Chapter Summaries

After Su Dong led Bayern to a 2–1 comeback win over Manchester United, media praised his performance and Real Madrid reportedly pursued him, though Bayern and his agent denied a transfer was possible. Barcelona drew 0–0 with Chelsea in the other Champions League semifinal, leaving the tie open and prompting fresh regret over Su Dong’s departure.

• The Times credited Su Dong’s individual ability, pressure on Vidić, and strong second-half form for Bayern’s comeback, while warning that Manchester United could still fight back.
• German outlets praised Su Dong and predicted Bayern would reach the Champions League final; Kicker compared his first goal to Maradona and called him a phenomenon-level legend.
• AS reported that Florentino was willing to offer €200 million for Su Dong, while Marca said Real Madrid representatives had contacted Mendes; Bayern declared Su Dong non-transferable, and Mendes said he was happy at Bayern.
• Mourinho’s Barcelona dominated possession against Hiddink’s defensive Chelsea but drew 0–0 at Camp Nou, after which Mourinho condemned Chelsea’s tactics and Hiddink retorted that Mourinho had used similar tactics at Chelsea.
• Laporta blamed Barcelona’s executives for letting Su Dong leave, while Hiddink predicted Chelsea would win the second leg at Stamford Bridge.

Su Dong came off the bench to score a six-minute hat trick as Bayern beat Borussia Mönchengladbach, then scored the only goal against Manchester United to send Bayern into the Champions League final. Bayern celebrated their 3–1 aggregate victory while Rony left the Allianz Arena dejected.

• Su Dong scored three goals in six minutes after entering against Borussia Mönchengladbach, helping Bayern win 4–1.
• Su Dong scored a bicycle kick in the seventeenth minute of Bayern’s semifinal second leg against Manchester United, putting Bayern ahead 1–0 and 3–1 on aggregate.
• Rooney received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away after being flagged offside, leaving Manchester United with ten players.
• Heynckes had Bayern keep possession and slow the game after Rooney’s dismissal, and Bayern held on to win 1–0.
• Bayern defeated Manchester United 3–1 on aggregate and reached the Champions League final as fans chanted Su Dong’s name.
• Rony left the pitch without saying goodbye to Su Dong, envious of the crowd’s celebration.

Su Dong and his Bayern teammates watched Barcelona beat Chelsea 1–0 to reach the Champions League final, where they would face Bayern. As both clubs pursued a treble, Su Dong joked that he would teach Pique a lesson in the final on Messi’s behalf.

• Su Dong and his teammates watched Iniesta score a late winner that sent Barcelona past Chelsea, while they discussed Chelsea’s wasted chances and the controversial handball decisions.
• The teammates debated Eto'o’s clever defending and the gamesmanship players used to win, with Pepe saying Su Dong played too honestly.
• Barcelona’s victory put them in the Champions League and Copa del Rey finals, and Bayern’s players discussed their upcoming final against Barcelona.
• Su Dong predicted Mourinho would be cautious in the final, while Modrić and the others praised how many goals Su Dong might have scored from Drogba’s chances.
• Thomas Müller noted that Barcelona and Bayern could both win trebles, and the teammates reflected on Su Dong’s record in Champions League finals.
• Su Dong texted Messi that he would beat Pique badly in the Champions League final, fulfilling Messi’s old request for a harsh lesson.

Bayern won their final Bundesliga matches against Cottbus, Leverkusen, and Hoffenheim as Su Dong continued to score and assist while the team managed its players ahead of the cup finals. Hoffenheim’s rise from a tiny village club to a Bundesliga contender framed its home match against Bayern, where Su Dong scored twice in a 4–2 victory.

• Su Dong scored twice and assisted Thomas Müller as Bayern beat Cottbus 4–0 away.
• Su Dong came on at halftime against Leverkusen, scored, and assisted Ribéry before Bayern won 4–0.
• Hoffenheim’s history, Sinsheim home, and new Rhein-Neckar Arena were described as the club prepared to host Bayern.
• Demba Ba scored twice as Hoffenheim twice equalized against Bayern, leaving the teams level at 2–2 at halftime.
• Su Dong came on in the sixtieth minute and scored in the eighty-third minute to put Bayern ahead.
• Su Dong beat Hildebrand and scored again in stoppage time as Bayern defeated Hoffenheim 4–2, leaving Dietmar Hopp hoping his club could one day become a powerhouse.

Bayern defeated Werder Bremen 3–0 in the German Cup final, with Su Dong scoring twice and assisting Ribéry’s goal. After the match, Su Dong responded to Mourinho’s pre-final taunts as Bayern turned toward the Champions League final against Barcelona.

