UEFA European Under-19 Championship Throat-Sealing Strike

July 2015.

Karytaina, Greece.

The first round of the group stage of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship.

Spain U19 versus France U19.

Even as the match entered its final stages, the rhythm of the transition between offense and defense remained intense.

Possession shifted back and forth.

The frantic back-and-forth attacks ignited the passion of fans from both nations.

The LED scoreboard hanging high above the pitch displayed a 0:0 score.

On the sidelines, both head coaches wore agitated expressions, gesturing wildly at their players as if they wished they held a game controller in their hands.

This match did not garner much attention in Asia.

Mainstream video platforms had no interest in purchasing the broadcasting rights.

In a China livestream room, an amateur streamer spoke in heavily accented Mandarin: "Brothers, the video signal is pirated from abroad, so there are some issues! Just bear with it!"

A large group of "Happy Bean" players in the comments section watched the match anxiously.

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[A bunch of losers, attacking so fiercely but just can't score! That moron on the France National Team named Dembélé has wasted two one-on-one chances!]

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[Ref is a moron! Just loves blowing the whistle for offsides! How was Asensio offside? Must have been a hair's breadth offside!]

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[Why did Spain U19 stop playing tiki-taka? There aren't even many La Masia Academy youngsters in the lineup; there are four from Real Madrid and five from Osasuna!]

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[Barcelona is just relying on MSN now! How many new players have they promoted from the La Masia Academy in the last two years?]

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[Down on the ground again after a touch? Just bury him on the spot! A substitution? Damn it! Making a sub in the 87th minute, what's the point!]

In the 88th minute of the match, the ball flew out of bounds.

The referee blew the whistle to signal a substitution.

The camera panned.

A black-haired teenager wearing a red number 6 jersey stood calmly on the sideline at the halfway line.

The China fans in the livestream were stunned.

Why is there an Asian player on Spain U19?

Is he from South Korea or Japan?

"Brothers, hold on, let me look up the info."

"Leo Kang? Leo Kang? Damn! This guy is a Chinese Spaniard! He's from the La Masia Academy, plays as a midfielder, and this is his first time representing Spain U19!"

"According to FIFA regulations, since he has played in a continental tournament for Spain, it seems he can't represent our China National Football Team anymore. Pfft! Brothers are right, the national team is a pile of crap anyway. Who cares which country he represents? If he can score and assist, he's our good brother!"

The match continued.

The hearts of the Happy Bean players suddenly turned cold.

On screen, the Chinese teenager named Leo Kang began constantly turning his head the moment he stepped onto the pitch, observing the positioning of the other players.

He wasn't fast, but he always managed to provide support to his teammates at the most critical moments.

Every pass and reception was extremely logical.

With the cooperation of his teammates, he gradually took control of the midfield.

The rhythm of the match seemed to slow down tenfold.

It extinguished the passion of the fans in the stands.

The entire stadium quieted down, following the slow and fast passing of the ball.

In the livestream, the Happy Bean players were furious:

Is this guy playing "health-preservation" football?

Damn it, players from La Masia are all the same!

Hypnotic football!

The little streamer was also bewildered.

Is this still a youth tournament match where goals are usually scored in bunches?

It's over, the gifts are completely down the drain.

Happy Bean players are very realistic; if there are no goals, no one will send gifts!

On the sidelines, the fourth official raised the stoppage-time board.

The France U19 head coach grew anxious.

In his eyes, his team was a favorite to win the title and possessed a higher level of talent than the opponent. Spain was in decline—what were they? How could they be playing so stiflingly!

He waved his arms, frantically urging the young French players to push forward! Increase the pressure in the attacking third!

Leo Kang seemed to perceive the change in the opponent's formation.

He looked at the loose French backline.

He made a gesture.

In an instant, he accelerated the rhythm of the midfield!

The ball was passed rapidly at the feet of the players in red jerseys.

They easily neutralized the opponent's pressure.

Spain's formation pushed forward aggressively.

In the final minute of injury time, forty meters out from the French half, he received a pass from a teammate once again.

He tilted his body slightly.

He cocked his left leg.

He sent a long-range through ball.

The trajectory wasn't perfectly precise.

The power wasn't perfectly measured.

Yet, it acted like a dull blade, scraping against the throat of the Gallic Rooster!

"Brothers, it's coming, it's coming! Awesome!"

"The French defense is truly crap, Asensio! One-on-one!"

When Asensio broke through the France U19 goal, the Spanish fans' section erupted in thunderous cheers.

The LED scoreboard was updated!

Teammates rushed to the goal-scorer, celebrating wildly.

