Chapter 18: Hunteral Grew Envious—Could There Really Be a Virginity-Breaking Quest? (Please Continue Reading)
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“Hi! Good morning!”
“Good morning, Lin!”
“Hi!!!”
“Haha, Lin, those two goals in the Super Cup were amazing!”
Society has always been pragmatic, much like what was happening at that very moment in the Schalke 04 locker room.
Lin Hao had only been with the first team for six days at most.
Yet, unlike three days ago, after just one match, Lin Hao suddenly noticed that his once distant teammates had become much warmer.
He no longer needed to initiate greetings; even the team captain, Neuer, was smiling and joking with him.
Of course, while some were friendly, others became visibly wary at a glance.
Like the Dutch superstar striker Huntelaar, who had been subbed off by Lin in the Super Cup.
Born in 1983, this 27-year-old Dutch striker was in his prime.
Though he hadn’t made much impact at Real Madrid or Milan, since moving from AC Milan to Schalke 04 in July, Huntelaar firmly believed he would be the undisputed starting striker.
After all, he was once the Eredivisie Golden Boot winner highly valued by Real Madrid!
But who would have thought that in his debut, this Dutch national team mainstay, worth €14 million, would be completely outshone by an 18-year-old youth player?
Sitting in front of his locker, Huntelaar could still vividly recall the scornful headlines from yesterday’s newspapers mocking him for not even being able to outperform an 18-year-old.
Huntelaar wasn’t petty, but that was before it happened to him.
Of course, having been in professional football for years, no matter how upset he was inside, he didn’t show it deliberately.
Until...
Until his fellow striker Farfan quietly told him that this 18-year-old youngster had actually received a tax-free signing bonus of €4.5 million!
Even the Eredivisie Golden Boot couldn’t hold back then!
That was €4.5 million!!!
To put it in perspective, Huntelaar only got a €1 million signing bonus before tax when he moved from a giant like AC Milan to Schalke 04.
Jealousy, envy, and frustration...
All these negative feelings began spreading inside Huntelaar’s heart.
So, during subsequent training sessions,
Lin Hao suddenly found someone beside him who... who was a nitpicky fool?
During jogs, that guy sprinted like it was a 100-meter dash!
During relaxed shooting drills, every shot was full throttle!
In the scrimmages, as the A team’s striker, Huntelaar would even run back to his own penalty area to mark Lin!
Uh...
Lin Hao wasn’t a fool; he knew his performance two days ago had made Huntelaar feel threatened.
But this guy’s reaction was... a bit much, wasn’t it?
He should remember that although he played a decent match, he was still only the team’s fourth striker!
Farfan was still ahead of him!
“You okay, Xiao Lin?”
The scrimmage ended, and sensing the unusual tension on the training field, Hao Junmin immediately came over to check on Lin Hao.
“I’m fine! Just some normal physical contact.”
“Yeah, I saw. That guy didn’t foul you. You’re new to the first team; competition for the same position is always like this. When I was fighting for my spot with Uchida, he even tackled me a few times! But no matter what, remember to be careful in training and avoid injuries. Here, if you get hurt, it might be hard to come back!”
“Got it, Hao Ge! I’ll be careful!”
Though Hao Junmin was also new to Germany, when it came to internal team competition, having come from the complex and intense environment back home, Hao Junmin definitely had a voice!
“All right, get ready quickly. Later, come to my place. My wife flew over from China. Tonight, she’ll cook. You have no idea how authentic her Sichuan cuisine is!”
After reminding Lin Hao, Hao Junmin invited him to dinner.
Of course, as their senior brother, Raúl was also on the invitation list.
However, neither Hao Junmin nor Lin Hao expected that today Raúl would also bring along Neuer and Metzelder—
One the team captain, the other the vice-captain...
Uh...
Well, when the four sat down at the table and Raúl expressed his high hopes for Lin, Lin suddenly realized...
This guy was truly the leader of the Real Madrid faction!