• Diego led Werder Bremen’s early attack, but Neuer made two important saves to keep Bayern level.
• Su Dong scored in the sixteenth minute after Robben slipped him a through ball, giving Bayern a 1–0 lead at halftime.
• After Werder Bremen pressed forward in the second half, Su Dong set up Ribéry’s counterattacking goal to make it 2–0.
• Su Dong scored again in the seventy-third minute despite Prödl tugging at him, extending Bayern’s lead to 3–0.
• Bayern beat Werder Bremen 3–0 and defended their German Cup title, setting up a Champions League final against Barcelona.
• Su Dong praised Messi as Barcelona’s biggest threat and mocked Mourinho for making excuses after losing to him.

Bayern defeated Stuttgart 4–1 to complete their Bundesliga title celebrations, with Su Dong scoring a hat trick and receiving the Bundesliga Golden Boot and Season's Best Player awards. The celebrations turned toward Bayern’s upcoming Champions League final against Barcelona, which Su Dong vowed to win.

• Su Dong scored three goals as Bayern beat Stuttgart 4–1 in their final Bundesliga match.
• Su Dong’s family and Wang Chuqing’s parents discussed his achievements and his parents’ plans to invest his earnings in property.
• Lahm lifted the Championship Shield as Bayern received their medals, and the players drenched him and Heynckes with beer.
• Su Dong received the Bundesliga Golden Boot and Season's Best Player trophies before his teammates poured beer over him.
• Bayern displayed the Bundesliga and German Cup trophies, while Beckenbauer and Hoeness reminded the team that the Champions League final remained ahead.
• Su Dong prepared to face Barcelona and Mourinho in Rome, determined to win the Champions League.

As Roma prepared for the Champions League final, Su Dong's parents and Wang Chuqing's parents agreed to arrange the couple's engagement while visiting the city. Back in Munich, Su Dong realized how much he relied on Wang Chuqing and again considered learning to drive, but worried his fame would make lessons impossible.

• Roma deployed extensive security measures and decorated the city for the Champions League final, while Wang Chuqing and both families kept to daytime outings.
• At the Colosseum, Yang Xiuyu and Wang Qingquan urged Su Dong and Wang Chuqing to marry, and the two families agreed to arrange their engagement after the final.
• Su Dong did not know the families had settled the engagement, though he had already told his parents he wanted to formalize the relationship.
• With Wang Chuqing away, Su Dong found it inconvenient to depend on teammates for rides and decided he wanted to learn to drive.
• Pepe teased Su Dong about repeatedly postponing driving lessons and warned that media and fans would make his lessons difficult because of his fame.

Bayern prepared for the Champions League final against Mourinho’s Barcelona, a formidable team that blended its traditional technique with Mourinho’s defensive and counterattacking approach. As the teams arrived in Rome, Su Dong and his teammates finalized their preparations and awaited the decisive match.

• Heynckes judged Bayern technically inferior to Barcelona and told the team to make defense their main priority.
• Bayern arrived in Rome, where fans of both teams crowded the streets and some Barcelona supporters jeered Su Dong as a traitor.
• Heynckes briefed the players on referee Bussaca and revealed that Bussaca had said he was a Su Dong fan.
• Bookmakers opened numerous betting markets for the final, with Su Dong favored to score first and Bayern holding a slight edge to win.
• Su Dong and his teammates completed their preparations as the Champions League final approached.

Su Dong reunited with Messi and Iniesta before the Champions League final, then faced Barcelona center-back Piqué’s bold challenge. The match began with Barcelona kicking off, and Su Dong immediately charged toward their defense with Piqué in his path.

• Su Dong greeted Messi and Iniesta warmly, and Messi asked him to go easy on Piqué so Barcelona could win the Champions League.
• The teams entered Rome's Olympic Stadium for the final, with Su Dong and Barcelona’s full-strength lineups ready to play.
• Piqué told Su Dong he would prove himself the world’s strongest center-back and freeze him out.
• Iniesta warned Piqué that provoking Su Dong would only make him perform better, but Piqué dismissed the warning.
• After Barcelona won the kickoff, Messi passed to Eto'o, and Su Dong sprinted forward toward Piqué and Barcelona’s defense.

Bayern pressed Barcelona from kickoff, and Su Dong scored with a spectacular direct free kick to give Bayern the lead. He celebrated before the chapter ended with Barcelona’s supporters watching the former player they had lost turn into their enemy.

• Su Dong pressured Pique into passing back, and Valdes’s hurried return pass went out for a Bayern throw-in.
• Su Dong controlled Lahm’s throw-in and helped Bayern move the ball across the pitch, where Yaya Touré fouled Ribéry and conceded a free kick.
• Valdes positioned Barcelona’s wall and prepared for Su Dong’s free kick, while Su Dong read the goalkeeper’s setup.
• Su Dong curled the free kick into the upper-left corner, scoring for Bayern one minute and thirty-one seconds into the match.
• Su Dong celebrated in front of Bayern’s supporters as Barcelona’s fans watched with regret.

