Bayer Leverkusen's Missing Piece for the Title?

Germany, Bayer Leverkusen.

"This kid's vision and movement are absolutely top-tier!"

"Damn it, why are his acceleration, footwork, and physicality so terrible?"

"Ah! He's Chinese. He'll definitely make the club a lot of money. Bayer Leverkusen has been laying the groundwork in the China market for so long—we need a Chinese star to finally make it pay off!"

"Exactly, like Wolfsburg. That Chinese player they signed never even played, yet he brought them a whole series of commercial returns!"

"Leo Kang is mute. Uh, he has aphasia! No need to communicate in sign language!"

Match footage was playing on the big screen.

Several technical analysts and marketing department staff were engaged in a heated discussion.

Sporting director Völler stood with his hands on his hips.

He laughed heartily. "You can't judge this kid's technique by Bundesliga standards. I think he's fully capable of getting on in garbage time! Hurry up and make Barcelona an offer!"

In the eyes of this German legendary star, Leo Kang's footwork was far superior to that of the China National Football Team.

"But what about the head coach?"

"That car mechanic? I'll handle him!"

There were few sporting directors so overbearing.

Völler was an exception.

His career could be summed up in two words: utterly arrogant.

Barcelona.

Bursts of laughter came from an office.

"Völler is such an idiot!"

"A Chinese player who represented the Spain National Team will help in the China market? How ignorant!"

"Chinese fans will definitely sneer at that kind of betrayal! Bayer Leverkusen has practically solved a huge problem for me!"

"We accept this offer!"

"Leo Kang's personal wishes? What wishes could he possibly have? He needs money badly! Bayer Leverkusen will pay him several times what La Masia does, plus performance-based bonuses! He's mute, not stupid!"

"There's no need to arrange a meeting with him. My time is valuable! Just call and notify him!"

"Right! Even if Suárez wanted to leave Barcelona one day, I'd have the same attitude!"

Robert raised his hand, urging his young assistant on.

It was the summer transfer window.

Transfer procedures in this parallel world were extremely simple.

The next day.

Leo Kang dragged his suitcase onto a flight bound for Düsseldorf.

When he received notice of the transfer.

He did not react much.

Aunt Sofia, on the other hand, flew into a rage. Wielding a thick club, she was ready to go settle the score with Robert.

But when she heard the terms Bayer Leverkusen had offered.

It was as if she had been given a tranquilizer.

"So you're saying Leo Kang will earn more in one year at Bayer Leverkusen than I make in five years working at the cafeteria?"

"And Bayer Leverkusen will reimburse the plane ticket too?"

It was now 2015. Although Xavi had left, Barcelona still had no place for young players.

Denis Suárez, who was several levels better than Leo Kang, could only be loaned out to the Yellow Submarine.

Enrique was also unlike Guardiola and Vilanova, who had liked promoting youngsters from La Masia.

Up front, they had the historic attacking trio of MSN.

In midfield, Rakitić might not have had Xavi's style, but he could attack and defend equally well.

Forget Enrique—even if they tied a dog to Barcelona's coaching bench, it would not give Leo Kang any first-team opportunities.

On the plane.

Leo Kang held a football web novel in his hands, reading it with great interest.

The protagonist had transmigrated and started out as captain of the national youth team. He received a system mission: "Get blacklisted by the Football Association and expelled from the China National Football Team." But his family sent him too much money, and no matter how much he cursed the coach, beat up teammates, or refused to train, he could not get expelled from the national team.

The more he read, the more entertaining it became.

His anticipation was through the roof!

More than three hours later.

Leo Kang walked out through the arrivals gate.

He immediately spotted an eye-catching business van.

The Bayer Leverkusen crest was printed on its side.

A tough-looking elderly man with a head of silver hair opened his arms to him.

"Welcome, my little genius!"

"I need to tell you something—next time, don't land at Düsseldorf International Airport. You aren't joining that 2. Bundesliga club with the same name!"

Nearby, a staff member held a camera, ready to record Leo Kang's entire arrival at the club.

At the same time.

Bayer Leverkusen's public relations department had coordinated with football media outlets in China.

The club's Chinese-language official website and social media accounts.

Released an official announcement at the same time.

Other sports media quickly followed suit.

Chinese youngster Leo Kang joins Bayer Leverkusen!

<Throat-Sealing Strike at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship—Chinese talent soars into the sky!>

<La Masia's jewel officially begins his Bundesliga journey!>

Bayer Leverkusen had spent heavily on traffic-promotion packages across various online platforms.

It did not have much effect.

The sparse comments were far from kind.

[Do they take us Chinese fans for idiots? Wolfsburg already tried this, and Bayer Leverkusen is just copying them? And he's Chinese too? Pfft!]

[That water dispenser at Wolfsburg became the laughingstock of all Asia. Bayer Leverkusen is really stupid!]

