Chapter 713 - 638: Fulfilling All Fantasies About a Football Star

Chapter 713: Chapter 638: Fulfilling All Fantasies About a Football Star

Inside the spacious stadium, a sea of people had gathered. A single glance revealed that nearly everyone was wearing a number 9 jersey.

The microphone was passed to a slightly chubby young man.

Having been called upon, he stood up excitedly, his eyes fixed on Batty in the center of the pitch below. He stammered out a greeting.

"Hello, Batty. My name is Sun Linan."

He was so excited that for a moment, he didn’t know what to say.

"Share a story about Batty, right? I’ve prepared for this. I wrote it all down."

He fumbled around in his bag and pulled out a piece of paper. He unfolded it, then cleared his throat with a couple of soft coughs.

His nervous reaction drew some laughter from the surrounding fans.

He didn’t care. He took a deep breath, his eyes glued to Batty below.

Batty, also in a number 9 jersey, looked back at him from twenty meters away. He smiled and clapped, signaling for everyone to encourage the young man.

Thunderous applause erupted. Sun Linan’s nervousness finally eased a little. He took a deep breath and began to read: "I remember in ’89, when the TV station broadcast Serie A for the first time, I think I was only eight years old, in the third grade of elementary school."

"That was the year I first learned about Serie A, which was called the Little World Cup. I learned about the king of Naples, Maradona, and the three Dutchmen of the Rossoneri. That must have been the first time I became endlessly curious about the city of Milan."

"Oh, and their old rivals, the German Triumvirate!"

Sun Linan’s words sparked memories for countless fans around him, who all nodded in agreement.

The fans in attendance this time were generally around thirty years old.

That era was the childhood of the post-80s generation and the youth of the post-70s!

"And the sailors of Sampdoria!" a fan in the back suddenly shouted.

As this brought a roar of laughter, someone else chimed in, "Who doesn’t know our Sampdoria’s lighthouse, Robert Mancini, and the bald legend, Vialli!"

This teasing sparked even more responses.

"And don’t forget the ’Black Lightning’ George Weah! Ballon d’Or, FIFA World Player of the Year, African Footballer of the Year—the first in history to win all three!"

The moment that fan finished, someone on the other side yelled, "If we’re talking Ballon d’Or, then you have to mention Baggio! In ’93, who was more dominant than Baggio!"

"That’s right, there’s Baggio too!"

"Oh, my poor Baggio... I’ll never forget that penalty at the ’94 World Cup!"

The mention of Baggio sent a wave of regretful sighs through the stands.

"What’s with the sighing? In ’02, didn’t our Baggio get his dream fulfilled?! He fulfilled his dream, so I fulfilled mine!"

Someone else shouted loudly.

Sun Linan turned, saw who had shouted, and gave them a thumbs-up.

This man was in his thirties, a Rolex on his wrist. He was clearly not an ordinary person, but at this moment, he was like any fervent young fan, shouting towards the side of the pitch, "Dr. Chen, you even managed to get Batty here! Why not just bring Baggio over too? Seriously, if I could see him play in person, it would be worth anything."

"Baggio!"

Many fans at the scene began to cheer and chant.

If Chen Yu could invite a 36-year-old Batty to come and play for another year, why couldn’t he invite a 38-year-old Baggio?

Cheers rose and fell throughout the stadium.

The pressure was on Chen Yu.

Chen Yu, who had been hidden backstage, had no choice but to appear. He waved his hands to quiet everyone down, then picked up the microphone and said, "I said at the beginning that I had prepared three surprises for you all. It looks like the first surprise will have to be revealed early."

In the stands, many fans clutched their heads in their hands, their faces filled with disbelief. They were about to lose their minds.

Chen Yu nodded towards the backstage area, and suddenly, a video began to play on the large screen above.

It was Baggio.

Having been retired for two years, he looked noticeably rounder.

He smiled at the camera and said, "My dear fans in China, thank you."

"It was through Chen that I learned there were so many people in China who still like me. I’m truly touched."

"In ’96, I went to China for the first time. That trip was too hectic, and I didn’t have time to properly get to know China. But that’s not a problem now. I’m retired, and Chen is always complaining that I have nothing to do and have already gotten fat."

"So, everyone, wait for me. I will go to China to meet you. Believe me, it will be very soon!"

