Chapter Summaries

Barcelona struggled to play their possession game against Seville in torrential rain, but Su Dong helped secure a 2–0 lead with an assist and a goal. Rijkaard ended the chapter confident in Su Dong’s ability to step up when the team needed him.

• Ten Cate and Rijkaard worried as heavy rain disrupted Barcelona’s play and Motta left the match injured.
• Su Dong urged Deco to tell Xavi to use more long passes and then moved forward to attack.
• In the forty-first minute, Su Dong shielded the ball from Ramos and Esteban before setting up Giuly to score.
• At halftime, Rijkaard praised Su Dong and encouraged Barcelona to build more attacks around his strengths.
• In the seventy-first minute, Su Dong redirected Deco’s long pass into Seville’s net to make it 2–0.
• Rijkaard told Ten Cate that Su Dong could be relied on in crucial moments.

After Su Dong helped Barcelona beat Seville, his teammates recognized his growing importance and planned a team dinner for his twentieth birthday. The next day, the media praised him as Barcelona’s new attacking focal point, fueling Deco’s worries about Ronaldinho’s place in the team.

• Su Dong finished showering after the match as Puyol and Xavi defended him from his teammates’ teasing and praised his decisive performance against Seville.
• Puyol announced that the team would celebrate Su Dong’s twentieth birthday with dinner, and Xavi invited him to play indoor football the next day.
• Deco watched Puyol and Xavi draw closer to Su Dong and worried that Ronaldinho’s absence was allowing Su Dong to become Barcelona’s attacking focal point.
• Diario AS praised Su Dong’s goal and assist against Seville, while Mundo Deportivo claimed his arrival had eased Barcelona’s dependence on Ronaldinho.
• Su Dong rejected the idea that he was the team’s core, praised Deco and Xavi, and said he looked forward to playing alongside Ronaldinho again.
• Media speculation suggested Ronaldinho could lose his place and Su Dong could become Barcelona’s star, and the chapter noted that Ronaldinho had been affected by the reports.

Ronaldinho’s ankle injury kept him from playing for Barcelona while Su Dong’s performances intensified the pressure on his place as the team’s leading star. After failing to get medical clearance, Ronaldinho resolved to return for Barcelona’s Champions League match against Ajax and prove himself.

• Ronaldinho recalled how Su Dong’s success and arrival at Barcelona had turned the two into rivals for the club’s leading-star status.
• Ronaldinho went to Sports City for another ankle examination, but the team doctor said he was only seventy percent recovered and refused to clear him to play.
• Ronaldinho persuaded Rijkaard to let him travel with the team to Amsterdam, though his availability would depend on a final examination.
• Deco suggested Ronaldinho consult Su Dong’s physiotherapist, Grant Downing, but Edmílson doubted Su Dong would help a rival, and Ronaldinho ended the discussion.
• Ronaldinho saw Su Dong and his teammates claim the indoor pitch he had arranged, then decided he had to play brilliantly against Ajax to reclaim his standing at Barcelona.

Barcelona defeated Ajax 4–0, with Su Dong scoring and helping Ronaldinho score a penalty as the two began to resolve their rumored conflict. After the match, they agreed to compete fairly and accepted each other’s challenge to play indoor football.

• Su Dong scored from Ronaldinho’s through ball, then celebrated with him to show that they were not feuding.
• Su Dong won a penalty after Heitinga shoved him in the box and gave the ball to Ronaldinho, who converted it to make the score 2–0.
• Su Dong assisted Belletti and Giuly’s combination before Larsson scored a fourth goal, completing Barcelona’s 4–0 win over Ajax.
• Ronaldinho asked Su Dong about his physical therapist, and Su Dong offered to have Grant Downing examine Ronaldinho’s injured ankle.
• Su Dong told Ronaldinho he would compete through his own ability and hoped they could work well together; Ronaldinho agreed, and they accepted a challenge to play indoor football.

Su Dong and Ronaldinho reconciled and combined effectively as Barcelona beat Atlético Madrid 2–1, moving three points clear at the top of La Liga. Real Madrid lost to Espanyol after another defeat in Europe, and manager Camacho resigned the following day.

• Su Dong accepted Ronaldinho’s invitation to play and reached out to repair their relationship, restoring the atmosphere in Barcelona’s dressing room.
• Su Dong set up Ronaldinho’s opening goal against Atlético Madrid, then Ronaldinho created the chance for Su Dong to score Barcelona’s second.
• Torres scored for Atlético Madrid after a defensive mistake, but Barcelona held on to win 2–1 away.
• Real Madrid lost 1–0 to Espanyol after two players were sent off and both Raul Tamudo and Ronaldo missed penalties, leaving Barcelona alone at the top of the league.
• AS criticized Real Madrid’s weakened midfield and recalled the club’s decision to sell Makelele.
• Camacho announced his resignation as Real Madrid manager the day after the defeat to Espanyol.