Su Dong and Messi traded spectacular goals in the Champions League final, while Su Dong kept Barcelona’s defenders under pressure with his free kicks and attacking runs. The chapter ended with Su Dong breaking through Barcelona’s defense as Robben threaded a pass into the penalty area.

• Iniesta told Messi that Pique had provoked Su Dong, and the two Barcelona stars discussed Su Dong’s determination to win three Champions League titles with Bayern.
• After Bayern took an early lead, Barcelona equalized in the thirteenth minute when Messi scored with a powerful shot beneath the crossbar.
• Su Dong praised Messi’s goal and teased Pique, promising to score in front of him.
• Pique fouled Su Dong during a Bayern attack and received the match’s first yellow card; Su Dong then struck the post with his free kick.
• In the thirty-second minute, Su Dong turned past Yaya Touré, passed to Robben, and sprinted into the penalty area as Robben sent in a through ball.

Su Dong scored twice to give Bayern a 2–1 halftime lead over Barcelona in the Champions League final. After Heynckes reviewed the first half, Bayern prepared to keep attacking through Su Dong in the second half.

• Messi equalized after Su Dong's opening goal, easing Rosell and Bartomeu's tension in the stands.
• Su Dong combined with Robben to score again, restoring Bayern's lead and leaving Rosell stunned.
• Su Dong taunted Messi and Pique after the goal, while Pique struggled to contain his anger.
• Bussaca ended the first half with Bayern leading 2–1, and the players went to the dressing rooms.
• Heynckes reviewed Bayern's defensive concerns and told the team to keep directing their attack through Su Dong.

Bayern resisted Barcelona’s second-half pressure before Su Dong scored his third goal to make it 3–1 in the Champions League final. Barcelona pressed for a comeback, but Bayern held firm, and Su Dong left the field to a standing ovation.

• Neuer saved Eto’o’s early second-half shot, then denied Messi as Barcelona created several dangerous chances.
• Lucio started a Bayern attack that moved through Su Dong, Modrić, Schweinsteiger, Marcelo, and Ribéry before Marcelo passed to Su Dong.
• Su Dong held off Pique, turned, and scored past Valdes in the fifty-sixth minute to complete his hat trick and give Bayern a 3–1 lead.
• Mourinho brought Henry on for Seydou Keita and later Pedro on for Yaya Touré as Barcelona chased a goal, while Heynckes brought on Toni Kroos and Badstuber to strengthen Bayern.
• Messi hit the post in the seventy-sixth minute, and Barcelona failed to create another clear chance as Bayern defended and counterattacked.
• Heynckes replaced Su Dong with Klose in the eighty-fifth minute, and fans from both teams and neutral supporters gave Su Dong a standing ovation.

Su Dong led Bayern to a 3–1 victory over Barcelona with a hat trick, defending the Champions League title and completing the treble. After celebrating with his teammates and former Barcelona companions, he received his medal as Lahm accepted the trophy.

• Bayern players and staff rushed onto the pitch after the final whistle and celebrated their 3–1 win over Barcelona, Su Dong's fifth Champions League title, and the club's defended title.
• Neuer thanked Su Dong for recommending him to Bayern and credited him with helping the goalkeeper win the Champions League and improve his standing in the German national team.
• Puyol, Xavi, Valdes, Iniesta, and Messi congratulated Su Dong, and Su Dong joked with Messi about his old request to teach Pique a lesson.
• Su Dong shook hands with Barcelona's players, including an embarrassed Pique, as they went to receive their medals, then Bayern's players followed Heynckes up the red carpet.
• Platini presented Su Dong with his medal and praised him, then Lahm accepted the Champions League trophy as Bayern celebrated completing the treble.

After Bayern defeated Barcelona 3–1 and defended its Champions League title and treble, media across Europe praised Su Dong’s hat trick and dominance, declaring that football had entered his era. The chapter left Su Dong celebrated as the world’s leading player, with Chinese media predicting his best performances still lay ahead.

• Kicker Magazine published a special issue calling the age Su Dong’s and highlighted his record of five Champions League titles and one UEFA Cup.
• Kicker Magazine compared Su Dong’s goals and assists with Barcelona’s attacking stars and concluded that his output exceeded theirs combined.
• Bild reported that Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero called Su Dong the best player in world football, while King Juan Carlos urged him to return to La Liga.
• L’Équipe and Milan Sports Daily praised Su Dong for leading Bayern to defend the treble and conquer Europe.
• Portuguese and Argentine outlets praised Su Dong’s performance over Messi, while Record linked his success to Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy.
• Xinhua News Agency reported that Su Dong called the final one of the best matches of his career and predicted that his best match would come in the future.

