Chapter 33

Grayson, as expected, is a journalist with considerable influence. After his article was published, there indeed were many voices criticizing Osvaldo's tactics.

In the soil of artistic football and samba football, it's understandable if you play a defensive counter-attack.

But in this match between São Paulo and Guarani, São Paulo's tactics were so crude as to be outrageous!

Actually, Brazilians don't really care much about tactics.

The long-standing 4-4-2 formation of the Brazilian national team clearly demonstrates the tactical level of this country's football.

But what is unacceptable is that although São Paulo scored many goals in this match, the game was very ugly.

The style of play was not samba, not artistic, and not Brazilian at all.

Brazilians love football, but they love artistic football even more. They enjoy controlling the ball with their feet, using brilliant individual dribbling and jaw-dropping skills to send the ball into the opponent's goal, which wins the cheers of the audience.

So, why is a player like Ronaldinho so popular in Brazil?

Because Ronaldinho can please Brazilian fans.

Now, the young player Robinho, who has risen in Santos, is also a representative of this style. His footwork is fancy, and his play is very appealing. The media and fans have warmly praised him, calling him "Pelé II."

Brazilians don't really care if football skills are practical. Of course, they also like champions, and they even love champions the most, but they prefer to win in a beautiful way.

So, even though Pereira led the Brazilian national team to win the 1994 World Cup in the United States, the evaluation of this national team in Brazil is not very high. Brazilian fans are more nostalgic about the Brazilian teams in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. Although they didn't win the championship, these two teams played truly artistic football, which was pleasing to the eye.

So, even though they didn't have the title of champions, they are still loved by Brazilian fans.

Of course, the Brazilian fans' favorite is the 1970 Brazilian national team, because that team not only played beautifully but also won the championship, fitting the Brazilian football aesthetic of "winning beautifully."

Grayson cleverly seized the psychological characteristics of Brazilian fans and used this opportunity to criticize São Paulo heavily.

He was successful in doing so.

Many people were criticizing Osvaldo's tactics, so they didn't think much of Rongguang's goals.

It was clearly a deformed tactic designed specifically to allow Rongguang to score.

This tactic cannot last long and does not represent Rongguang's true level.

So, scoring in two consecutive matches does not prove that Rongguang is a genius.

***

Godo suggested that Rongguang practice his signature more, as he would soon need it.

And it turned out he was right.

The next day, after training, someone came to ask for his signature.

But the person who came surprised Rongguang.

"Lucas? Why is it you?" Rongguang thought it was a fan coming for his signature and was delighted.

But when he saw Lucas Sutton with his black hair, he frowned.

Lucas Sutton didn't mind Rongguang's disappointed expression. He handed over a stack of São Paulo club postcards: "Quick, sign them for me, Rong!"

Rongguang was surprised: "What do you need so many signatures for?"

Lucas looked around, then lowered his voice and said mysteriously: "To sell them, Rong! My brother asked me for your signature yesterday, saying that many kids his age want your signature... But giving them away is a waste. It's better to sell them and make money!"

Rongguang's eyes lit up when he heard about making money.

But he didn't sign immediately. Instead, he took the postcards and said to Lucas: "I'll give them to you tomorrow, Lucas."

Lucas had no objections: "Okay, I'll be here at the same time tomorrow."

***

After dinner, Godo thought Rongguang would go to the rooftop to practice. He was sure he would help Rongguang practice his shooting.

But he found that Rongguang was rummaging through his drawers.

"What are you looking for, Rong?" He was stirring sugar into his black coffee with a stainless steel spoon.

"I'm looking for my old signatures." As he spoke, Rongguang finally found the stack of paper where he had practiced his signature, placed them on the table, and started signing on another stack of white paper.

Seeing his serious effort, Godo smiled and shook his head, then went into the bedroom to call his daughter, not wanting to disturb him.

***

The next day, Lucas Sutton came to the first-team training ground at the agreed time.

He was there to pick up the postcards.

But Rongguang gave him a large backpack.

"What's this?" He was surprised at the backpack in Rongguang's hand.

"Signatures."

Lucas reached out to take it, and without any preparation, he almost dislocated his shoulder!

"How many signatures could be this heavy?! Are you kidding me?" He shouted, pulled open the zipper, and his expression froze...

The entire large backpack was full of signatures...

Stack after stack of white paper, all signed by Rongguang!

Lucas slowly raised his head, his neck seeming to be rusted, and he looked at Rongguang with a dazed expression.

"Where are just a few signatures? There are so many!" Rongguang's voice came from his ear.

Lucas's eyes finally regained their luster, and he covered his head: "Did you sign all night?"

Rongguang nodded.

"Sell them and split the money with me, Lucas! You're a genius, I never thought of it before. I'll tell you, these signatures took me all night! If they all sell, I'll be rich... six meals of Brazilian barbecue a day..." Rongguang started excitedly planning how to spend the money.

Lucas Sutton reached out and grabbed Rongguang's head, bursting his bubble: "Wake up. You're crazy about money!"

"How did you know, Lucas?" Rongguang looked surprised.

Faced with such a shameless Rongguang, Lucas Sutton didn't know what expression to make: "But unfortunately, your efforts last night were in vain... you don't need so many! If you throw so many signatures out, they might not even want them for free! Rarity is valuable, do you know that! You're disrupting the market economy!"

Rongguang knocked his head in frustration and made a face at Lucas: "You didn't tell me earlier, wasting my whole night."

