Mendes: As long as you are still at Real Madrid for one day, they will never buy Tang Long!

The atmosphere inside the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium was so tense it felt like the air itself could ignite.

The Atlético Madrid players all looked serious, with a hint of panic in their eyes.

Tang Long's sudden drop back to the defensive midfield position was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly plunging Atlético Madrid's seemingly stable tactical system into bizarre chaos.

The players knew perfectly well that the key to successfully defending against Manchester City was to contain their engine, Tang Long.

But now that Tang Long is playing in the defensive midfield position, Atlético Madrid is facing a dilemma.

Using Griezmann to defend?

Although Griezmann runs actively and is full of energy on the field, his defensive ability is far inferior to that of center- Godin.

Looking at Torres, he also has a defensive weakness. Against an all-around player like Tang Long, they seem powerless on the defensive end.

Should we have Godin continue pushing forward to defend Tang Long?

This is obviously not going to work either. Once Godin leaves his familiar defensive position and moves forward, it's like pulling out the anchor of the defense; he will no longer be the reliable defender he once was.

Moreover, there was simply no player in the backline who could replace Godin, leaving Atlético Madrid's defense in an embarrassing situation of having no one available.

On the sidelines, Simeone frowned, his jaw clenched, secretly seething with anger.

He was filled with resentment, feeling that God was being unfair to Atlético Madrid while showing particular favoritism towards Manchester City.

He kept blaming himself in his heart. "Why can Tang play so many positions? I just forgot he can also play defensive midfield!"

Tang Long, a versatile player who has risen to fame in the football world, is like a ghost on the field, his position changing unpredictably.

From solid defense in the backfield to organization and scheduling in the midfield, and then to attacking in the front, including the defensive line, he is adept in every position and delivers world-class performances in every role.

It's no exaggeration to say that wherever Tang Long stands, that position instantly becomes a crucial part of Manchester City's formation, a key factor in determining the course of the battle.

In the 72nd minute of the second half, Manchester City's players launched a series of dazzling and brilliant passes in their own half.

The football seemed to come alive under their feet, passing quickly and precisely between the players.

At this moment, Tang Long seized the opportunity and suddenly exerted his strength, unleashing his signature ground- Low-trajectory Curve Shot that struck fear into the hearts of all!

Whoosh--

The football flew like a cannonball, skimming the grass and leaving a deep mark on the pitch of Atlético Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

It first cleverly bypassed Saúl, Saúl stretched out his foot to block it but missed;

Then he evaded Carrasco's quick recovery, and Carrasco tried his best to catch up but could only watch the ball go unnoticed;

Finally, the football managed to squeeze through the extremely narrow gap between Godin and Savic. Godin and Savic tried to block it, but they didn't have time to react at all!

At this moment, Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Oblak rushed out, his eyes wide, trying to shove down the oncoming ball.

However, this football seemed to have its own ideas~

After rolling into the penalty area, the ball suddenly executed a sharp spin, and its speed instantly slowed down.

Oblak's body, which was running at high speed, wanted to stop immediately, but inertia prevented him from stopping right away.

He looked up in horror to see Agüero rushing towards him like a bolt of lightning!

"Not good!"

Caught between a rock and a hard place!

Oblak couldn't help but let out a gasp. At this moment, he was caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat. In this haste, he could only grit his teeth and continue to lunge towards the ball.

Agüero's eyes gleamed with determination. He seized the opportunity and, just as the ball was about to roll to his feet, suddenly swerved it to the left.

His movements were agile and fluid, and he successfully cut past Oblak in the penalty area.

Then, from an almost impossible angle, Agüero skillfully slotted the ball into the goal with his left foot.

"Sergio Agüero!!!"

In that instant, Agüero's mind was suddenly filled with the overwhelming cheers of the Manchester City home fans.

The voice seemed to transcend time and space, echoing in his ears.

However, this is Atlético Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano Stadium after all, so there was naturally no enthusiastic cheering like at Manchester City's home ground. Instead, the entire stadium was deathly silent.

The Atlético Madrid fans in the stadium were stunned by the sudden goal. They couldn't believe what they were seeing, and their faces were filled with disappointment and frustration.

Facing his teammates who came to celebrate, Agüero took two deep breaths, trying to calm his excited emotions.

He spread his hands, making a gesture indicating that he would not celebrate.

At that moment, some of the older fans in the stands began to whisper among themselves, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

Live stream room.

- [Agüero refused to celebrate. Why is that?]

