Chapter 17: First-team news!

The next morning.

The training ground of the first-team dormitory.

Li Kang after completing two hours of training.

The security guard anxiously handed him a dry towel, his expression troubled:

"Li, I'm sorry, today is the youth team's day off, you have to rest, otherwise I'll have my wages deducted!"

Li Kang smiled and nodded.

Leverkusen's fitness trainer is a strict, stubborn old man.

He still clings to the conservative notion: too-long training for young players will cause negative consequences.

He constantly drops terms like 'testosterone,' 'physical load,' and 'bone fusion stunts growth' whenever he has nothing else to say.

When a young player counters with Cristiano Ronaldo as an example,

he becomes even more convinced his training philosophy is flawless:

"Do you think everyone is Cristiano Ronaldo?"

"Even he only changed his training methods at age 24."

Li Kang returned to the dormitory and took a shower.

He prepared to turn on the TV to watch replays of the top five leagues.

Havertz looked exhausted and weakly walked into the room.

He raised his hand and shook a small square box.

"I bought you a new phone!"

"What does shaking your head mean? My goal bonus, half of it is yours!"

"Good grief! It's 2015—no one uses those black-and-white screen phones anymore!"

"Hurry up and open it; I'll teach you how to register a social media account."

"Also, your foster mother returned the money; the refund note said she didn't need it, so you should spend your own earnings yourself!"

Li Kang gave a helpless smile.

In this parallel timeline.

In Spain, the verification process for minors to open a bank account is very strict, and furthermore, the bank card will be in the guardian's name.

Since he transferred to Leverkusen,

the club, following FIFA's Regulations on the Protection of Minors, separated Li Kang's assets from his guardian and placed them under independent protection.

The reason seems to be:

Many African stars, after retirement, end up impoverished, with all their earnings siphoned off by their guardians.

One Arsenal player, single-handedly supporting a family of over 400, would have his house burned down if he didn't hand over money.

One Tottenham player had relatives hold a knife to his throat to extort money.

A series of protective regulations.

Made it difficult for Li Kang to send money to his foster mother.

In short.

You can spend the money however you like, but if you need to send funds to your guardian before turning eighteen, you must go through a very complicated and slow verification process.

Unless your foster mother encounters some mishap.

Only then will the verification process be expedited.

Li Kang could only, with Havertz's help, transfer a small portion of his goal bonus.

As for those messy regulations about how far a minor-player club may be from the parents' residence,

they were sorted out by Wo Le Er with a complex set of operations.

Coincidentally, the TV was airing breaking news about the summer transfer window of the top five leagues:

Top-five-league assist king De Bruyne, a €75 million signing, joined Manchester City.

Pampas magic wing Di María, €44.1 million, joined Paris Saint-Germain.

Hoffenheim's main striker Firmino, €41 million, joined Liverpool.

One of Barcelona's former 'MVP' trio, Pedro, transferred to Chelsea for €30 million.

Midfield prodigy Casemiro, after his Porto loan ended, returned to Real Madrid.

Li Kang took a brief look.

The basic transfer situation was not much different from his previous life's timeline.

Only Leverkusen

Son Heung-min did not join Tottenham.

Hernández also did not come to the Bayer Arena.

Could it be the butterfly effect?

Havertz gazed at the big screen, full of longing:

"Li! I too want to become the transfer window's king someday!"

Leverkusen.

The sporting director's office.

Coach Schmidt's expression showed difficulty: "I can't guarantee his playing time; the club still has a tough Champions League qualifier to play, the gap between the youth league and the Bundesliga is huge, match intensity..."

He trailed off mid-sentence.

Only then did he realize the old man before him was a Bundesliga legend.

Wo Le Er shook his head: "He'll bring you a surprise! Mr. Auto Mechanic!"

Schmidt's mouth twitched; he simply couldn't refute that title.

He graduated from the Mechanical Engineering College of Paderborn University.

Originally, he was a quality supervisor at an automobile company.

But because he liked playing FM games.

In a daze, he began working as a part-time coach.

He led the team to win the sixth-tier regional league championship.

Thereafter, his coaching career was like launching a rocket.

In just a few years.

From leading a 2. Bundesliga relegation-threatened team to an upset, then lifting the Austrian Bundesliga championship trophy.

Finally, he coached a Bundesliga powerhouse.

This resume was exactly like the male protagonist in a Dragon Kingdom web novel.

"You've brought me more surprises, Mr. Legendary Forward."

Schmidt said helplessly.

Other clubs' sporting directors are assistants to the head coach—who would dare to forcibly stuff people into the first team?

The status of club management is too high-profile; it's not necessarily a good thing.

Wo Le Er patted his shoulder.

"Go ahead—I'll fight for transfer investment in the winter window!"

"You said the same last year! Yet this summer window you still won't let me buy Hernandez!"

"It's because Manchester United's offer is too high... unless we sell Son Heung-min, but"

Li Kang's upcoming days were calm and monotonous.

Every day was just two-point-one-line training.

Attribute points were slowly increasing.

But after exceeding 70 points, each point's increase became very noticeable.

The Lewokusen youth players felt it most deeply.

Usual intra-team scrimmages could not match up against Li Kang.

The teammates were stunned.

The fitness coach was also stunned.

Li Kang's medical report showed all indicators normal.

A group of foreigners couldn't help but associate it with Dragon Kingdom kung fu.

Of course, the first team's technical coach still believed Li Kang hadn't reached Bundesliga competitive level.

During 2012-2015, the Bundesliga entered a strong period, and player ability requirements also increased significantly.

Because he was about to return to the first team, Tuopu Laotou feared he might have a mishap in the youth league, so he didn't dare let him start.

When the day of farewell arrived.

The youth players were reluctant to part.

They really liked this mute Dragon Descendant!

Even though the time spent together was short.

"Li! We will miss you!"

"We'll meet again in the first team!"

"If the first team doesn't give you playing time, come back to play youth Champions League with us!"

The heavy atmosphere was suddenly broken.

Tuopu Laotou sternly said: "Stop talking nonsense—you're still thinking about the win bonus!"

Everyone laughed loudly.

Henrichis quickly echoed: "You're making Li seem like he's going on a long trip! The first team training base and us are just separated by a May 9th Park!"

Havertz shook his head: "The security of the first team dormitory is starting to not let me through the main gate!"

The exploding-hair old man tidied Li Kang's collar, saying: "Come on!"

The youth players also said in unison: "Come on!"

In the distance.

Just like that.

Li Kang, accompanied by staff, left the Tettelren training base.

What awaited him ahead.

It was the Bundesliga, the Champions League, a bigger stage.