Su Dong listened as Barcelona’s players discussed Camacho’s resignation from Real Madrid and reflected on the risks of joining a giant club. After Real Madrid narrowly beat Osasuna, Barcelona fell behind Zaragoza to David Villa’s goal, leaving Su Dong eager to answer Villa on the pitch.

• Barcelona’s players debated why Camacho had resigned, and Puyol said internal dressing-room conflict and Owen’s arrival had caused problems at Real Madrid.
• Puyol relayed the club’s order forbidding Barcelona players from publicly commenting on Real Madrid’s situation.
• Real Madrid accepted Camacho’s resignation, appointed goalkeeper coach Raymon as caretaker manager, and later beat Osasuna 1–0 with Beckham’s direct free kick.
• Zaragoza’s David Villa scored against Barcelona after a defensive mistake, and Ronaldinho joked that Villa was provoking Su Dong.
• Su Dong said he would answer Villa’s challenge, thinking, “Villa? I’ll remember you!”

Barcelona came from behind to defeat Zaragoza 5–1 at Camp Nou after Su Dong scored twice to turn the match around. He finished with two goals and an assist, while Barcelona’s second-half dominance left the team looking increasingly formidable.

• Barcelona controlled the match but struggled to break through Zaragoza’s defense as Su Dong patiently drew defenders away from his teammates.
• In the thirty-second minute, Su Dong held off Diego Milito, turned past the defense, and scored with a right-footed shot to equalize.
• Eight minutes later, Su Dong met Ronaldinho’s chipped pass between Diego Milito and Álvaro and redirected it into the goal to put Barcelona ahead.
• David realized that he had underestimated Su Dong after learning how the striker had scored both goals against Zaragoza’s defenders.
• Barcelona continued to press after halftime, and Ronaldinho, Xavi, and Van Bronckhorst added goals to complete a 5–1 comeback victory.
• Su Dong was named best player of the match after recording two goals and an assist.

Barcelona overwhelmed Mallorca 6–1, with Su Dong scoring four goals and assisting another before halftime. Rijkaard substituted him at the break, and the match ended with Barcelona still holding a commanding away victory.

• Su Dong opened the scoring in the third minute after Ronaldinho chipped the ball into the box.
• Su Dong scored again from Van Bronckhorst’s cross to give Barcelona a 2–0 lead, then completed his hat trick with a finish past Moya.
• Ronaldinho converted a penalty and scored from Su Dong’s through ball before Su Dong added his fourth goal from Ronaldinho’s pass, making it 6–0 at halftime.
• Rijkaard replaced Su Dong with Larsson at halftime, and Larsson failed to convert two one-on-one chances created by Ronaldinho.
• Eto'o scored for Mallorca in the seventy-eighth minute, and Barcelona won 6–1 with Su Dong named Best Player.

After Barcelona’s 6–1 win over Real Mallorca, newspapers praised Su Dong’s four-goal performance and his partnership with Ronaldinho, while contrasting Barcelona’s rise with Real Madrid’s struggles. Su Dong’s ten goals in five league matches made him a favorite for year-end individual honors, though Galliani and Wenger backed Shevchenko and Henry.

• Diario AS praised Barcelona’s six straight wins and argued that Su Dong’s removal against Real Mallorca exposed how much he linked the team’s attack.
• Mundo Deportivo analyzed Su Dong’s hat trick and contrasted his composed finishing with Larsson’s missed one-on-one chances.
• Diario AS compared Barcelona’s 6–1 victory with Real Madrid’s 2–1 defeat to Athletic Bilbao and said Barcelona was becoming La Liga’s new king.
• Su Dong’s four-goal match brought his league total to ten in five games, prompting media outlets to predict he would win major individual awards.
• Galliani backed Shevchenko for individual honors, while Wenger declared Henry deserved the Ballon d’Or and World Footballer of the Year awards.

Barcelona beat Donetsk Miner 4–0 in their first Champions League home match in seventeen months, with Su Dong scoring and setting up Iniesta’s first Champions League goal. After Barcelona extended their perfect La Liga start, Su Dong used the international break to prepare for an important matter.

• Su Dong scored in the eleventh minute against Donetsk Miner after combining with Ronaldinho, giving Barcelona the lead.
• Deco and Ronaldinho added goals before halftime to put Barcelona 3–0 ahead.
• Su Dong and Iniesta combined in the eighty-ninth minute, and Iniesta scored his first Champions League goal to seal a 4–0 win.
• Iniesta thanked Su Dong for helping him earn opportunities and confidence at Barcelona.
• Su Dong rested for Barcelona’s 1–0 league win over Numancia, while Real Madrid lost 0–1 to Deportivo La Coruña and fell to tenth place.
• During the two-week international break, Su Dong decided to handle an important matter he had been preparing for a long time.