-[Long-time fans know that Agüero played for Atlético Madrid, so it's normal that he doesn't celebrate against his former club.]

-[Atlético Madrid is a breeding ground for strikers. Before Agüero was Torres, before Torres was Diego Forlán, and now, Griezmann is in the limelight. It's practically a striker incubator.]

-[Agüero seemed to have celebrated with Tang Long on purpose, haha, he couldn't hide his joy!]

Faced with congratulations from all his teammates, Agüero simply extended his hand to indicate that he would not celebrate, but he took the initiative to step forward and hold Tang Long's hand tightly.

His eyes were filled with gratitude and excitement as he said, "Ah, you really did spread the word! I knew it; as long as I ran, you would see it."

Agüero struggled to suppress the turbulent emotions within him; his voice trembled slightly.

Tang Long could tell that the striker was actually very excited at that moment, and he really wanted to celebrate.

If it were any other opponent, such as Real Madrid, Agüero, after dribbling past the goalkeeper and scoring a one-on-one goal, would have been so excited that he might have even taken off his shirt to celebrate and fully express his joy.

But facing Atlético Madrid, his former club, and the Atlético Madrid fans who once cheered for him, Agüero forcefully suppressed his emotions. This small gesture fully demonstrated his deep love and respect for Atlético Madrid.

This feeling also reminded Tang Long of his time at Inter Milan.

He also left many unforgettable memories on the Inter Milan field during that time.

He couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to face Inter Milan again in the UEFA Champions League.

After scoring a goal, is it excitement, emotion, or, like Agüero right now, a complex and indescribable feeling?

Ultimately, Manchester City defeated Atletico Atlético Madrid 3-1 away from home, gaining an advantage in the first leg of the two-legged tie.

As the final whistle blew, Atlético Madrid fans inside the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium sighed in disappointment. Their team's defeat at home left them feeling utterly dejected.

Manchester City's players celebrated wildly on the pitch, thrilled by their hard-won victory.

Griezmann was the first to approach Tang Long, a hint of disappointment on his face, but he remained polite.

He has a habit of exchanging jerseys with the best-performing and strongest player on the opposing team after the game, regardless of the outcome.

He said to Tang Long with mixed feelings, "Why did you retreat? Why didn't you come and play as the striker?"

Tang Long seemed to have read Griezmann's mind, smiled slightly, and replied:

"I can play any position. When you guys go back to Etihad, maybe I can even play center-back."

His tone was slightly teasing, and his eyes gleamed with confidence.

Griezmann caught the sarcasm in Tang Long's tone, and sneered inwardly, thinking resentfully, "Don't be so smug. Once we get to Etihad, the outcome is still uncertain."

He clenched his fists tightly, his heart filled with fighting spirit...

Located 20 kilometers from the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, in a luxurious villa.

Cristiano Ronaldo and his agent Mendes were sitting in a spacious living room, watching the entire match intently.

On the large screen in the living room, exciting moments from the match were still being replayed.

"Cristiano, Dom scored a hat-trick of assists, what are your thoughts?"

Mendes smiled, turned to look at Cristiano Ronaldo, and his eyes held a hint of inquiry.

Cristiano Ronaldo said expressionlessly, "That's just an assist hat-trick, not a goal hat-trick. Mr. Mendes, you need to get that straight!"

Although he said that, Cristiano Ronaldo was actually in a state of turmoil.

In recent years, with age and knee injuries, Cristiano Ronaldo, after building up his muscle mass, has gradually transformed from a dribbling expert into a goal-scoring machine.

Within Real Madrid, there are many excellent playmakers, such as Di Maria, whose passes on the field are always full of imagination and often create excellent scoring opportunities for Cristiano Ronaldo.

For example, Benzema not only has excellent target man ability, but he can also cleverly set up Cristiano Ronaldo, and the two have excellent teamwork.

Modric's precise passing and excellent vision made Real Madrid's attack more fluid and also provided Cristiano Ronaldo with many good passes;

Kroos's passes are as precise as guided missiles, always finding Cristiano Ronaldo's exact position.

With the help of these people, Cristiano Ronaldo has been constantly revising his personal goal-scoring record.

However, after watching this match, Cristiano Ronaldo was filled with amazement!

He stared intently at the television screen, recalling every pass Tang Long made during the match. He felt that no passer in Real Madrid could compare to Tang Long in this game.

Tang Long has been away from the midfield position for so long that people have gradually forgotten that he was originally a midfielder.

