Fox in the Penalty Area

"...In the just-concluded third round of the Premier League, Leeds City beat Northumbria 1-0 in an away game. In this game, Leeds City's striker Hu has attracted much attention. Because before the game, he appeared in the French " In the shortlist for the 'Best Young Player in Europe' announced by Golden Globe magazine... Although Hu did not score again in this game, he has scored in only three rounds of the Premier League since the start of the new season. Three goals, one goal per game. His recent outstanding performances provide strong support for the competition for the 'Best Young Player in Europe' award..."

As soon as Mario Salado entered the hotel room, he heard such a news broadcast from the TV in the room.

He couldn't help complaining: "Damn...why do Spanish TV stations pay so much attention to a Chinese player who plays in the Premier League?"

Antonio Valero, a roommate half-lying in bed watching the news, said: "Who makes people so popular now? I saw someone on the Internet today saying that Hu's achievements are even eligible to compete for the Golden Globe..."

"That's right!" Salado spread his hands, "Then why doesn't he compete for the Golden Globe Award? What's wrong with the best young player award?"

Valero laughed loudly when he heard this: "Haha!"

He knew why his good friend was so emotional.

Because he had a chance to get the best young player in Europe...

In La Liga last season, Salado, who was only 19 years old, played 29 times for the Catalan United, scoring seven goals and assisting five times. He played five times in the Copa del Rey, scoring two goals and assisting three times. Champions League appearances four times, assists twice.

After one season, he played a total of 37 games in all competitions, scoring nine goals and assisting ten times.

Outstanding performance.

The nickname obtained by the Catalan media soon resounded across the European continent - "Super Mario"!

He has already confirmed that he will receive the best young player award in La Liga last season.

It can be said that without Hu Lai, he would have a high probability of winning the European Best Young Player Award.

If he wins the award, Mario Salado, who is still 33 days away from turning 20, will become the youngest player to win this honor after Meli Banega.

For Salado, this is his most powerful challenge to Meli-as the two major rivals in Spain, the competition between the King of Madrid and the Catalan United is all-round.

In terms of the number of champions, the gold content of the champions, the value of the first team, the number of stars, the number of first team Golden Globe winners... all aspects will be compared.

So, as the vane of the European Ballon d'Or, how can the award of the best young player in Europe be ignored?

When Meli became the best young player in Europe at the age of 19 years and 198 days, the Madrid media made a lot of noise about it.

So, as the current top talent player of Catalan United, the hopes of countless Catalan fans are pinned. Although Mario Salado cannot surpass Meli, if he can shorten the distance with him, he can be compared with him. That is also a very uplifting thing for Catalan fans.

At least in this matter, the King of Madrid will not be let alone.

As a result, a villain has turned out now. Even if Salado is not reconciled, he has to know that it will be difficult for him to win the "Best Young Player in Europe" award.

So he was even more annoyed: "Why didn't "Golden Globe" magazine limit the age of this award to under 21 years old?"

"Under the age of 21? That's not a 'young player', but a 'young player'..."

"That's right, even the name has changed. What's 'Best Young Player in Europe'... What a mouthful? Refer to 'Golden Globes' and change it, um..." Salado frowned and thought hard, and then had an inspiration Shan, "It would be great to change it to 'Golden Boy Award'!"

Valero was amused by his friend's childishness: "You! Don't think so much. Anyway, you are not yet 20 years old, and you still have three years of chance. What's the rush?"

"But Antonio... the 'European Best Young Player Award' is not based on talent, but on the performance of the season...I can't guarantee that I will be able to perform like last season..." Salado said angrily.

But Valero looked at him with some surprise: "Have you been abducted by aliens, Mario? So it's just the same appearance, but the people inside have changed..."

"What nonsense are you talking about, Antonio!" Salado scolded.

"How could the 'Super Mario' I know say such weak and incompetent and frustrated words like 'I can't guarantee that I can perform like last season' in the future? So I wonder if you were transferred by aliens?"

Hearing what Valero said, Salado himself was stunned for a moment, and then blushed—of course, as a black player, even if he blushed, others would basically not be able to see it.

"Sorry, Antonio... I seem to have lost my composure." Salado, who recovered, apologized to his friend.

What he said just now is really not in line with his style.

As the most outstanding talented player in the Catalan United, Mario Salado is extremely proud and confident.

How could he think that his future performance would not be as good as last season?

As a young man who is destined to become the "Meli of Catalan United", his performance in the future will definitely be better than now, and it will be better every season. Otherwise, how can he challenge Meli Banega?

"It's all my fault, I shouldn't be watching that news..." Valero pointed to the TV, which had already started playing other news.

Salado shook his head: "No, it has nothing to do with you, Antonio. Even if there is no such news, I will see him sooner or later. Instead of losing my composure at the award ceremony, it is best to wake up now."

Because the "European Best Young Player Award" will not announce the final winner in advance, but the mystery will be revealed at the awards ceremony. It's for suspense, but also for keeping the attention.

Not just the "Best Young Player Award", but all European season awards. Although sometimes the media has picked out the winners before the awards are presented, the official will never admit it.

Since it is impossible to decide who will win the award, it is natural that all players on the shortlist must go to the awards ceremony. Although in a year without suspense, this is to make green leaves for people, but history has indeed staged a good show of Jedi reversal...

Mario Salado is going to the award ceremony in Paris, France, where he will definitely meet Hou Lai.

That's why he said that.

If it weren't for today's incident, maybe he would really make some gaffes at the awards ceremony...

That would be embarrassing.