[Who is Leo Kang? Never even heard of him!]

[The Chinese Super League has money now, so Europe and South America are all playing this export-and-reimport game, hyping up so many "Chinese geniuses." Disgusting!]

[If Leo Kang gets on the pitch in the Bundesliga, I'll eat thirty jin of shit! This is the Bundesliga, not friendlies or minor cups!]

[Let me tell you how the script goes. First, they hold a massive welcome ceremony at home, then give him the number 10 shirt! They'll scam people into buying jerseys!]

BayArena.

Völler personally arranged an exceptionally grand unveiling ceremony.

Its scale was even greater than Little Pea's unveiling.

Bayer Leverkusen had been cultivating the China market for more than a decade! They had reaped plenty of benefits!

Welcoming Leo Kang was absolutely no loss!

Leo Kang's medical examination was streamlined.

He soon changed into a black jersey.

Number 10!

Sorry, Çalhanoğlu.

When he emerged from the dark tunnel.

Several hundred "fans" erupted into deafening cheers.

Camera flashes went wild.

Leo Kang could not help smiling.

German hired extras were rigorous and professional.

Two days later.

Bayer Leverkusen, sporting director's office.

Two young assistants said gloomily, "Boss, we've only just figured out the attitude of the China market. They don't buy this kind of thing anymore. The feedback has been awful."

Völler lit a cigar and said unhurriedly, "What's the rush? The new season is still over a month away!"

"But—"

"Don't worry. Even if this is a failed signing, Bayer Leverkusen won't lose anything. I think very highly of Leo Kang's potential!"

The two assistants exchanged glances, their mouths twitching.

What potential?

That guy was already seventeen.

His level was probably not even as good as the Leverkusen Youth Team.

"Leverkusen Youth Team?"

The two assistants jerked in surprise. Could the sporting director see through their thoughts?

Völler slapped his forehead. "I'm fucking amateurish. Get Leo Kang playing with the youth team right away! Tell Topp to give him a starting midfield spot!"

"A starting spot? Völler is insane! What gives him the right to make such a crazy decision? Our youth team's upcoming matches are crucial!"

"How does he act more like a club president than a sporting director?"

Tetrun Training Base.

A curly-haired man in a suit roared at the young assistant.

He paid no attention at all to Leo Kang beside him.

"Mr. Topp, please don't get angry. The sporting director said that if you refuse, then he will—"

"Enough. Chinese lad, go warm up!"

"Kai! Explain our tactics to him!"

Topp scratched his head, looking like a defeated rooster.

The youth team players all turned to look.

They had long since learned about Leo Kang from the team paper.

His five minutes of action at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship had been forcefully edited by the staff into ten minutes of "highlights."

A tall teenager ran over from the pitch and held out his hand to Leo Kang.

"Leo! That ridiculously long through ball you played at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship was awesome! I'll explain our tactics to you. Uh, warm up first!"

Leo Kang smiled.

Although he had only been a fake football fan in his previous life, he still recognized the teenager before him.

Kai Havertz.

This guy had played Bundesliga and Champions League football for Bayer Leverkusen at seventeen. Going by the timeline, it seemed that would be next year.

After a simple warm-up.

Leo Kang put on Team B's training bib and joined the scrimmage.

Tweet!

With the assistant coach's whistle.

The match officially began.

The youngsters produced by Bayer Leverkusen's academy system were highly well-rounded, and extremely intelligent.

Whenever Leo Kang received a teammate's pass in the center, two players immediately pressed forward, cutting off his passing lanes.

And that was not all.

Whenever he moved into position to offer a passing option.

Someone always managed to body him out of space.

Their football intelligence and chemistry were off the charts.

A few minutes later.

Topp sat by the sideline, loosening his tie as he said to the assistant coach, "Slow as a turtle. That bad habit of tiki-taka possession football. Record this kid's performance and data, write a report for Völler, and persuade him to hurry up—what's going on?"

Leo Kang gradually adapted to the rhythm of the German youngsters.

He began accelerating himself.

It was as if he were one beat faster than every player on the other side!

Escaping pressure on the spot!

Passing!

Receiving!

His timing was always one step ahead!

Team A's high press had no effect whatsoever.

Their loose midfield defense.

Was torn to pieces by his orchestration.

Team B's formation surged deep into Team A's half.

Team A's tall center-back decisively stepped up.

Leo Kang casually feinted past him and, turning sideways, threaded a through ball!

As precise as a scalpel.

It pierced Team A's penalty area.

Havertz reacted instinctively. After just three steps, he brought the ball under control with ease.

That kid's through ball?

It felt so damn good to receive!

Smack!

The ball left his left foot.

It rolled into the goal.

Team B's young players rushed toward Leo Kang, high-fiving and hugging him.

Coach Top was stunned:

"Letting this kid play in youth matches is like turning on cheat codes in a video game!"