Chapter 2120 - 2120: Two-Step Approach

This time, that really blew up.

This big shot, in the Great East Pot national team, is also one of the top dogs—high prestige, seniority, and he's handed a lot of money to the relevant leaders.

Getting nutmegged three times in a row by an 18-year-old brat, isn't that a massive humiliation?

So the big shot snapped, and the consequences were very serious.

In the Great East Pot football world, hasn't an elder coach once said a classic line?

The line is: "If you can't play the ball, you can at least play the man, can't you? Cripple him!"

The big shot really was ruthless—pushing thirty, and he went in from behind on just-turned-18 Zhang Xiaorui with a full-on scything tackle.

Out of his mouth came: "Fuck your damn Ma, I'm gonna ruin you!"

That's how vicious it was!

Zhang Xiaorui let out a scream, collapsed to the ground, and then passed out.

The whole pitch was stunned!

Nobody expected the big shot to lose it like that and go after a kid.

Well, the kid did go overboard too—why the hell did he nutmeg the guy three times in a row? That really is way too humiliating, right?

Anyway, Zhang Xiaorui was rushed to the Hospital, had scans and treatment and all that, which had to be done.

In the end, this time Zhang Xiaorui didn't have his leg broken by the big-shot player, but he did damage the ligaments in his right leg, and they directly announced he'd be out for the entire coming year.

Afterward, that big-shot player didn't apologize either, because it was just an internal training match, and there were barely any reporters present. Even the ones who were there got a heads-up from the relevant people: don't report nonsense.

In the Great East Pot media reports, Zhang Xiaorui was simply "injured accidentally during national team training camp."

See how unfree the news is?

Because of the clash between Zhang Xiaorui and the big-shot player, the relevant departments and some leaders all took the big-shot's side, and there was nothing good said about Zhang Xiaorui; plenty of smearing, though—calling him young and reckless, withdrawn, can't get along with teammates, that kind of thing.

Naturally, his name was removed from the national team training-camp roster.

He was struck off the national youth-team setup.

Several clubs had been planning to buy him, but once they saw he'd suffered a serious injury and his professional level would definitely take a big hit, they all decided not to pay a high transfer fee for him.

Over this whole incident, a few buddies who were close to Zhang Xiaorui—some of the new stars who'd gone abroad to Balse with him—helped him post the truth online, but they all got "educated" one by one and told to shut up and stop talking nonsense!

In reality, after Zhang Xiaorui recovered enough to be discharged from Hospital, his form wasn't good, and the rehab was extremely troublesome. He also didn't have the money for better treatment and recovery.

He vanished from the sight of Great East Pot fans and was no longer that hot rising star he'd once been.

Right around then, by chance, Zhang Xiaorui found out that the Wale National Football Team was recruiting footballers of Valle descent worldwide. It was like he suddenly saw a glimmer of hope—hope for treatment, and hope to keep playing and build a future.

Because for his injury to properly heal, he needed more money and better medical technology. Money—he didn't have; technology—Great East Pot didn't have. For a genius player who hadn't even fully broken through yet, this was really adding insult to injury.

According to one of his fitness coaches from Balse, unless he found an especially wealthy club willing to take him in and cover huge rehab costs, he might be able to prolong his sporting life. Without proper recovery, he'd probably end up just an ordinary player. Still, even as an ordinary player, he really did have a shot at being naturalized for the Wale National Team. Valle is very rich, their medical technology is highly advanced, and it was genuinely worth a try.

As it happened, Balse and Valle were also gearing up for cooperation and development in football.

So, seeing this hope, Zhang Xiaorui followed the instructions on the Wale National Football naturalization notice and sent his documents and a statement of his situation to the email address, stating that he met the Valle-bloodline requirements and expressing his hopes. He truly wanted better treatment and recovery, wanted to continue a higher-level professional career, and bring glory to Valer Football.

His email stood out. His description of what he'd gone through in the Great East Pot national training camp especially shocked the relevant people at the Wale Football Association.

Of course, Zhang Xiaorui fully met the bloodline-naturalization requirements. Bloodline-wise, there was nothing to question; and he had never officially represented any other country's youth or senior team in an official match. He'd only played a few friendlies for the youth team, which don't count as official games. Those conditions met FIFA's hard requirements.

Not to mention, Zhang Xiaorui had a bit of a name in Balse and was quite famous in the Great East Pot—a genuinely gifted prodigy. His experience drew sympathy, but his injury did make people hesitate.

Whether or not to naturalize Zhang Xiaorui really put the Wale Football Association in a tough spot.

However, President Chi Zhongshui had always cared about football and the future of Valer Football. So someone in the association suggested that this matter be reported to President Chi Zhongshui, to see what he and his think tank thought and what suggestions they had.

As it turned out, just a couple of days before the Wale top-flight league kicked off, the case really did land on Liu Zhizhong's desk, compiled into thorough documentation.

These days, Liu Zhizhong had been treating football as his top priority at work. As soon as he saw materials about a naturalized player, he picked up Zhang Xiaorui's file from his desk and began to read it carefully.

The file also contained some video links of Zhang Xiaorui playing, which Liu Zhizhong clicked on and watched several times, completely blown away.

A teenage genius who played even more like Balse people than the Balse people themselves—Liu Zhizhong's eyes lit up again and again.

By the time he finished all the material, Liu Zhizhong had already made up his mind.

This time he didn't hesitate at all, and he didn't even need to consult his think tank; he knew exactly what he should do.

So Liu Zhizhong immediately dialed the number of the president of the Wale Football Association.

The president's name was Pulaji, a man from Europe, once a very famous player himself, a former attacking fullback. After retiring, he'd always worked in football administration and was exceptionally good at it.

Pulaji was fluent in eight languages, a true language prodigy among footballers, and he had never had any communication barriers with Liu Zhizhong.

Liu Zhizhong said, "Mr. Pulaji, regarding the naturalization of Zhang Xiaorui, as president I cannot interfere administratively. That's our system, you understand that, don't you?"

"Yes, Mr. President, you're absolutely right. Now then, have you finished reading his file?"

"I have. My opinion is that we proceed in two steps."