While Hao Junmin could only discreetly warn Lin after noticing he was being targeted, Raúl was already planning to take it all the way to management!
...................................
“Boss, did you notice anything unusual about Huntelaar today?”
Raúl was scheming at Hao’s place, and Old Magath, after finishing the day’s training and reviewing the league debut lineup in the office, was also troubled with Milner.
“Hmm! Seems like Lin’s performance has really provoked Huntelaar!”
“Boss, about the league…”
“What do you think about our forward lineup?”
“Boss, Lin is definitely a genius, but he’s too young. Compared to Huntelaar and Farfan, he still lacks experience. So, Lin should still be the fourth striker. But the problem is, Lin’s performance in the last game was excellent. He deserves to be on the squad list. So, my suggestion is to include Lin and Farfan upfront, with Huntelaar and Raúl starting. If there’s any change during the match, we can adjust accordingly!”
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After all, Milner had been Magath’s assistant for ten years!
Milner’s words mirrored exactly what Magath was thinking!
Without hesitation, Magath included Lin Hao’s name in Schalke’s squad list for the match five days later!
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Five days passed quickly.
Perhaps stirred by Lin Hao, the 18-year-old prodigy, Magath was delighted to find all his forwards training as if possessed.
Even Huntelaar, the Dutch international, would do extra training after regular sessions.
And others like Asamoah even moved into the club to avoid going home.
Of course, such healthy competition was very welcome to Magath.
However, having already made up his mind, Magath stuck to the original plan and only took Lin Hao and Farfan as forwards.
B team forwards like Charlisteras and Asamoah had to watch from the stands.
Also, with Atsuto Uchida still injured, Hao Junmin was extremely lucky to start the match.
After announcing the squad, Hao Junmin was thrilled.
Since joining Schalke from Shandong Luneng, this was his first time starting in a league match!
Hao Junmin starting, Lin Hao included in the squad!
News like this sent countless fans back home scrambling to set alarms for 2 a.m. on August 26.
Two Chinese players appearing simultaneously in a Bundesliga match—that was unprecedented!
The sports channels even started promoting it three days in advance.
Outstanding performance in the AFC U-19 Championship, a brace of stunning goals in the Super Cup!
Though Lin Hao was young, those feats alone made him the hottest athlete in Chinese sports!
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August 26, 2010, 7 p.m. local time in Germany!
About an hour before Schalke 04’s new season debut, Gelsenkirchen’s Auf Schalke Plaza was already packed with people!
Not only local fans eagerly anticipating the new season but nearly half of Germany’s Chinese students had also flocked to the scene.
They might not care much about Schalke 04, but Lin Hao—the Chinese youth prodigy and Super Cup top scorer—was adored by them!
Especially because of that unforgettable gesture in the Super Cup!
That single move had thoroughly won over the overseas students.
Just like on Super Cup day, when the team bus carrying Schalke 04 rolled in, apart from Raúl’s name overshadowing Lin Hao’s, the loudest cheers came for Lin, who sat at the back of the bus!
“This...”
Inside the bus!
Looking out the window at the sea of Chinese fans and flags pouring down like rain, even the seasoned Magath was somewhat surprised.
But Magath’s astonishment was just beginning.
When he, clad in a suit, strode into the pre-match press conference,
What he saw made him fully realize what it meant to have a Chinese star on his team!
After Hao Junmin joined, Schalke’s once dull press conferences had become livelier.
But... that excitement couldn’t compare to today!
Today!
After Lin Hao was included in the squad!
The venue that usually held 50 to 60 journalists was crammed with nearly 150 reporters.
A dense sea of cameras and a uniform crowd of Asian faces.
Magath even momentarily felt like he was attending the Chinese national team’s World Cup debut press conference!
“Mr. Magath! Will Lin Hao get playing time today?”
“Mr. Magath! How has Lin Hao performed in training?”
“Mr. Magath! Do you think Lin Hao is capable of becoming Schalke’s starting striker?”
“Ma-Ga-...”
God!
