking Midfielder: Fan Tao replaced Lise.
Fan Tao and Bollas came to the sideline.
Head coach Schweinsteiger repeatedly exhorted the two: “Be fierce in your challenges, be active in your running, and be calm when opportunities arise.”
“Don’t make reckless tackles. I cannot tolerate foolish cards!”
“The opponent’s defense is tight. I need you to seize any possible transition opportunities!”
He looked at Fan Tao’s Eastern face, his expression serious: “Young man, your youth team coach strongly recommended you, that’s why you have this opportunity. Don’t disappoint us.”
“Yes, Boss!”
Fan Tao’s eyes burned with fighting spirit. He, of course, knew how difficult it was for an Asian to get an opportunity in Europe. Trust wasn't built in a day or two, but through the achievements of individual Asian stars, which made the head coaches of these European teams dare to trust you, dare to trust that Eastern face.
Back on the field, Fan Tao greedily breathed in the air, the roar of the fans seemingly shaking the stadium!
The shouts from nearly 1000 people made every cell in his body tremble with excitement.
This tension! This thrill!
He couldn't help but recall a saying: In modern times without war, football is war!
Fan Tao clenched his fists tightly, taking a deep breath: “Calm down, this time, I will definitely succeed!”
【Ding—!】
【Superstar Rebirth System activated!】
【In your previous life, you wasted your talent, didn't run actively, and avoided confrontation, which made you blend into the crowd.】
【Five years of playing in Europe gave you unrealistic self-confidence. You blindly trusted your vision and passing without corresponding skills and effort. You returned to the Chinese Super League in dismay to start your 'bullying weak teams' career.】
【Fans who had high hopes for you experienced repeated disappointments, watching a future star turn into a Chinese Super League veteran.】
【You watched your body grow older and realized that regret was useless.】
【Fortunately, a dump truck hit you, and you got another chance.】
【In this life, the system will help you maximize your strengths and become a global superstar.】
【System starting detection......】
【Fan Tao】
【Strengths: Strolling......】
【Your strolling duration has surpassed all Leagues worldwide, and your average running distance per game is the lowest in the entire Chinese Super League.】
【Ability unlocked: The stronger you stroll, the stronger you become】
【In the current match, for every 1 minute of strolling, your passing and shooting accuracy +10%】
【Stroll with all your might. The less you run, the stronger you become!】
【Newbie Mission activated: Win the friendly match】
【Mission Reward: Superstar Template Card—Juan Roman Riquelme】
【After unlocking the template, the superstar's signature abilities will rapidly grow within you】
System! You can’t play me like this!
Fan Tao stood frozen in place. He wanted to work hard, to run, to develop into an all-around player.
Reborn, he didn't want to slack off anymore!
But the system was forcing him to slack off!
Why did other people’s systems give them huge ability boosts, while he had to slack off on the field!
No!!!
Fan Tao stood on the field in despair, looking up at the sky with a dead heart.
【Stroll for 1 minute, passing and shooting accuracy +10%】 (Accuracy increases based on the player’s inherent ability)
Huh? Has it been a minute already?
Fan Tao looked around. The opponent had already pushed up aggressively, and he needed to get into position immediately.
“Scheißen (shit)! What are you doing???” Head coach Schweinsteiger on the sideline roared, flailing his arms, a barrage of curses pouring out.
Assistant coach Otto quickly embraced him: “Calm down, Fan might be nervous. Look! He’s moving!”
“That piece of shit! I shouldn’t have given him a chance! We’ve been coaches for so many years, have you ever seen a player stand still on the field after coming on?!” Schweinsteiger was still not appeased, muttering incessantly.
“Calm down, the fourth official is watching you!”
Schweinsteiger snapped back to reality and immediately shut his mouth.
Sure enough, the fourth official gave a verbal warning, telling him to mind his behavior and return to the technical area.
Assistant coach Otto looked helplessly at the data board. He had researched Fan Tao as a player: excellent creativity, strong ability to find opportunities, especially his unique vision, always able to find teammates, it’s just that… he was too inactive in his running.
Forget it, he wouldn’t think about it anymore.
At least Fan Tao got to play. He hoped Chinese fans would buy into it and buy a couple more jerseys.