Chapter 1 Spain Hates South Korea

　　The Spanish Football Federation building.

　　"The autumn in Madrid always brings a sense of loneliness to the page!"

　　National team coach, Del Bosque, patted his large belly, half-asleep. "Next week's international friendly is against South Korea. We don't need to worry about the impact! We don't need to worry about friendship!"

　　Assistant coach, Minano, excitedly said, "Boss! Let me call up the full squad! We'll definitely crush them..."

　　Del Bosque waved his chubby hand. "No need! Take our boys to Asia, and bring Morata! Hmm... South Korea is using its full squad? Then add Diego Costa!"

　　"South Korea's style of play is dirty. You have to protect our young players, especially Lee. We can't let him get injured! If things don't look good, substitute him out!"

　　Minano nodded quickly in agreement. "I guarantee, not a single hair on Lee's head will be harmed!"

　　With that,

　　He fiddled with his "card game," listing out formations while muttering to himself:

　　"Diego Costa and Morata must start at the same time."

　　"Little Denis, Lee Kang, Deulofeu... we also need to find a tough, intimidating defensive midfielder. Boss! What about Motta from La Masia? The one from Paris Saint-Germain..."

　　Del Bosque frowned, trying hard to remember.

　　Minano clasped his hands together, covering his face, peeking out with one eye. "He was bullied by Busquets like this when he was at Inter..."

　　Del Bosque laughed. "So that's him. How can an Italian represent the Spanish national team? Bring Thiago from Bayern Munich. He can play in every midfield position, is a product of La Masia, and is physically strong! It's not that we only want to call up players from La Masia, we need to give other young people a chance!"

　　Minano explained, "The talents from Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, and Osasuna are still too young, we have to wait a few more years..."

　　He turned back and drew a circle on the paper.

　　"It's you! Thiago! Savage enough!"

　　........

　　Spanish football's hatred for South Korea stems from the 2002 World Cup.

　　June 22, 2002.

　　World Cup quarter-final, Spain faced South Korea.

　　On paper, it was a match without any suspense.

　　Egyptian referee, Gamal Al-Ghandour, single-handedly turned the tide, disallowing two of Spain's goals.

　　Later.

　　After South Korea advanced to the semi-finals.

　　Beckenbauer was shocked and pressured FIFA overnight!

　　Before the semi-final, the referee was changed at the last minute!

　　This finally ended South Korea's World Cup black magic journey.

　　In the years that followed, during every major tournament.

　　South Korea remained the team with the most fouls and the most yellow cards.

　　......

　　Leverkusen.

　　The sports director's office desk was piled high with business cooperation faxes.

　　The assistant said bitterly, "Boss, Bayern's side..."

　　Voller laughed. "Don't worry, this time is different. Bayern isn't as... as everyone imagines. We respect Lee's wishes."

　　The assistant's expression eased. "That's great then. Lee doesn't want to leave for now, we might even win the Champions League!"

　　Voller shook his head. "You're really dreaming. The match at Camp Nou was a surprise victory in the first half! The second half was mostly luck. If it hadn't been for that rain from God... Prepare a permanent contract for Toprak!"

　　The assistant retorted, "The ball is round!"

　　The desolate office was filled with their laughter.

　　.....

　　International match day arrived.

　　For players who couldn't start for the national team, it was a holiday.

　　Havertz was called up to the Germany U17 team.

　　Kramer, Bellarabi, and Kiessling went to the national team training center in Munich to report.

　　Evening.

　　The cold wind was biting.

　　Two young men were still running tirelessly.

　　"Lee, as long as I solve my stamina problem! I can score more goals this season! Then I'll have enough money to buy a house!"

　　"I won't move out! The house is for my family. We'll still be poor partners living in the first team dorms, haha!"

　　Brandt's family conditions were very poor. His parents had been renting a house in Bremen for many years, and his greatest wish was to earn enough money to buy a house.

　　Lee Kang smiled and nodded.

　　Clap, clap, clap!

　　The assistant clapped his hands to stop them, handing them two dry towels. "Lee, hurry up and rest, take a shower, change your clothes, and after dinner, we have to leave!"

　　Brandt asked suspiciously, "Where are we going so late?"

　　The assistant said, "The Veltins quarterly commercial! It's being filmed at night!"

　　....

　　Night fell.

　　A business car with the Leverkusen team emblem drove along a mountain road.

　　The assistant said, "The content of the commercial won't be too complicated. The accommodation at the Veltins Museum is also a five-star hotel. We'll go home tomorrow morning, and you can rest for a day before reporting to the Spanish national team. A perfect itinerary!"

　　Lee Kang held a tablet, and the screen was playing a recording of the Arsenal vs Bayern Munich match.

　　British star, Wilshere, had recovered from his injury and led the team to a classic victory against the odds!

　　Why wasn't Lee Kang's conquest of Camp Nou a complete shock to Europe?

　　That was because an English teenager had already completed this feat four years ago!

　　At that time, he was facing Barcelona at the peak of their dream era!

　　19-year-old Wilshere single-handedly fought the "Ha Bai Bu" (Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets) at their peak.

　　Arsenal's elegant young man amazed the world.

　　It was called the "Earth Defense War"!

　　Unfortunately, Bentner missed an open goal in the second leg, wasting Wilshere's incredible outside-of-the-foot pass.

　　After the match, all the European media had the same opinion:

　　《Arsenal lost, Wilshere didn't.》

　　Unfortunately, God didn't favor Arsenal.

　　Wilshere was plagued by injuries and fell from grace.

　　The assistant leaned closer and said, "Arsenal is very strong this season. The scariest team in the Premier League is Leicester City! We were drawn into a group of death in the group stage! I hope the goddess of fortune will favor us in the round of 16 draw!"

　　The driver interjected, "The group stage isn't over yet, the icy world of Borisov..."

　　......

　　The Veltins Museum under the moonlight looked like a town in a fairy tale.

　　Sandra greeted them enthusiastically, "Lee, it's only been a short time, but you seem to have grown taller again! Where's Mr. Voller? Didn't he come again?"

　　The assistant replied, "Our director went to Munich to attend a DFL (Deutsche Fußball Liga) meeting!"

　　Sandra's expression was slightly regretful.

　　Without much small talk.

　　Everyone got back into the business car and headed to the filming location.

　　The beer museum covered a large area.

　　The location for each commercial shoot was different.

　　Tonight's destination was the underground wine cellar.

　　.....

　　Twenty minutes later.

　　Everyone got out of the car.

　　The bearded director excitedly threw a soccer ball over!

　　"Lee, your partner this time is finally a soccer ball!"

　　"Hurry up! Hurry up! Let's hurry up and get this done!"

　　The assistant looked around warily, not finding any female models or female boxers...

　　He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

　　Fortunately, Veltins hadn't changed the script at the last minute.

　　The director had said: Leverkusen's Champions League broadcast revenue this season had reached a historical high point, so they weren't short on money, and they couldn't let Lee shoot any more messy commercials.