"When you shoulder your pack and set aside that glory, all I can do is offer you my deepest blessings..."
Vialli pushed the wheelchair while Dejan Lu hummed a song, seeing off the Soviet-blooded father and son. The group then prepared to find something to eat at a restaurant.
"Was that AC Milan's vice president?"
Roberto Mancini pointed at a bald man and asked.
"No idea. There are so many bald guys. How could I recognize him from behind?" Vialli complained.
"Probably not. I heard he really likes cycling."
Dejan Lu said.
"I see. By the way, when is your hamburger shop opening?"
Vialli asked.
He had heard Dejan Lu mention it before.
"It's already being renovated, but let me correct you: it's not a hamburger shop. It's a restaurant!"
Dejan Lu said.
People's perception of hamburgers changed along with social development. They would soon go from being a novelty to junk food, then later become ordinary fast food for workers. Few people were as fanatical about McDonald's as the Russians.
Although Italians admired America, they still looked down on hamburgers.
Just like American coffee, they rejected them as well.
Carefully prepared food simply tasted better than fast food. That was an unchanging truth.
To the Russians, McDonald's tasted like freedom.
So even if Lu opened a restaurant in Moscow and made the food taste just as good—or even better—his business still could not surpass McDonald's.
Other than there, there should not be too much trouble in other countries.
The main battlegrounds were still Europe and Asia.
The group casually picked a restaurant and sat down.
They had barely ordered when an unexpected person appeared on the television.
Italian television was rebroadcasting an interview from Brazilian television, and the man on screen was none other than Brazil's football king, Pelé.
Facing the camera, Pelé said, "I once wanted to play abroad, to let people in other countries experience the charm of Brazilian football, but in the end, I failed.
"Some Brazilian players went abroad. They did not represent only themselves, but also the image of Brazilian football. I watched footage of Fiorentina's match against Sampdoria, and I was furious. At the very least, people should not be this shameless!
"When I played, there were people jealous enough to try to break my legs. But this time, the perpetrator was a Brazilian player. I absolutely cannot accept that."
Well, Pelé had not given Dunga even a shred of face.
That guy was in trouble now.
"You really have a lot of influence."
Vialli sighed.
"It wasn't me. Dunga just isn't very likable."
Dejan Lu said.
This was not over.
If Dunga learned to cry and beg forgiveness like a grandson, his situation would improve quite a bit.
Dunga was somewhat petty, but he was also very proud.
His days probably would not be easy for some time to come.
That guy might even think his failure to make the national team was Lu's fault.
After this, that was genuinely possible.
That bastard was not someone who liked self-reflection.
After eating, the group returned to the hospital.
Later, Roberto Mancini looked at the remaining ink on his finger and complained, "You really don't trust me that much?"
"No, I just wanted to keep a memento."
Dejan Lu said.
"Then give me back the IOU?" Roberto Mancini held out his hand and asked.
"That's not impossible!"
Dejan Lu said with a smile.
Roberto Mancini instead took a step back and asked Dejan Lu, "What do you want?"
"Nothing much. Just give my hamburger shop permanent authorization to use your likeness."
Dejan Lu said.
Out of all his teammates, Roberto Mancini really was the most suitable.
"Really? That's more than a hundred thousand. You're just not taking any of it?"
Roberto Mancini asked in disbelief.
"Of course!"
"Deal!"
Roberto Mancini thrust out his right hand and gripped Dejan Lu's tightly, afraid that Dejan Lu would change his mind if he hesitated even a second.
Vialli watched the scene with a beaming smile, feeling that Roberto had been fooled again.
Though he had only known Dejan Lu for half a year, he had never seen Dejan Lu suffer a loss.
Would his good friend have to sit outside a fast-food restaurant wearing a red clown nose from now on?
After seeing the two off, Dejan Lu finally began planning the matter.
If possible, he would rather invite Baggio as a spokesperson. That guy was an unbeatable presence back home.
Still, this arrangement was not bad either.
On further thought, Mantovani was working to bring Serie A broadcasts to the country.
At the earliest, that would not begin until next season.
It would still take several years before fast food expanded back home.
By then, Serie A stars would already be quite famous there. With Lu's personal charisma, inviting a few friends to endorse the brand cheaply would not be difficult.
Once people saw familiar football stars' standees at the entrance, would they not eagerly hand Dejan the Football King their money?
If that did not work, he could even drag a few football stars in to sing an advertising jingle.
Hao Dada Fried Chicken?
That commercial song was a little too suggestive. When Dejan Lu first heard it, he had nearly choked on his water.
Was there really a song that could sing about "big, big dicks"?
Only after checking the lyrics did he realize he had misunderstood.
Right, some domestic athletes and celebrities were not expensive yet, either.
That guy who endorsed mineral water had not raised his price in years. His image was pretty good, and many people born in the 1980s drank that mineral water because his photo was printed on it.
Thinking about it, Dejan Lu realized that business opportunities were everywhere in this era.
No one would have imagined that celebrity pay could rise from hundreds or thousands to more than two million per episode.
Feeling a little bored, Dejan Lu opened the system and finally saw a new prompt.
You successfully caught Pelé's attention. He believes you are a phenomenal player, and your nickname says it all. He believes you may become the greatest number 9 in football history. You are too outstanding; you possess physique, speed, and technique. He has never seen such a complete player. However, the relationship between Cooper and you has already broken down. Even if you and Moratti are as close as father and son, you still will not get playing time. Please work hard to earn your coach's trust and maintain it until the end of the season. (Play more than 25 matches this season, or leave during the winter break and win a title with your new team, and you will receive a reward at the end of the season.)
From that description alone, Dejan Lu immediately knew it was talking about Ronaldo.
He was beginning to understand the system's logic.
Among the events, people, and items Lu was currently encountering, one would be selected as an anchor. Previously, because he had won a title and was preparing to leave, it had treated him as Neymar. Now, because Pelé had praised him, it treated him as Ronaldo.
This mission was quite simple.
Considering Sampdoria had so many matches, making twenty-five appearances would be very easy for him.
Dejan Lu casually picked up the newspaper on the bedside table and glanced at it, only to discover that their next opponent was Juventus.
That would not be an easy opponent either.
It seemed he could not keep lying in the hospital. He had to have a proper talk with Boskov.
Without Dejan the Football King, his teammates might not be able to beat the Turin side.
Before you continue