Su Dong welcomed his parents to Barcelona and moved into his new villa after his mother arranged a traditional housewarming ceremony. Wang Chuqing toured the property with him and discovered his extensive training facilities, while his friends arrived two days later and noticed her beauty.

• Su Dong met his parents at Barcelona Airport, where Wang Chuqing had accompanied them from China.
• Su Dong drove his family and Wang Chuqing to his hillside villa, and his parents admired its spacious garden and sports facilities after initially criticizing its entrance.
• Su Dong's mother directed the family through a traditional housewarming ceremony and declared that he had officially moved in.
• Su Dong showed Wang Chuqing the villa's pool, sports areas, and professional gym, where she realized how seriously he trained at home.
• Rony, Pepe, and the others visited two days later to celebrate Su Dong's housewarming and looked at Wang Chuqing with new interest.

Su Dong’s friends teased him about his relationship with Wang Chuqing, then reunited over dinner and shared their pressures and ambitions. Rony urged Su Dong to keep pursuing the Ballon d’Or and World Footballer of the Year, while Wang Chuqing quietly cared for the sleeping group; Su Dong was awake when she wished him well.

• Rony, Pepe, and Jose Semedo pinned Su Dong down on the soccer field and insisted that he and Wang Chuqing had feelings for each other, despite Su Dong’s denials.
• Wang Chuqing called the friends to dinner, where she graciously hosted them as they discussed their careers, strained rivalries, and personal pressures.
• Rony told Su Dong he envied his sea-facing villa and encouraged him to keep pushing toward the awards, promising to chase after him.
• The exhausted friends fell asleep on the balcony, and Wang Chuqing found blankets and covered them one by one.
• Wang Chuqing wished Su Dong well and returned to her room; Su Dong quietly opened his eyes after she left.

Barcelona prepared for a decisive Champions League match against Juventus while injuries left their right wing short of options. Su Dong recommended Iniesta to start and Messi as a second-half substitute, then encouraged both young players to prove themselves in training.

• Barcelona beat Espanyol 1–0 as Su Dong assisted Deco, while Real Madrid drew with Real Betis and Valencia lost to Seville.
• Capello, Piero, and Ibrahimovic publicly voiced Juventus's confidence ahead of their home match against Barcelona, with Ibrahimovic challenging Su Dong to score.
• Edmílson was ruled out for at least six months, Puyol and Ronaldinho remained doubtful, and Giuly became unavailable after his injury worsened.
• Rijkaard and Ten Cate asked Su Dong to assess their right-wing options, and he advised against starting Messi against Juventus's physical defense.
• Su Dong recommended Iniesta over Larsson because Iniesta could help create chances, and Messi as a second-half substitute.
• Su Dong encouraged Iniesta and Messi to work hard in training, and they understood that he had supported them with the coaches.

Barcelona fell behind Juventus after Nedvěd scored from Ibrahimovic’s headed pass, but Su Dong helped create an equalizer for Ronaldinho before halftime. The teams were level at 1–1 as Su Dong taunted Ibrahimovic after Barcelona answered Juventus’s lead.

• Juventus pressured Barcelona early, and Nedvěd scored after Ibrahimovic headed a long pass back toward the edge of the box.
• Ibrahimovic taunted Su Dong after the goal, and Su Dong decided to answer Juventus with a similar tall-center-forward attack.
• Su Dong shared his plan with Ronaldinho, Iniesta, and the rest of Barcelona’s team as Juventus dropped back to defend.
• Su Dong controlled Xavi’s long pass and drew Juventus defenders before laying the ball off to Iniesta, who set up Ronaldinho to equalize.
• Su Dong mocked Ibrahimovic by asking what was so hard about scoring a goal, leaving the Swedish forward furious.

Barcelona brought on Messi to replace the injured Deco, and he adjusted to playing wide as Juventus continued to defend deep. Late in the match, Messi beat his markers and sent a cross toward Su Dong, leaving the finish unresolved.

• Capello replaced Piero with Zalayeta, while Barcelona maintained possession against Juventus's solid defense.
• Rijkaard substituted Messi for Deco, moved Iniesta into midfield alongside Xavi, and sent Messi to the right wing.
• Messi chased Xavi's through ball into the penalty area but failed to control it and fell; Su Dong helped him up and advised him to stay wider.
• Iniesta sent Messi into space on the right, where Messi evaded Emerson and Zambrotta before reaching the byline.
• Messi crossed with his right foot toward the goalmouth, and Su Dong surged forward to meet it as Cannavaro and Thuram marked him.

