Chapter 43: Minamino Takumi's Provocation

Barcelona.

Heavy rain poured down.

Indoor training hall.

The LED screen replayed the match between Schalke 04 and Lewokusen.

Accompanied by the commentator's excited voice.

The staff also clapped and cheered.

Assistant coach Wensuea blew the whistle for a break.

Suárez stepped up to the big screen, wondering aloud: "Why are you watching the Bundesliga, huh? This kid's through pass is great! Come over, Lyon!"

A staff member turned back, smiling, and said: "He's the adopted son of Big Sister Sofia! He's doing very well now, the starting midfielder for Lewokusen!"

Mascherano stepped forward and exclaimed: "He's constantly shaking his head to observe the situation on the field, and his movement—he's just like Xavi!"

Neymar nodded in agreement: "His playing style is indeed somewhat similar, but in other aspects he's still far behind, though his physical confrontation is strong!"

Rakitic bent over, carefully watching the big screen, and muttered: "No, look at his left and right foot passes—both are excellent; he's a two-footed player! This kid has a lot of potential! He left my old club helpless!"

"Lewokusen seems to be our Champions League group stage opponent?"

These people aren't from La Masia's youth academy, so they naturally haven't seen Sofia's adopted son.

Yinniesita and Busquets exchanged a glance and couldn't help but wryly smile.

Before the Champions League draw ceremony, the two hoped that the Mute Dragon Descendant would return to Barcelona.

Messi gazed at the number 10 on the screen for Lewokusen, lost in thought.

Wensuea said: "Alright, this week is international match day—hurry back to your countries."

Spanish Football Association building.

The national team head coach Bosque furrowed his brow.

"The 19-man squad for the European Championship is set! There are still four spots... This is really tough to choose!"

"Truly a happy problem!"

Assistant coach Miniano held a stack of data and suggested:

"Juanfran and Saúl from Atlético Madrid, and Vázquez from Real Madrid..."

"And Asensio from the youth national team, his performance is also outstanding!"

"The preliminary squad for the European Championship—no need to rush."

"I think there's no need to field a full starting lineup against Japan... just call up a few players from the youth and Olympic teams will do, after all it's just an international friendly."

Bosque pondered for a moment, then said: "You handle it then! Pay attention to the impact! Pay attention to friendship!"

Having said that, he left the office.

Miniano was excited beyond measure.

He spread out stack after stack of player data on the table.

It was like playing a card game.

He rubbed his palms together.

According to the formation, he lined up the roster, muttering to himself:

"Little Dennis? The superstar talent from Villarreal! He has to be the one!"

"Li Kang? Asian, Lewokusen's starting midfielder—not bad either!"

"Their positions seem to overlap a bit!"

"Forget it, list them both! Let's see what kind of chemistry they produce!"

"Oops! I forgot the forwards... oh well! Spain didn't have any forwards in the 2012 European Championship either!"

"This lineup should be able to go toe-to-toe with Japan!"

Lewokusen.

Wo Le Er helplessly looked at the call-up notice sent by the Spanish Football Association.

"Our Li, only 17 years old, already made the Spanish national team squad? And he has to fly all the way back to Asia for a friendly? What if he gets injured! The fallen bullfighter dynasty, still looking for Harvey's successor?"

The little assistant looked troubled: "After all, it's international match day; I suggest the club cooperate as much as possible, and Li Kang himself isn't very opposed."

Wo Le Er sighed: "Alright."

Meanwhile.

The Spanish Football Association announced on social media the roster for this week's international match day.

Li Kang's name was prominently listed.

Related news quickly spread across the Dragon Kingdom's online platforms.

"Lewokusen Dragon Descendant genius makes the Spanish national team roster!"

"Spain again goes with a strikerless formation! Recreating the peak dynasty of the 2012 European Championship!"

"Who truly is Harvey's successor? The answer will be revealed on international match day!"

Comment counts, likes, and shares surged.

It is now 2015, and the influence of the Spanish national team's three consecutive major tournament victories has not waned.

-【Something's off—Spain's lineup is mostly youth and Olympic team youngsters; it should just be a drill. As for Harvey's successor, Little Dennis is more like him, but Li Kang is tough!】

-【Can this lineup beat those little Japanese kids who are doing okay overseas? Those guys are full-strength European professionals—if we could beat them, it'd be absurd.】

-【The Japanese team isn't all full-strength either; it mixes overseas players with domestic youngsters from the J-League.】

-【Traitor! Not returning to play for the national team, yet joining Spain's side! Shaming our ancestors! Little devil!】

-【Even adding Halbich and Modrić wouldn't help, really.】

-【Why discuss this topic at all? It affects the mood.】

The next day.

The international competition week kicked off.

Dragon Kingdom team vs. Japan team.

The match was extremely intense.

All around the stands, not a sound could be heard.

The Japan team player wearing the number 18 jersey went on a frantic breakthrough down the left flank.

"The Japan team's youngster Takumi Minamino is performing well! Former J-League Best Newcomer, a main forward for Red Bull Salzburg!"

"Hey, what's going on? This move is clearly a provocation!"

"Isn't the referee giving a card?"

The Dragon Kingdom team's centre-back cleared the ball out of touch.

Takumi Minamino's expression turned somewhat angry, and he quickly stepped forward.

He slammed his left shoulder into the opponent.

He spat out foul-mouthed trash talk.

The head referee showed no reaction at all.

The Dragon Kingdom players all rushed forward.

Endo Hayato stepped in and blocked Takumi Minamino.

The scene began to descend into chaos.

The fans in the stands all around also furiously condemned the Japan team players' provocative behavior!

"Let's see how the head referee will rule!"

"Eh? How did our player get a yellow card?"

"This controversy is totally obvious!"

Netizens also flew into a rage!

-【If it were Li Weifeng's generation of national team players, Takumi Minamino would have already been choked!】

-【Endo Hayato would also get hit with a heart-piercing kick!】

-【Damn it! How can you have no guts at all! Your moves in the Chinese Super League are so big! When you're beating up little Japanese devils, how can you be so calm?】

-【In this situation, you don't need to stay calm at all—it's a friendly match! Just go for it!】

-【What can you say? Being weak is the original sin!】

Post-match press conference.

Facing the media's denunciations.

Takumi Minamino smirked disdainfully.

"I don't want to answer any questions."

"The score has already explained everything."

"Football relies on strength!"