The video ended.

The entire stadium had erupted into a frenzy.

"So, are you satisfied with this surprise?" Chen Yu asked with a smile.

’This was supposed to be the biggest surprise, and now I had to reveal it early!’

A roar of satisfaction echoed throughout the stadium.

All the Guang City fans were so happy they felt they could faint. For the first time, they felt that Chen Yu taking over the Guang City Football Club was such a wonderful thing.

With Chen Yu’s connections, was there anyone he couldn’t invite?

The Five Major Leagues were about to end. Even with the World Cup qualifiers this year, the stars Chen Yu knew could spare a few days to send countless fans into a frenzy.

For example, Ronaldo, or Xiaobei—which of them hadn’t been treated by Chen Yu’s miraculous hands?

"Alright, let’s let Mr. Sun continue."

Chen Yu waved his hand and retreated backstage.

Sun Linan suppressed his inner jubilation. Perhaps feeling he had neglected Batty, he immediately shouted, "Batty, even though I also really like Baggio, you will always be my favorite!"

Down below, Batty couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He walked right up to the stands, reaching over the seats to give Sun Linan a high-five.

And, of course, he didn’t miss the other fans around him.

This was actually one of Chen Yu’s requirements: don’t arrange a bunch of bodyguards, so that Batty and the others could interact with the fans anytime, anywhere.

He didn’t allow them to act like divas.

Of course, even in Italy, Batty wasn’t the type of star to act like a diva.

Sun Linan was beside himself with excitement. It took him a good while to calm down and continue reading what he had prepared.

"I started watching football when I was eight, and now, more than ten years later, my favorite star is still Batty."

"As I was writing this, I asked myself why I like Batty. I think it’s because he fulfilled all my fantasies about what a football star should be."

"Football is a battle for men, a battle of hormones. We go wild for these stars, our hearts pounding, because they are the heroes on the pitch. And you..."

He pointed across the distance at Batty.

"You fulfill all my fantasies of a hero."

"A hero should have a tall and powerful build, a dashing and handsome appearance, and a wild, untamable style. Yes, that’s you."

These words gave the translator next to Batty no small headache. He was pulling his hair out, racking his brain to translate, which left Batty looking a little dazed.

Sun Linan continued, "A hero should have a valiant and domineering aura, an offense like a thunderbolt from a clear sky. That’s you."

"He should also possess the pride to look down upon the world, with no one his equal!"

"Of course, a hero also has moments of tears, and he should be one to repay kindness and avenge wrongs. And you embody all of that."

"You embody all my fantasies of a hero, and at the same time, you have many qualities that move me."

"In ’93, when Florence was relegated, you, the top scorer of the Copa America, voluntarily stayed with the team. In you, I saw loyalty."

"In ’94, upon returning to Serie A, you scored 26 goals in a single season, scoring in 11 consecutive matches. I once again saw the you who could swallow mountains and rivers!"

"You were like a lone hero, bitterly defending the Purple Lily for years. When you had no choice but to go to Rome, I remember you weeping at the press conference. My heart broke back then. You were so reluctant to leave."

"And when you returned to Frankie Stadium and scored a goal for Rome, you didn’t celebrate. At that moment, I saw a hero’s sentimentality and righteousness in you."

"So, Gabriel Batistuta, this is why I, an ordinary fan, like you. I think that even in ten, or even twenty years, I will forever remember your cannonball shots on goal, like claps of thunder!"

"Batty, thank you! Thank you for bringing us this feast of football!"

Sun Linan put down the paper and gave Batty a slight bow.

After a moment of silence, an incredible round of applause broke out.

Down below, after listening to the translator’s interpretation, Batty’s eyes also turned red.

He wiped his tears, walked up into the stands on his own initiative, and hugged Sun Linan.

The applause was long and unceasing.

Backstage, Tang Hemin also rubbed his eyes. As someone born in the 60s, who could say they hadn’t witnessed Batty’s style and flair?

"Dr. Chen, that kid spoke really well. Even I was a little moved," Tang Hemin said with a smile, explaining himself as Chen Yu looked over at him.

Chen Yu smiled without speaking. ’Of course he did,’ he thought to himself.

Sun Linan hadn’t been chosen by the club, but those words had been specially written by someone at Chen Yu’s request.