Magath dared swear he had never imagined an 18-year-old substitute could attract such jaw-dropping attention.
Throughout the press conference, he didn’t hear a single question about their opponents.
Every journalist’s question was solely about Lin Hao!
Some even asked if Lin could lead China to the World Cup!
That... was a question even Maradona wouldn’t dare answer...
Of course, the only consolation for Magath was that Hamburg’s head coach, Armin Veh, sitting beside him, was having the same problem.
However, as the opponent, Armin Veh dealt with the annoying journalists in one sentence.
“Who? Who’s Lin? I only know Raúl. I don’t know any Lin!”
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Finally, the press conference ended.
Magath, exhausted, returned to the locker room!
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Perhaps overwhelmed by hearing Lin Hao’s name so much at the press conference, Magath instinctively looked toward Lin, who was sitting quietly in the corner.
It was a casual glance at first.
But that glance happened to be noticed by Huntelaar, who was sitting not far from Lin Hao.
Already simmering with frustration, Huntelaar saw the coach’s lingering attention toward Lin and silently resolved to put on a dazzling performance to show Magath who the strongest... well, the second strongest striker at Schalke really was!
Clenching his teeth to pump himself up, Huntelaar completely ignored Magath’s final instructions!
“Remember! Raúl is always the first choice for finishing attacks!”
“Today is our Bundesliga debut!”
“We’re playing at home!”
“We cannot disappoint our fans!!!”
“.....................”
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“Zhuang Dian’er Tai!”
“Zhuang Dian’er Tai!”
“Here is the live broadcast of the first round of the 2010-2011 German Bundesliga!”
“Schalke 04 playing at home against Hamburg!”
“Before the match begins, if you support Schalke 04, please send SMS A to 1088564522. Supporters of Hamburg, send SMS B to the same number!”
“If your team wins, you stand a chance to receive a Super Cup gift pack specially sponsored by Li-Ning Sports.”
“All right!”
“As kickoff approaches!”
“The players from both teams are now standing on their respective halves!”
“The referee is checking his watch!”
“Beep!!!”
“With the referee’s whistle!”
“The match has officially started!”
“First, the starting lineups!”
“Wearing the traditional blue jersey and attacking from left to right, Schalke 04’s starting goalkeeper: Neuer!”
“Defenders: Höwedes, Metzelder, Papadopoulos, and our Chinese player Hao Junmin!”
“Midfielders: Rakitic, Jurado, Baumjohann, Jermaine Jones!”
“Forwards: Raúl and Huntelaar!”
“On the other side, wearing traditional white jerseys, Hamburg’s starting goalkeeper: Frank Rost!”
“Defenders: Westermann, Mathisen, Jansen, Demel!”
“Midfielders: Ze Roberto, Jarolim, Petripá!”
“Three forwards: Petrić, Elia, Van Nistelrooy!”
“Unfortunately, we don’t see our young talent Lin Hao in the starting lineup, but considering his heroic performance in the Super Cup, I believe Coach Magath will bring him on at an appropriate time...”
Commentator He Wei began explaining to the fans staying up late to watch Lin Hao.
Meanwhile, the live broadcast camera seemed to know the most attractive figure in the match was sitting on the substitute bench.
Although the match had started, the camera suddenly focused on Lin Hao sitting upright and watching the pitch intently!
Top-tier looks, plus a killer gaze!
Though it was just a single shot.
The overseas students in the stands and many local female fans immediately screamed in excitement!
“Damn, this guy is really handsome!”
“Definitely handsome... Damn, even Raúl seems to lose out in looks to Lin Hao!”
“...................”
In the sports channel’s online live chat, fans were admiring Lin Hao’s appearance.
What no one knew was that Lin Hao’s mind wasn’t on the match at all.
Yes!
Lin Hao’s long-awaited Bundesliga debut mission had truly arrived!
“Ding dong!”
“Main quest triggered: League debut!”
“The task rewards will be given based on the host’s performance!”
“The highest reward is a legendary skill treasure chest!”
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