Thinking of this, Salado took a deep breath: "I hope we can draw with Leeds in the Champions League group stage. I will blow him up!"

Valero laughed: "You're a striker, Mario. He's also a striker. How do you beat him?"

"Data, performance, I want to beat him!"

"Come on, Mario. I will cheer you on from the bench! If I can make the squad for the game... if not, I will cheer you on in front of the TV!"

"You can definitely, Antonio. And not only can you be selected for the squad, but you can also play! You were our captain when you were in the youth team!"

Valero shrugged and looked very free and easy: "I am only 22 years old. Which giant team would allow a 22-year-old central defender to play in the Champions League? Unless it is absolutely necessary...don't worry about me , Mario, come on and kill him!"

"I still hope you can play, Antonio. Then you can help me guard him and prevent him from scoring!" Salado said childishly. "At that time, I will score in the frontcourt and you will freeze him in the backcourt. How perfect!"

Seeing him like this, Valero laughed loudly: "Then I will fight for the chance to play!"

※※※

As soon as Chen Xingyi turned around with the plate in hand, he saw a tall man with slightly dark skin waving to him: "Here, Xing! Here!"

He smiled quickly, walked up to meet him, and put his dinner plate on the table opposite him.

"Your examination is over?" asked the young man who was a head taller than Chen Xingyi even when he was sitting. "what's the result?"

"Very good. Dr. Dawson said there is no major problem, just be careful not to overdose during training these days."

Hearing this, the tall man let out a sigh of relief, and then showed an apologetic expression: "It's fine, it's fine... Otherwise, I'll feel guilty for a long time..."

Chen Xingyi laughed and said in English: "It's okay, Danny. You didn't do it on purpose, bumps in training are normal."

During yesterday's training, Chen Xingyi was injured by the tall man in front of him, Danny Drew. At that time, he was limping when he walked. For the sake of insurance, the coach did not let him continue training, but left the field for treatment.

After the training, Danny Drew came to him and apologized to him specifically, saying that he didn't mean it.

Of course he didn't do it on purpose, so Chen Xingyi also accepted his apology.

But Drew was still thinking about it.

Chen Xingyi did not come to participate in the team's training this morning, but went to conduct a detailed inspection.

No, just after coming to the restaurant for lunch, Drew became concerned again.

Chen Xingyi didn't think that Drew was pretending to care. Because after coming to Amsterdam for more than a month, he already knew the character of this big man. He is not that kind of hypocritical fake gentleman, and he is not a villain like Wang Xianke.

That was indeed an accident during training—this is definitely not mocking Wang's guidance...

Besides, as the number one talent in the Amsterdam Athletic team, with Danny Drew's status in the team, there is no need to make a fool of Chen Xingyi.

There is no comparison between the two people in terms of position or qualifications.

Chen Xingyi is an offensive player, while Danny Drew is a central defender.

Chen Xingyi is not considered the number one talent in China, but Drew is currently the number one talent player in the Netherlands.

There is such a big gap between the two, why is it necessary for Drew to target Chen Xingyi?

"You eat so much..." Drew noticed that there was a lot of food on Chen Xingyi's dinner plate.

"Mr. Mulder asked me to gain muscle." Chen Xingyi explained.

"Oh yes...you are indeed too thin." Drew showed Chen Xingyi his biceps. "Look at me."

Chen Xingyi was helpless: "If I were as strong as you, I wouldn't be flexible enough..."

"Hey Star, are you saying I'm not flexible enough?"

"Uh..." Chen Xingyi remembered that Danny Drew, who was 1.93 meters tall, was not as bulky as people thought. With such a tall height, Drew's foot movements are fast, and his turns are not slow.

It is precisely because of being able to break the conventional impression brought by this body that Danny Drew has become the top talent in the Netherlands.

Since the Dutch U15 national team, he has been the captain of the national team of all ages. At the same time, he became the youngest player in the history of the Dutch national team at the age of seventeen and three hundred and one days. Now only 22 years old, he has played 27 times in the Dutch national team. It is believed by the media that if he can be more calm, Drew will definitely become the defensive cornerstone of the Dutch national team for the next ten years.

In this World Cup, Drew played as the main central defender of the Dutch national team and helped the team reach the top sixteen.

If they hadn't met the Argentine team with Meli Banega in the quarter-finals, they should have gone further.

Even so, Drew's performance in the quarter-finals against Meli was remarkable.

The two sides drew 0:0 in regular time and 1:1 in overtime. In the end, it was a penalty shootout to decide the winner. The Netherlands was eliminated by penalty kicks and the penalty score was 2:4. , The Netherlands scored only two of four penalty kicks.

Drew played steadily for 120 minutes in this game and did not allow Meli to score.

In front of the fast and nimble Meli, Drew, who is 1.93 meters tall, was also very nimble, entangled Meli.

"Ah... I don't want to talk to you anymore, Danny." Chen Xingyi complained.

He is taller and stronger than himself, and he is so flexible... Will such a defender let their offensive players live?

"Ah? Why? Are you still angry with me?" Drew made an aggrieved look, staring at Chen Xingyi with wide eyes, trying to make them look watery...

Chen Xingyi quickly waved his hand: "Don't be like this, Danny. Otherwise, I won't be able to eat..."

Drew laughed, put away his funny expression, and suddenly asked very seriously: "Xing, I have something to ask you."

"Ask." Chen Xingyi had a smile on his face.

"Can you tell me what kind of person Hu Lai is?"

The smile on Chen Xingyi's face froze.