The Spanish head coach clenched his fists and roared loudly, disregarding his composure.

On the other side, the French head coach's face looked as ugly as if he had eaten excrement:

Damn it! How could a U19 match have a monster with such high game-reading ability!

Scouts from various clubs lurking in the stands lowered their heads, fingers flying, recording something unknown.

In the China livestream, the comments flooded the screen.

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[Leo Kang! This assist is awesome! Fan for life!]

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[Thanks to Leo Kang for saving my life! This vision and awareness! Absolutely insane!]

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[Good brother!]

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[Good brother!]

[Good brother!]

Leo Kang's expression was very calm.

When the referee blew the final whistle, he walked slowly off the pitch.

A mechanical, synthesized voice rang out in his mind.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the mission: National Team Debut!]

[Personal Rating: S]

[Mission reward being issued. Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Rui Costa's "Godlike Through Ball" module (incomplete)!]

[Passing: 70-81!]

Barcelona.

La Masia Academy.

Sporting director Robert threw the remote control away in anger.

"Those idiots on the national team! How could they let Leo Kang play! Do they know how much money this will cost Barcelona? How am I supposed to sell him back to the Chinese Super League now?"

In this parallel universe.

In recent years, with the rise of big-money football in the Chinese Super League.

The transfer fees for China players.

Had made clubs in Europe and South America restless.

Consequently.

More and more young players from the China were being packaged by agencies and signed to major overseas clubs.

Waiting for the media to hype them up to a certain point!

Then playing a game of exporting to re-import.

Youth academy director Roura looked carefully at the replay of the goal and laughed: "Wouldn't it be better to keep Leo Kang at La Masia? Back in the day, Guardiola and Vilanova both praised him."

"If his footwork improves by leaps and bounds, he might be Xavi's successor!"

Before he could finish.

He was interrupted by Robert: "He's a mute!"

Roura shook his head and corrected him with a smile: "It's aphasia, Mr. Robert."

The Barcelona sporting director said disdainfully: "Leo Kang's stats across the board are very average. I need to get rid of him as soon as possible. I once asked Enrique for his opinion, and he also indicated that he had no interest in Leo Kang at all!"

Roura sighed: "Then don't come to the academy cafeteria in the future. Leo Kang's foster mother will poison your snail bread."

Robert couldn't help but shiver:

"I remember now, Aunt Sofia had a fling with the Spain U19 head coach when she was young! No wonder Leo Kang managed to get a few minutes of playing time."

A week later.

The UEFA European Under-19 Championship ended.

Spain U19 ultimately took the crown!

Asensio was named the tournament MVP.

Leo Kang never had another chance to play in the subsequent matches.

Naturally, he didn't make any waves in the media reports either.

In the group photo after winning the championship, he even stood at the very back, in the furthest corner.

This national team experience was just so-so for him; he'd just managed to snag a small medal.

He didn't interact much with his teammates in private.

It was just that the head coach's gaze toward him felt strange.

July in Barcelona was scorching hot.

Leo Kang's "home" was at the old site of the La Masia Academy.

Inside the cafeteria.

A middle-aged woman with clear Castilian roots checked the timer in her hand.

Lunchtime was over.

She frowned and walked over to the young players.

"Paez, why did you leave so much food again? Isn't your idol Xavi? Xavi licked his plate clean every time when he was a kid!"

"Ansu! And you! Don't run!"

"..."

"Aunt Sofia! Look, Leo is back!"

"Don't think you can fool me with that trick again!"

When Leo Kang's figure appeared at the door.

The young players seized the opportunity and scattered in a flurry.

Aunt Sofia turned back, her face filled with irrepressible joy.

She wiped her hands on her apron before walking up to him.

Leo Kang smiled and took a bank card out of his schoolbag, handing it to her.

This was his salary from the U19 national team.

It wasn't much, and with the assist bonus, it didn't add up to a significant amount.

Aunt Sofia put the bank card back into his bag.

"I have nowhere to spend money. That stupid national team coaching staff—you were clearly so excellent, yet you only got a few minutes of playing time!"

Leo Kang had traveled to this parallel universe.

For over a decade, he had lived a very impoverished life.

Aunt Sofia, this Castilian woman, didn't know why she had come to the Catalonia region to be ostracized.

Of course, working in the La Masia cafeteria meant there was no shortage of food or drink.

Four years ago, Leo Kang had suddenly awakened the Green Pitch Superstar System and gained God's Perspective.

Only then did he have the chance to pass the La Masia tryouts.

His ability to read the game was top-tier, right?

He'd traded his language ability for it.