“Well, well… Lu, I thought you were quite frail, but I didn’t expect you to be somewhat strong.”
Leverkusen, Medical Center.
Coach Hyypiä accompanied the new player throughout the routine medical examination before the signing.
The club didn't actually need the coach to be there; sending a staff member would have sufficed.
But Hyypiä was very interested in Lu Xiao; he wanted to see Lu Xiao's various qualities with his own eyes.
A football player's medical examination is not like a regular employee's pre-employment check-up, where a blood draw and height measurement are enough.
Lu Xiao's examination was comprehensive.
First were basic tests for height, weight, musculoskeletal health, blood biochemistry, genetic diseases, and so on.
Afterward, he had to wear a breathing mask and heart rate monitor for high-intensity tests on a treadmill and stairs,
checking maximum oxygen uptake, lactate threshold, anaerobic capacity, and other intensity metrics.
There were also balance tests, muscle strength, reaction cognition, agility, explosiveness, and other comprehensive skills required of professional players.
It was almost head to toe; every hair was checked thoroughly, for fear of any hidden dangers.
Lu Xiao's appearance somewhat resembled a K-pop or J-pop idol,
except his skin was a healthy tan from sun and wind exposure, and his physique seemed delicate.
However, after the actual physical intensity tests, Lu Xiao's physical qualities were far superior to those of 16-year-old players his age, almost comparable to young players aged 18-22.
His long-term habit of going to the gym had built him a physique comparable to that of young Europeans.
Of course, age was still a significant disadvantage.
Lu Xiao still couldn't compete physically with strong defensive midfielders or center-backs who were 25 years old.
On the professional field, such technical players are easily overwhelmed.
The most important things in football are only three words:
Body, body, and more body.
On the other hand, Lu Xiao's ball control talent was top-notch, and once his body fully matured, his future was promising!
He was a good prospect worth nurturing.
Hyypiä was completely relieved.
“Have you specifically trained your muscles before?”
“Yes, at Bayern Munich II, the fitness coach custom-made a training plan for me. I've been consistently training every day.”
Lu Xiao waited a full three years for the system!
Do you know how I spent those three years?
Hyypiä admired him even more for being such a professional and football-loving young player.
Typically, European and South American players around 16 years old, if they have a bit of talent, tend to be arrogant.
They spend their days at bars and clubs, indulging in a life of pleasure at a young age.
A professional young player like Lu Xiao is truly rare.
“Excellent, excellent. You can go to the spa center first, let the masseur help you relax your muscles, and then take a cold bath to relieve fatigue.”
“Sir, can I go now?”
“Of course, even though you haven't signed the contract yet, you are already a member of Leverkusen. Welcome in advance!”
Hyypiä enthusiastically shook Lu Xiao's hand.
“By the way, do you have an agent? When you sign the contract, it's best to have an agent help you review it.”
“No.”
Lu Xiao shook his head.
If he had an agent to help him, he wouldn't have been kicked out of Bayern by Erik ten Hag.
“I have connections with Mendes here. If you don't mind, I can recommend you to his team.”
“Could it be that Mendes?”
“That's right, it's the Mendes you're thinking of. I expect his team will contact you today.”
“Thank you very much, Mr. Hyypiä.”
“Oh, it's nothing. Just play well and seize the opportunity.”
Hyypiä had a premonition that this young man with an East Asian face might become a superstar shining in Europe.
...
“The physical examination was really intense.”
Lu Xiao dragged his tired body into the Leverkusen spa center.
Just as he was about to get into the ice bath to stimulate blood vessels with cold water and recover from muscle fatigue,
he suddenly bumped into a blond handsome man who abruptly rose from a lounge chair, alert.
Looking up and seeing it was Lu Xiao, the blond handsome man sighed in relief.
“You scared me, I thought it was the coach… By the way, brother, are you from the youth academy? Did you get lost? This is the first-team area.”
“I'm from the first team… just had a trial.”
Lu Xiao felt a bit guilty, as he hadn't signed the contract yet.
“Oh? Are you Son Heung-min's compatriot?”
“No, we have different nationalities.”
“I don't get it, you all look similar, but you're much more handsome than him… By the way, my name is Julian Brandt, the central playmaker of Leverkusen, the strongest player on the team.”
Julian Brandt puffed out his chest, looking quite imposing.
Before he could finish showing off, a South American player walked past, wearing a towel, and glanced at him indifferently.
“Don't believe him, he's just my substitute.”
“Guardado!!” Julian Brandt was enraged.
But he had no way to deal with Guardado, Leverkusen's starting left winger.
Lu Xiao had already seen through it; what starting player hides from the coach and slacks off in the spa center?
It was just that Lu Xiao was too lazy to expose him.
Julian Brandt wasn't embarrassed, he grinned shamelessly, sat on a nearby lounge chair, and chatted idly with Lu Xiao.
“Lu, even though we're substitutes, it doesn't matter. With our strength, we'll definitely fight for a starting spot and eventually stand on the Champions League final stage, shining worldwide!
Come on, Lu!”
Julian Brandt was simply a natural at making friends.
Lu Xiao never expected that the first friend he made in Leverkusen would be a substitute winger.
Julian Brandt… Julian…
Wait a minute?
Lu Xiao couldn't help but look at him.
Actually, Lu Xiao had a secret he had never told anyone.
He often had premonitory dreams, and anything related to football could appear in them.
For example, Lu Xiao predicted two years in advance that the 2010 World Cup champion would be Spain,
and one year in advance that the 2012-2013 Champions League champion would be Bayern Munich,
and he predicted that Mario Götze would betray Borussia Dortmund and transfer to Bayern.
Recently, he had another dream, dreaming that the champion of the 2014 Brazil World Cup would be Germany, with the final being Germany vs. Argentina,
and the person who scored the winning goal would be Mario Götze!
No one would believe it if he said it now, but Lu Xiao firmly believed it.
At this moment, facing Julian Brandt, Lu Xiao suddenly remembered last night's dream.
He seemed to have dreamed that this guy was wearing a Borussia Dortmund jersey and standing on the Champions League final stage!
It seemed he had some real talent.
“Yes, brother, yes.”
“What?”
“You will stand on the Champions League final stage.”
“Hahaha, you really have good judgment! From now on, I'll look out for you in the team!”
After hearing Lu Xiao's prediction, Julian Brandt didn't doubt it at all; instead, he happily started fantasizing.
Seeing such a teammate, Lu Xiao felt a bit worried about his future at Leverkusen.
When would he finally get a chance to play?
Only through actual match appearances could he accumulate the Nagi Seishiro template fusion rate.
“Hopefully soon.”
After the cold bath and a massage by the Leverkusen club's physiotherapist, Lu Xiao felt refreshed.
He was about to return to the dormitory to rest and prepare for tomorrow's trial.
Suddenly, he received a phone call.
“Hello, may I speak to Mr. Lu Xiao?”
“This is he.”
“It's a pleasure to meet you. I heard you're looking for an agent. Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Mendes, Jorge Mendes.”