Jorge Dillon spoke Mandarin with a heavy accent and very unfluent pronunciation, and asked him to give Chen Xingyi a "nickname."
Hearing the coach's shout, Chen Xingyi ran up and said, "Coach, are you calling me?"
Dillon nodded: "Next you are going to the national team. The national team's two warm-up matches are against European teams. This is a good opportunity for you to get close contact with European football and understand it.
Let’s see how high the level of European teams is.”
After speaking, he looked at Yu Jintao beside him, waiting for Yu Jintao to translate his words.
After Jin Tao finished translating, he continued: "I have some suggestions. If you want to impress those picky European scouts, then you must dare to make moves and express yourself during the game."
After hearing this sentence translated by Yu Jintao, Chen Xingyi was a little surprised: "Coach, I am very happy at Golden Arrow..."
"Stop acting in front of me, Xing." Dillon curled his lips, "I know you are crazy about wanting to go to Europe all day long!"
Chen Xingyi waved his hand quickly: "No, coach. Ever since I saw Luo Kai's 'tragic situation' in Veronica, I feel particularly at ease to train with you in the team..."
Dilong burst out laughing after hearing what Yu Jintao translated.
After laughing, he asked Chen Xingyi: "Are you learning the language?"
"I've learned it, and I've been learning it all the time."
"How did you learn?"
"Uh... okay?"
"'Okay' is not okay. Come on, let's talk directly in English...Yu, you can rest now."
Yu Jintao looked at Dillon with wide eyes: "Are you sure you want to talk to him alone?"
"I'm sure." Jorge Dillon answered him decisively.
"All right……"
Yu Jintao reluctantly translated Dilong's words to Chen Xingyi.
Chen Xingyi's eyes widened after hearing this: "Uncle Yu, coach, are you kidding me? My English skills..."
"What? You just lied, but you didn't actually learn?" Yu Jintao asked Chen Xingyi.
"I've learned it, I've definitely learned it. It's just a little... uh, suddenly. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep up with the coach's rhythm..."
Yu Jintao shook his head: "Don't worry about that, Chen Xingyi. Now imagine being suddenly thrown into the European language environment. No one will treat you. If you don't work hard to improve your language level, you might not even be able to make a living."
I can’t even eat it. Force yourself and throw away all your previous shame.”
"Okay..." Under Yu Jintao's persuasion, Chen Xingyi finally reluctantly agreed.
"Very good, Xing." Dillon looked at the young man in front of him and nodded approvingly, "If you want to go to Europe, you must first overcome the difficulty of opening your mouth. You must be brave enough to communicate and don't be afraid of making mistakes.
Don’t be afraid that you don’t understand, let alone being laughed at. In fact, communication is not as difficult as you think. Look at Hu Lai, how quickly did he integrate after he went to the UK? You have to learn from his way of not
The spirit of the face...Okay, come and talk to me about what you think of the problems Luo Kai encountered in Veronica?"
Chen Xingyi frowned and listened to the head coach's words with rapt attention, so much so that the head coach had finished speaking for several seconds. He seemed to be connected to the reporters in the rear studio and did not respond.
When his brain finally processed what the head coach said and understood the general meaning, he began to think about what words to use and what grammar...
Dillon didn't urge him, and just stood opposite him and watched. If Chen Xingyi raised his head in embarrassment, he would see the old coach giving him an encouraging look.
"Uh, sir, sir... I, uh, I think, uh, Luo Kai's problem is that he has... uh, has..." Chen Xingyi started stumblingly, but he got stuck here without saying a few words.
Shell. After a long thought, he said to the head coach: "There is uh...'idolbag'..."
The smile on Dillon's face disappeared when he heard this, replaced by a puzzled expression. He thought in silence for a long time, but still couldn't figure out what it meant. He had no choice but to ask the audience for help: "Hey, Yu
, what is ‘idolbag’?”
Yu Jintao twitched the corner of his mouth: "I guess Chen Xingyi meant to say 'idol baggage'."
He said this word in Chinese, and then he explained the meaning of the word: "It means that Luo Kai is a little embarrassed and is afraid of being laughed at, so he doesn't dare to speak..."
Dillon clapped his hands hard: "Aha! That's right, that's it! If you speak up, what are you afraid of if you say something wrong? So what if you are laughed at? In the end, when you perform well on the court, it depends on who it is.
Who are you kidding?"
…
"Dilon is really nice to Chen Xingyi!"
"Of course, Chen Xingyi is our number one genius at Golden Arrow now! If you have this ability, you can also be taken seriously..."
"Hey, if I were to be at Chen Xingyi's level, I would have gone abroad long ago! Only Chen Xingyi can still bear it..."
"It may not be good to go out early, and it may not be bad to stay in the country. Look at Luo Kai..."
The Golden Arrow players in the distance looked at Chen Xingyi and Dilong communicating, and they were talking a lot.
But no one will be jealous of the treatment Chen Xingyi enjoys, because everyone knows that he deserves it.
Jin Yong looked at Chen Xingyi and said to Mao Junzheng next to him: "I always have a hunch, Mao team. After this World Cup, Chen Xingyi may not return to our team..."
