Dejan Lu

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Dejan Lu (陆德扬)
Alias(es)	Football King, King of Genoa, Bicycle Prince, Saint Dejan 76 91 97 147
Gender	Male
Heritage	Chinese player raised in Italy; his identity draws major Italian media attention. 37
Affiliation	Reggina → Sampdoria → Manchester United → AC Milan 3 12 183 255
Occupation/Role	Professional footballer; manga creator and businessman. 29 60 341
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 3

System-Derived Skills

Skill / Item	Chapter	Notes
Elegant Genius	3	Received alongside the Portugal's Golden Generation Gift Pack.
Luís Figo template card	3	A 12-year-old Figo template card contained in the Portugal's Golden Generation Gift Pack.
King of Brothers	9	Activated with the official Brothers in Arms: The Football Saga system; increases the likelihood of off-field events as Dejan gains more “brothers.”
Learn from Others	9	Received upon activating the official system.
Star of Yuanmeng	9	Received upon activating the official system.
The Dutch Master	97	Greatly improves through balls and passing ability, drawing on Sneijder’s “killer passes.”
Matthäus's Blessing	110	Obtained after a system upgrade.
Guaranteed Investment	172	Obtained after a notification concerning Marco van Basten’s investments.
Single-match experience cards	67, 149, 172, 261	Can grant temporary experience based on other players, including Ricardo Kaká, John Arne Riise, Declan Rice, and Anderson Luís de Souza.
Death Note	97	A mysterious notebook that may bring a recorded person a period of good or bad luck; it does not cause death.

Background / History

Dejan begins his rise with Reggina in Serie C. He returns to Porto Fino, helps Cristiano Ronaldo’s family, and forms an early bond with Ronaldo before returning to Calabria. During this period, he discovers his system rewards and rapidly displays footballing ability beyond the level expected of a Serie C player. 3 9

By the latter part of his Reggina tenure, Dejan is described as having lost his last remaining family member. His performances make him the club’s key second-half player, attract attention from scouts, and bring interest from AC Milan and Sampdoria. 8 9 11

He chooses Sampdoria after Paolo Mantovani offers him a three-year contract. Dejan asks for his signing bonus to be reduced and redirected as transfer money for Reggina, showing gratitude toward his former club. He also accepts a number other than 10 out of respect for Roberto Mancini. 12

Appearance

Dejan has black hair and yellow skin, traits that contribute to his visibility in Japan and elsewhere. He is strongly associated with motorcycles, dramatic public entrances, and Sampdoria’s number 7 shirt. 91 101 144

• Rides a motorcycle regularly, including an R100RS. 4
• Wore striking black-and-red football boots designed for a final. 133
• Became recognizable to fans as the “handsome young guy on the motorcycle” during his Reggina period. 9

Personality

Dejan is generous, pragmatic, and unusually composed under public pressure. He helps Ronaldo’s family, promotes Reggina teammates through articles, and asks Sampdoria to compensate Reggina through his transfer arrangement. 3 8 12

He handles fame without withdrawing from responsibility. When Sampdoria supporters create a dangerous airport crowd, Dejan calms them with a gesture and asks them to let the team rest. He later downplays his own role in rescuing a drowning child, crediting his teammates instead. 60 110

His pragmatism extends beyond football: he judges people by their capability rather than their background, advises Francesco Totti to improve his education, and treats business planning as seriously as his playing career. 77 172 208

Abilities & Skills

Dribbling and Ball Control

Dejan is an elite dribbler capable of changing pace, position, and even playing style within a match. His feints, step-overs, and close control make direct marking unreliable. 47 91 174

• Completed a 40-meter run while keeping the ball airborne with multiple parts of his body. 100
• Uses sudden directional changes and low-center-of-gravity dribbling to evade double teams. 91
• Has highly balanced feet despite favoring his left foot. 159 232
• Can rely on physical strength instead of feints when opponents prepare for his technical game. 236

Finishing and Set Pieces

Dejan scores through volleys, chips, long-range strikes, free kicks, overhead kicks, and close-range improvisation. His shooting is difficult to predict because he can shoot from positions normally associated with passing. 100 149 159 259

• Scored five goals against Manchester United in a single UEFA Super Cup match. 161
• Scored an S-shaped free kick at San Siro. 159
• Recorded four first-half goals against Genoa, including three from outside the penalty area. 150
• Scored five consecutive volleys against Sampdoria while playing for AC Milan. 294

Passing and Tactical Intelligence

Dejan reads defensive weaknesses during matches and changes his role accordingly, functioning as a winger, striker, deep-lying playmaker, or defensive presence when needed. 159 235 315

• Uses deceptive through balls and aerial passes to create chances opponents have not prepared for. 97 99
• Played as a deep-lying playmaker to control attacks and exploit spaces behind pressure. 159
• Identifies opponents’ weak points and adapts his heat map and positioning from match to match. 235
• Can make tactical changes on the pitch faster than a coach’s planned adjustments. 315

Defensive Work Rate

Although primarily an attacking star, Dejan repeatedly tracks back, tackles, and disrupts opposing attacks. 136 156

• Returned to his own half to defend after attacking AC Milan in the Champions League final. 136
• Helped neutralize Maradona’s attempts to equalize during Sampdoria’s victory over Napoli. 156
• Played as an aggressively roaming goalkeeper, reaching the center circle to stop an opposition counterattack for Manchester United. 187