Whether playing in the attacking midfield position, his eagle-eye-like vision always allows him to find the best passing lane at crucial moments, creating excellent attacking opportunities for his teammates;

Even in the defensive midfield position, his ability to control the rhythm of the game across the entire field makes him a top-class world-class midfielder.

Although Tang Long didn't score in this match, it secretly pleased Cristiano Ronaldo, as he no longer needed to worry about his first place in the UEFA Champions League top scorer rankings.

But Tang Long's passing talent still left Cristiano Ronaldo with a lingering regret... He frowned slightly, thinking, "If Tang could come to Real Madrid to play midfield, my annual goal tally would definitely surpass Lionel Messi's by a large margin!"

"Mr. Mendes, tell me the truth," Cristiano Ronaldo suddenly asked, "What are the chances of Real Madrid buying Tang?" His tone was tense, and his eyes were fixed on Mendes.

Mendes seemed to have anticipated Cristiano Ronaldo's question, so although it came as abrupt, Mendes' expression remained calm and unsurprised.

He gently smoothed the wrinkles in his sleeves and said slowly, "You're overthinking it, Cristiano. As long as you're at Real Madrid will never be able to buy Tang."

"Why?" Cristiano Ronaldo was taken aback, utterly puzzled.

He stared wide-eyed at Mendes, his eyes filled with confusion.

In his mind, Florentino was an absolute collector of football stars.

He once famously declared that the best players in the world should all play for Real Madrid.

In fact, the name "Galacticos" was also established by Florentino Pérez.

Back in the day, Ronaldo was like an alien on the field; his speed, technique, and goal-scoring ability left countless opponents far behind.

Zidane, a midfield maestro, possessed unparalleled ball control and mastery of the game's tempo;

Figo possesses excellent dribbling and passing abilities, making him a key figure in the team's attack;

Beckham, with his precise passing and unparalleled free kicks, became a major weapon in Real Madrid's attack;

Roberto Carlos, his powerful free kicks and incisive assists made him unstoppable for opponents;

Owen is incredibly fast and has a keen eye for goal, always managing to score crucial goals for his team.

The gathering of these superstars at Madrid led FIFA to award Real Madrid the title of the world's number one club, garnering countless fans worldwide. For a time, Real Madrid almost became synonymous with football powerhouses and also held immense commercial value.

If Tang Long is so talented, why doesn't Real Madrid buy him?

Cristiano Ronaldo didn't actually agree with Mendes' statement. He leaned back on the sofa, arms crossed, waiting for Mendes' explanation.

But Mendes' next words made Cristiano Ronaldo's eyes widen in surprise; he never expected the reason to be like this.

"A team can only have one star player."

Mendes spoke calmly, but every word he uttered was like a bombshell.

"Right now, you're Real Madrid's superstar. But if Tang comes to Real Madrid, things might change. So as long as you're at Real Madrid, Florentino can't possibly buy Tang. Of course," Mendes paused, a smile appearing on his face, "Whether Manchester City is willing to let him go, whether Tang is willing to come—these are all unknowns, but I've already made the prerequisites clear to you."

After speaking, Mendes stood up, picked up his suit jacket from the sofa, gently patted Cristiano Ronaldo on the back, then went to the kitchen, said goodbye to Cristiano Ronaldo's busy mother, and walked out the door with steady steps.

Cristiano Ronaldo sat alone on the sofa, with highlights of the match playing on TV, but his eyes seemed vacant.

Mendes' words echoed repeatedly in his ears, like a broken record.

"As long as you're at Real Madrid, Florentino will never be able to buy Dom."

This explanation reminded Cristiano Ronaldo of some jokes in the football world, such as when Lionel Messi and he would be able to play for the same club.

Everyone knows this is a joke, because it's impossible for these two to get together. If they did, who would be the team's star player, and how would ball possession be divided?

Now, Mendes' words have made Cristiano Ronaldo vaguely realize that the world's best player is not just a two-man battle between himself and Lionel Messi, but that Tang Long, this 20-year-old boy from China, has joined that ranks.

He fell into deep thought. The landscape of football might undergo a huge change because of Tang Long's presence.

And how can I maintain my status and glory in this ever-changing world of football?

On second thought, I realized that what Mendes had just said was actually a bit funny.

"Tang is aiming for the European Golden Shoe, how could he possibly come to Real Madrid to play a supporting role for me? Haha, Cristiano, you're just daydreaming, ridiculously naive!"

As he pondered this, a fighting spirit suddenly ignited in Cristiano Ronaldo's eyes...