After Bayern defended their treble, Su Dong received praise from Chinese leaders and German officials before joining the team’s huge victory parade through Munich. In Madrid, incoming Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez struggled to secure Su Dong’s transfer as he prepared to take office.

• Merkel and China’s top leader congratulated Su Dong, who promised to keep striving for success with Bayern.
• German officials and guests visited Bayern to celebrate the team’s treble defense and praise Su Dong.
• Bayern arrived in Munich with six trophies and rode an open-top bus through the city to the Allianz Arena for a massive celebration.
• Florentino Pérez was elected Real Madrid president and prepared to take office on June 1.
• Florentino, having secured Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo in principle, sought Su Dong as a marquee signing, but Su Dong remained unwilling to join Real Madrid.

Su Dong and his agents discussed Bayern’s transfer plans and agreed that he should renew his contract despite the club’s intention not to sign major reinforcements. He stayed focused on winning a third consecutive Champions League title while keeping future options open, as both he and Bayern expected their partnership might eventually end.

• Mendes told Su Dong and Ma Dawei that Hoeness planned to prioritize contract renewals and youth development over major signings.
• Su Dong assessed Bayern’s squad and accepted that the club’s approach made sense, while Bayern considered signing Rafinha as Lahm’s backup.
• Su Dong agreed to renew his Bayern contract, with Mendes and Ma Dawei supporting his decision.
• Mendes described Florentino’s plan to build a new Galácticos side, but Su Dong doubted Bayern would sell Ribéry and thought the player was unlikely to leave Munich.
• Su Dong recognized that Bayern might not want to keep paying his increasingly high salary, so Mendes maintained contact with Man City’s leaders and Su Dong had met Guardiola as a possible future option.

Su Dong renewed his contract with Bayern, while Florentino promised to build a star-studded Real Madrid and Barcelona and Man City began planning major squad changes. The chapter ended with reports that Guardiola wanted Bayern’s Pepe or Lucio for Man City’s defense and viewed Su Dong as his ideal center forward.

• Three days after Bayern won the Champions League, the club extended Su Dong’s contract until June 2010, with reports revealing a forty-million-euro signing bonus and his future freedom to transfer.
• On the day Su Dong renewed, Real Madrid chairman Florentino announced plans to build a superclub and left open the possibility of signing Su Dong while hinting at pursuits of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.
• Mourinho submitted a transfer plan to Barcelona that called for Ibrahimovic to strengthen the attack and Lucio to help contain Su Dong.
• Man City sacked Mark Hughes and appointed Guardiola, who signed Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets for eight million euros and began making controversial changes to the squad.
• Reports said Guardiola wanted Bayern’s Pepe or Lucio to partner Kompany and considered Su Dong his dream center forward.

Su Dong and Wang Chuqing held a modest engagement ceremony in Shanghai, celebrated with family in Su Dong’s hometown, and registered their marriage. As news of their relationship spread, Bayern and other Bundesliga clubs continued preparing for the new season through transfers and contract renewals.

• Su Dong’s and Wang Chuqing’s families held an engagement ceremony in Shanghai, where Su Dong gave her a diamond ring, a villa, and a monetary gift of 88,888,888 yuan.
• Su Wenji hosted a small celebration in Su Dong’s hometown, and Su Dong and Wang Chuqing registered their marriage at the civil affairs bureau.
• Rony, Messi, Beckenbauer, and Su Dong’s other friends and acquaintances congratulated the couple after news of their engagement and marriage spread.
• Bayern sold Podolski to Cologne and Demi to a La Liga club, then targeted Schalke 04 right-back Rafinha while beginning contract renewals.
• Werder Bremen, Hamburg, Wolfsburg, and other Bundesliga clubs invested heavily in new players as the league’s transfer market gained momentum.

Bayern’s commercial success, led by Su Dong’s influence, brought the club record revenue, a lucrative German Telecom deal, and the resources to raise player salaries. As the new season approached, Bayern and the Bundesliga celebrated growing attendance, sponsorship, and global reach, with the Bundesliga association hoping Su Dong would stay until retirement.

• The Bundesliga announced a compressed schedule for the new season, while Bayern planned to remain in Europe for preseason because of the German Telecom Cup.
• Bayern and German Telecom signed a new sponsorship contract worth 120 million euros over three years.
• Rummenigge announced that Bayern was negotiating renewals with Ribéry and Robben, offering each an annual salary of eight million euros and planning broad pay raises for the squad.
• Hopfner reported that Bayern’s turnover had reached 400 million euros and that the club held more than 100 million euros in cash, while Deloitte identified Su Dong as a key driver of Bayern’s growth.
• Bayern led the Bundesliga in season-ticket sales and sold more than one million shirts, most bearing Su Dong’s number nine.
• The German Press Agency reported rising Bundesliga attendance and sponsorship, and the Bundesliga association expressed hope that Su Dong would remain in the league until retirement.