Leadership and Crowd Influence

Dejan’s presence affects teammates, supporters, and even tactical decisions by his coaches. Boskov ultimately selects him as Sampdoria’s next captain. 60 80 110

• Calmly dispersed a dangerous crowd of fans at an airport. 60
• Motivated Roberto Mancini from the sidelines without playing. 80
• Refused substitution in the Champions League final, choosing to remain on the field and help Sampdoria protect its lead. 136

Equipment / Items

• R100RS motorcycle — Purchased during his Reggina period; later becomes central to his public image and several heroic incidents. 4 15 76
• Lucky Taxi / Miracle Taxi — A system-created taxi associated with fortunate events; Dejan uses it when he identifies and helps expose Lonnie Biggs. 21 97
• Death Note — System notebook with unpredictable luck effects. 97
• Experience cards — Temporary player-experience items drawn through the system. 67 149 172 261

Major Arcs

Reggina Rise

Dejan becomes a key Reggina player, earns a reputation as a potential genius, and receives interest from larger Italian clubs. He helps his teammates gain public attention rather than keeping the spotlight for himself. 3 8 9

Sampdoria Signing and Breakthrough

After signing for Sampdoria, Dejan initially struggles for selection because Boskov worries about his inconsistency and psychological resilience. He eventually makes a spectacular debut against Inter Milan, leading Sampdoria to a 2–1 victory and earning Boskov’s description as a genius. 12 21 26

Sampdoria Superstar

Dejan becomes Sampdoria’s central star, builds a close partnership with Mancini and later Redondo, and helps turn the club into a European force. His Champions League final hat-trick against AC Milan secures a 5–2 victory, and he later scores five against Manchester United in the UEFA Super Cup. 101 136 161

Public Hero

Dejan rescues a mother and child from a burning building using his motorcycle and contributes toward their medical expenses. The Pope praises him and invites him to the Vatican; Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti later awards him the Star of Italian Merit and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Cross with ribbon. 76 78

Injury and Manchester United Return

After helping prevent a bomb from exploding in a crowded area, Dejan suffers an injury that keeps him from standing for two and a half years. He returns with Manchester United by scoring four goals and providing an assist against Barcelona. 180 183

Manchester United Success

Dejan helps Manchester United win the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League in one season. He remains a mentor within the squad, giving teammates business advice and encouraging younger players such as Paul Scholes. 183 208 222

AC Milan Transfer

Dejan transfers from Manchester United to AC Milan in a deal involving £45 million and players, seeking a new challenge and the opportunity to play alongside friends again. He immediately becomes Milan’s decisive attacking force, scoring two goals and assisting three more in his Serie A opening match against Verona. 255 261

Honors and Recognition

Honor / Recognition	Details
Italian national honors	Awarded the Star of Italian Merit and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Cross with ribbon, for his heroism and contributions to Italian football. 78
UEFA Champions League	Led Sampdoria to victory over AC Milan in the 1991 final, scoring a hat-trick in a 5–2 win. 136
Ballon d'Or	Became the first Ballon d'Or winner from outside Italy’s Northern Three Powers. 165
Manchester United Treble	Part of Manchester United’s FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League-winning season. 208
Global commercial star	Earned more than US$6 million annually in endorsements, including deals with Volkswagen, Ferrero, Pepsi, Nike, and Suzuki. 60

Relationships

• Cristiano Ronaldo — Early friend; Dejan offers help to Ronaldo and his family in Porto Fino. 3
• Monica Bellucci — Long-term girlfriend and career supporter; assists with contracts and shares Dejan’s public scrutiny and success. 11 12 26
• Paolo Mantovani — Sampdoria chairman and mentor figure; signs Dejan, supports his commercial career, and treats player matters as personal concerns. 12 60 182
• Vujadin Boskov — Sampdoria coach; initially protects Dejan from premature exposure, later trusts him as a match winner and chooses him as future captain. 21 110 136
• Roberto Mancini — Teammate, rival, and closest friend; their early jealousy develops into mutual support, with Mancini describing them as family. 76 91 136
• Fernando Redondo — Midfield partner whose arrival expands Sampdoria’s tactical options; the pair combine for goals and assists. 101 156
• Francesco Totti — Protégé and friend; Dejan advises him about education, respects his loyalty to Roma, and encourages his development. 47 77 294
• Paolo Maldini — Friend and opponent turned AC Milan teammate; Maldini asks Dejan to become the godfather of his son Christian. 159 261
• The Princess — One of Dejan’s girlfriends and a frequent public companion; their friendship and appearances together draw major press attention. 165 255 261

Notable Quotes

“Rather than joining a powerhouse club, I prefer to create one with everyone!” 92

“Because I’m Dejan Lu!” 136

Trivia

• Dejan is also a manga creator; Weekly Shonen Sunday expresses interest in adapting his work into an anime. 29
• He is known for changing his style from match to match, making even former teammates unsure which foot is dominant. 47 232
• He frequently uses motorcycles for travel, publicity events, and rescues, contributing to the “Bicycle Prince” image. 15 76 91
• He becomes Paolo Maldini’s son Christian’s godfather. 261