Mao Junzheng turned to look at him: "Nonsense. How many of the young people you have met outside are still willing to stay in this small town?"
"It's so enviable..." Jin Yong murmured.
Mao Junzheng did not answer, but looked at the old man and the young man over there, and kept looking.
※※※
Lin Zhiyuan, wearing a Westin Athletic goalkeeper jersey, stood on the far right of the team, folding his hands on his chest and grinning.
The players on the entire team are just like Lin Zhiyuan, with childish faces and happy smiles.
A hand suddenly appeared and picked up the photo on the table, looked at it carefully, and then put it back.
"Mr. Meyer and I had a phone call some time ago. Although you have left Westin Athletics, he has always been paying attention to you." Qiu Xinrong put down the photo and turned to Lin Zhiyuan who was packing his luggage. "He asked me
, do you have any plans to return to Westin Athletic?"
Lin Zhiyuan put the folded jeans into the suitcase: "Did they quote a price, Uncle Qiu?"
"No, I just want to inquire about your intentions first..."
"Isn't it illegal to contact players privately?"
"We accidentally brought up this matter while chatting and reminiscing as old friends." Qiu Xinrong answered accurately.
"Hey!" Lin Zhiyuan straightened up and looked at Qiu Xinrong, "I haven't thought about it, Uncle Qiu. I want to wait until after the World Cup to decide. What if I perform well in the World Cup and get spotted by a wealthy team?"
"Then become the second Luo Kai?" Qiu Xinrong asked expressionlessly.
"Oh, Uncle Qiu, can't you say something nice?"
"What's good? Westin Athletic is really a good fit for you. They are familiar with you and you are familiar with them. There are also your team-mates there. Three of your team at that time are now in the first team.
"Qiu Xinrong pointed to the group photo on the table.
"Then the four of us will be substitutes for the first team together?" Lin Zhiyuan shook his head, "I really haven't thought about it, Uncle Qiu. I have been thinking recently that I will now play the main force in the South China Tigers, and then... go to Europe
What to do? Be a substitute? Which team would let a twenty-year-old like me be the main goalkeeper?"
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xinrong turned around and looked at him: "Oh, how can such words come out of your mouth?"
"Hey, Uncle Qiu, what do you think I am?"
Qiu Xinrong ignored Lin Zhiyuan's question and asked himself: "But is it because of Luo Kai that you can have such reflection?"
"That's part of the reason. When I came back from Germany, it wasn't just because of my parents' jobs. I also thought it was too difficult for a Chinese goalkeeper to get a chance in the European professional leagues. If I were a German, then I
I have the confidence to play in a professional team with my abilities. But I am a Chinese..." Lin Zhiyuan sighed and looked at Qiu Xinrong, "Ask Old Meyer if he is willing to give me a main position.
"
Qiu Xinrong grinned: "I think Mr. Meyer will think you are out of your mind..."
"No." Lin Zhiyuan grinned, "He will feel that he is indeed Lin!"
※※※
"As expected of Lin!"
After Masalo Maier heard Lin Zhiyuan's request conveyed by Qiu Xinrong, he laughed and expressed this emotion.
After laughing, he said to Qiu Xinrong:
"I'm just the sports department manager of the team, not the head coach of the first team. Who can be the main player and who can't is still decided by the head coach. I can understand Lin's concerns. Indeed, let a twenty-year-old young man do this
Currently, there is no main goalkeeper in any team in the five major leagues... I can't guarantee that he will be the main goalkeeper once he comes. The position of goalkeeper is special, and the replacement is not that fast. But no matter what, this time he
When the Chinese team comes to Europe to play a game, I will ask scouts to follow him and we will make a very detailed scouting report... In short, we will continue to observe him, especially his performance in the World Cup.
"
"That's great. Thank you, Mr. Meyer."
"Why are you thanking me, Qiu? I have regretted letting Lin return to China for a long time. If possible, I don't want to miss Lin again. Please help me tell Lin that as long as he wants to come back, the door of Westin Athletic
Always be open to Him."
"I'll tell him, Mr. Meyer. But I can't control what Lin thinks."
"understand."
※※※
"Is that what old Miles said?"
When Lin Zhiyuan received a call from his agent, Qiu Xinrong, who relayed Meier's original words, he had already landed at the Capital International Airport.
"Okay, I understand. If he wants people to come and see him, he can do it. Anyway, I play at my own pace. Well, okay. Don't worry, Uncle Qiu. I am no longer the same person as before! I'm hanging up.
Captain Yao and the others are still waiting for me in front..."
Putting away the phone, Lin Zhiyuan took two steps, dragged his suitcase, and caught up with Yao Huasheng and other South China Tigers teammates in front.
Yao Huasheng half-turned around, put his arm around Lin Zhiyuan's shoulders, and pulled him to walk side by side.
On March 14, 2026, after the AFC Champions League group stage, the players of the Chinese national team gathered in the capital. They will take a flight from here to distant Europe to start a ten-day training camp with matches as training.