Leverkusen is a well-known name in the Bundesliga.
Unfortunately, when placed in the geographical context of Germany, Leverkusen seems rather inconspicuous.
This small city, which rose due to the world pharmaceutical giant Bayer Group, is nestled among larger cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf, with a permanent population of only around 200,000.
Among Germany's many 'villages,' it is truly a village among villages.
Leverkusen - Bayer Training Base.
In the president's office, Leverkusen's current president, Michael Schade, head coach Sasha Lewandowski, and coach Hyypiä were seated around a sofa, engaged in a heated discussion.
Head coach Sasha's brows were tightly furrowed; he had a fiery temper and would speak his mind directly, even if it meant offending the boss.
“Michael, is this really necessary? We already have an Asian player. What exactly are you thinking, signing a 16-year-old Chinese player?”
In the Leverkusen squad, Korean star Son Heung-min had recently been in excellent form, gradually becoming a key player for the entire team.
However, another Korean player, Ryu Seung-woo, who was on trial with the club, was unsatisfactory in both ability and attitude.
Head coach Sasha always felt that the club was continuously signing Asian players for the Asian market, rather than considering improving the team's performance.
“This time you’ve truly misunderstood; you’ll know once you see it.”
Opening his laptop, President Michael Schade played the video he had just received.
It was footage recorded by a scout at the Bayern training ground.
Shortly after parting ways with Lu Xiao, the scout, Jens, immediately opened his computer to upload the content.
Seeing Lu Xiao's perfect ball control and his exquisite dribbling on the training ground, his talent was fully revealed!
“His ball control is really good.”
Coach Hyypiä exclaimed sincerely; in terms of ball control alone, he was the most skillful player he had ever seen!
“It's just a training video; he has never had any actual match experience. And shouldn't a 16-year-old be signed into the youth academy? Why are you trying to put someone directly into the first team?”
“This young player emphasized that he would only join the first team and would not consider the youth academy.”
“That makes no sense. Even an 18-year-old in the youth academy is normal. What's his rush at 16?”
Head coach Sasha's tone remained firm.
“But he single-handedly dismantled Bayern Munich's treble-winning lineup. I think this young man has potential. When we select players, we should cast aside all restrictions, regardless of age, and only look at ability!”
Michael Schade tried his best to persuade them.
On one hand, competition for player acquisitions among European clubs was too intense.
Teams like Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Barça, and Monaco would often sign and develop 16-year-old prodigies.
If they wanted to observe cautiously and consider signing at 18, true talents would have already been poached by other teams.
The team happened to be in need of a number 10 forward, and Lu Xiao was a suitable reserve player.
On the other hand, he was of Chinese descent.
Signing him would help the parent company, Bayer Group, expand its influence and increase its market share in China.
Why not?
There was no transfer fee needed, at most just a salary.
“Alright, you’re the boss, you make the decisions.”
Head coach Sasha still didn't quite agree; he could only make a judgment after seeing him with his own eyes.
But according to the boss, the person was already on his way!
The scout's actions were truly a bit too fast!
Anyway, he was just a tactical head coach; player acquisitions were not his concern.
How to use the players was still up to his arrangement, wasn't it?
“Let me be clear first, whether or not to use him, I decide.”
“Of course, of course, you are the head coach.”
Among the dual coaching team, the other coach, Hyypiä, was quite interested in the Asian boy.
“I have a feeling he might be the team’s star of hope!”
...
While the Leverkusen management was discussing, Lu Xiao had already boarded the scout's Volkswagen Golf and was driving on the highway.
Before leaving Munich, he specifically called his parents.
Hearing that their child was going to leave Munich for Leverkusen, the couple felt a bit reluctant.
In Munich, he at least had time to go back and see them every week.
Now separated by distance, the couple was busy with their Chinese restaurant and couldn't fully attend to Lu Xiao.
“What about your accommodation there? And what about school? Can you really manage by yourself?”
His mother, Zhao Ping, grew more worried the more she thought about it.
His father, Lu Yongping, was very open-minded:
“Let him go out and make his own way. He’s 16 years old; it’s time he lived independently.”
“Oh, so he’s my son, not your son, is that it? So uncaring?”
“I didn’t say I don’t care. The child has his own ideas; he can completely make his own decisions.”
“Wait, you two stop.”
Lu Xiao interrupted their bickering; the couple had been squabbling for decades, and it had become their habit.
Normally, they could argue all they wanted; they would make up within two hours anyway.
But this time, Lu Xiao hadn't finished speaking yet.
“First, this trip is just for a trial; I might not stay in Leverkusen.”
“Also, if I really sign a contract, the club will arrange accommodation and handle my enrollment at a local high school in Leverkusen. I can transfer there and have tutoring every week.”
“Finally, Dad is right. I’m 16 and can already sign a professional contract, which means I might have to travel to many places in the future, even to different countries… It’s time for me to be independent.”
After leaving the Bayern base, Lu Xiao packed all his belongings at Thomas Müller's house—just 1 backpack + 1 suitcase.
He got into scout Jens's car and decisively set off for Leverkusen.
This efficiency surprised Lu Xiao.
In the car, scout Jens proactively shared a lot of club-related information.
For instance, the issues Lu Xiao had just mentioned, accommodation and high school enrollment, Leverkusen would help resolve them.
Lu Xiao could completely obtain a German high school diploma and qualifications to enter university within these few years of playing football, becoming a cultured professional player.
Leverkusen, backed by a world-renowned enterprise, was financially well-off.
There were enough dormitories within the base, so he would no longer worry about being kicked out.
Once he secured stable playing opportunities in the first team and his contract salary increased, he could consider renting a luxurious apartment or purchasing a villa.
“Oh, right!”
In the car, scout Jens suddenly remembered something.
“Son Heung-min in the first team, you two will probably have a lot in common.”
“Son Heung-min?”
Lu Xiao paused slightly.
He certainly knew that name—the Korean player who had risen in the Bundesliga in recent years.
In the future, he might replace Park Ji-sung and Shinji Kagawa to become the “Asian Ace.”
It was truly not simple for an East Asian player to be a key player in a top Bundesliga team!
However, he was Korean.
It was impossible for them to have a common language.
“Actually… never mind, it’s nothing.”
Lu Xiao didn't know how to explain to the scout the grievances between the National Football Team and Korean football, as well as the historical relations between the two countries.
From Jens Wheeler's perspective, Korea was part of a great Eastern nation; foreigners truly didn't know much about East Asia.
They chatted all the way, and as dusk fell, the car gradually approached Leverkusen.
Lu Xiao looked out the window, observing this unfamiliar small city.
If he could successfully stay, this would become the place where he strived! The place where his dream began!
Would he stay?
A day ago, Lu Xiao wasn't so confident about becoming a professional player.
But after facing Bayern's starting lineup today, Lu Xiao's confidence was overflowing!
Full Level Ball Control—the Nagi Seishiro template was truly too useful!
If Leverkusen didn't keep him, it would absolutely be their loss!