Su Dong scored a late header from Messi’s assist to complete Barcelona’s 2–1 comeback away against Juventus. After the match, Capello praised Su Dong as a world-class center forward, while the Spanish media celebrated Barcelona’s win and criticized other Spanish clubs’ European results.

• Su Dong used his height and anticipation to get past Cannavaro and Thuram, then headed Messi’s cross past Buffon in the eighty-fourth minute.
• Su Dong and Messi celebrated by the sideline as Barcelona’s players praised Messi for creating the winning goal.
• Capello regretted Juventus’ cautious approach and acknowledged Su Dong’s decisive contributions to both Barcelona goals.
• Barcelona won 2–1, and Capello called the defeat a disaster while praising Su Dong as a world-class center forward and Ibrahimovic as an excellent one.
• Tuttosport praised Iniesta and Messi but said Barcelona’s win mainly gave them the initiative in the group’s race for first place.
• Spanish media celebrated Barcelona’s result while noting Real Madrid’s dull win, Deportivo’s poor group form, and Valencia’s 5–1 home defeat to Inter Milan.

After studying Valencia’s collapse, Su Dong watched Barcelona beat Osasuna and advance in the Copa del Rey before coming off the bench to equalize against Athletic Bilbao. He and Iniesta then planned a surprise move with Messi as Barcelona prepared to resume the match.

• Su Dong watched Valencia’s defeat to Inter Milan and concluded that injuries, transfers, and Ranieri’s failure to balance the team’s factions had contributed to its troubles.
• Barcelona beat Osasuna 4–0, with Su Dong scoring twice and Ronaldinho and Iniesta each contributing a goal and an assist.
• Barcelona defeated Gramenet 1–0 away in the Copa del Rey after Messi scored the only goal with a header.
• Athletic Bilbao took an early lead against Barcelona, and Su Dong came on in the seventy-fifth minute as the visitors struggled to find a breakthrough.
• Messi crossed for Su Dong to equalize with a header, and Su Dong celebrated with Messi and Iniesta before they discussed trying a new move.

Messi outwitted Del Horno and crossed for Su Dong, who scored a spectacular bicycle kick to give Barcelona the lead. The Barcelona players celebrated together while Del Horno realized Messi had deliberately prepared the cross for Su Dong.

• Del Horno noticed Messi practicing crosses and mocked him for thinking he could beat him again.
• Iniesta switched play to Messi, who fooled Del Horno, reached the byline, and crossed into the penalty area.
• Su Dong turned away from Murillo and scored with a bicycle kick despite Aranzubia getting a touch on the shot.
• Su Dong celebrated with Messi and Iniesta, promised to help them score bicycle kicks, and joined his teammates as they demanded a celebratory meal.
• Del Horno realized Messi had deliberately worked on the cross to set up Su Dong's bicycle kick and regretted underestimating him.

Barcelona came from behind against Juventus at Camp Nou, with Su Dong scoring twice to secure a 3-1 lead. After Su Dong’s second goal, he taunted Ibrahimovic in response to the striker’s earlier challenge.

• Ibrahimovic assisted Piero’s opening goal in the seventeenth minute, putting Juventus ahead as Barcelona struggled to break through.
• Xavi’s through ball found Su Dong, whose run and cutback set up Ronaldinho to equalize in the thirty-eighth minute.
• Su Dong beat Thuram and scored a powerful long-range shot in first-half stoppage time, giving Barcelona a 2-1 lead.
• Barcelona pressed after the break, and Iniesta replaced Giuly as the team worked to control the match.
• Xavi sent another through ball into the box, and Iniesta cut it back for Su Dong to score his second goal and make it 3-1.
• Su Dong celebrated with Iniesta and asked Ibrahimovic whether he could handle it, angering the Swedish striker.

After Barcelona's comeback win over Juventus, Su Dong received widespread praise from the referee, coaches, and Spanish media, who credited him with transforming Barcelona and making his transfer fee seem worthwhile. Su Dong thanked his supporters while praising his teammates, as talk grew that Barcelona were building a new Dream Team II.

• Urs Meier praised Su Dong's performance after the match, and Rijkaard credited Su Dong's goal with creating another comeback while urging patience with the injured Ronaldinho.
• Capello praised Barcelona's play and compared the impression Su Dong made on him to the one Ronaldo had made in the past.
• Mundo Deportivo and Diario AS celebrated Su Dong's goals, assists, and influence, with Diario AS calling Barcelona's record-breaking start the beginning of a new Dream Team II.
• Cruyff called Su Dong Barcelona's best signing in years and urged FIFA and France Football Magazine to give him the major individual awards, while warning that Barcelona's defense needed strengthening.
• Su Dong thanked those who praised him, defended Ronaldinho, and praised Xavi, Deco, Messi, and Iniesta, earning the approval of his teammates.