"I didn't know you'd be so excited..." Lucas looked in the backpack and pulled out the ten postcards he had given Rongguang the day before: "These ten are enough. The money will be split 30-70 as usual."

He didn't say what to do with the rest, but Rongguang knew these signatures might end up in the trash...

He looked at the backpack of signatures with pain.

I wonder if there are any waste collectors in Brazil...

***

"Hey, Lucas, did you sell the signatures I gave you yesterday?" The next day, Rongguang asked Lucas eagerly in the restaurant.

Lucas spread his hands and looked sad: "Not at all. They said they would only take them if they were free, but not if they had to pay..."

Rongguang was surprised and disappointed: "How could this be?"

"Uh, I overestimated your status in their eyes, Rong... If you were Kaká, it would be different."

"Is Kaká's signature very valuable?"

"Of course! There are crazy female fans willing to pay a high price for anything signed by Kaká! Soccer cards, postcards, posters, jerseys, soccer balls... even a blank piece of paper, as long as it has Kaká's signature, it has value!"

Hearing that even Kaká's signature was more valuable than his, Rongguang was even more determined to surpass Kaká and beat him.

One day, things signed by me will be more valuable than Kaká's!

Lucas pulled out a stack of postcards and handed them to Rongguang: "So, I'm sorry, Rong, for getting your hopes up... here, I only gave one to my brother."

The postcards were face down, and Rongguang immediately saw his signature on them.

Although he tried to write neatly, his elementary school education made his name look crooked and ugly. It didn't look as nice as Coelho the journalist said...

This ugly signature was just like him, unremarkable and unable to attract any interest.

Rongguang pushed the signed postcards back: "No, you keep them, Lucas. Maybe they'll become valuable soon?"

Lucas thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay. When you become a big star, I'll auction them off! By then, five reais won't be enough! Hehe!"

"Of course, five hundred! Dollars!" Rongguang said angrily.

I'll make you regret not buying them now!

Five reais won't make you lose, five reais won't make you cheat, but because of these five reais, you'll miss out on the limited edition signature of the super star Rongguang!

***

"Back at home, São Paulo, with the momentum of two recent victories, faces the tenth-ranked Portuguese team! Just like the last match, the magical Chinese kid, number 33 Rong, starts again! Before the match, when his name was announced, the Morumbi Stadium erupted in cheers! It seems that this 16-year-old rookie has quickly won the hearts of São Paulo fans!"

Gálvan Bueno sat in the Morumbi commentary booth, shouting into the microphone.

He had to do this because on the field, São Paulo launched another quick counter-attack, and Rongguang was racing with the ball again!

The stands of Morumbi echoed with the cheers of São Paulo fans.

If he didn't shout, he was worried that the audience watching on TV wouldn't hear him clearly.

"Listen to these cheers! This is São Paulo's counter-attack! Rong is back! His speed always gets the blood pumping!!"

The Morumbi Stadium, which can hold 80,000 people, is the largest stadium owned by a Brazilian club—most Brazilian football clubs rent stadiums from the city government, like the Maracanã, which belongs to the Rio de Janeiro city government.

Before, the Morumbi Stadium was about 60% full, which was already impressive for Brazilian football, which has been impacted by European football broadcasts. Among the nearly 50,000 people, many were there for Kaká.

As a star cultivated by São Paulo's youth academy, Kaká combined the qualities of a powerhouse and an idol. He was skilled, handsome, and had a good personality, without the messy scandals and controversies that many Brazilian players have. Naturally, he was very popular.

After Kaká was injured and São Paulo's performance declined, the number of people coming to watch the matches sharply decreased.

If it weren't for Rongguang's sudden emergence, this match might not have even drawn 30,000 people.

Now, with Kaká injured, many of these people came to see Rongguang.

Rongguang's outstanding performances in the last two matches temporarily replaced Kaká in their hearts.

As Bueno said, Rongguang is the "magical Chinese kid."

Everyone wants to see what other miracles he can create.

Against Corinthians, against Guarani, Rongguang gave everyone a big surprise.

What about this time?

He is running on the field!

***

In this match, Ricardinho returned from injury and replaced Baptista as the playmaker, while Baptista, although still on the field, returned to his role as a workhorse.

Ricardinho is the midfield playmaker for São Paulo.

After receiving the ball in the front, he passed a through ball that penetrated the Portuguese defense.

Then Rongguang made a high-speed run—this has been São Paulo's strategy in the last three matches, and everyone knows they will do this, but it's still very difficult to defend.

Because Rongguang's speed is just too insane!

When Rongguang made another run, the stands erupted in cheers.

Now, everyone loves to see Rongguang use his speed to dominate his opponents.

Rongguang broke through the Portuguese defense and received the ball!

When the Portuguese players realized their defense had been breached, they all felt a sense of foreboding.

But at this point, even if they turned to chase, it was too late...

They could only watch as Rongguang controlled the ball and shot!

The ball rolled along the grass toward the far post.

This time, the Portuguese goalkeeper tried to block the ball with his foot—this was faster than diving to catch it with his hands.

But Rongguang's shot was even faster!

Although Rongguang strictly followed Rocha's instructions and didn't use his full strength, his explosive speed and strong leg power made his shot very powerful, so the ball flew particularly fast!

"Rong shoots—!"

In Bueno's scream, the ball flew into the net!

"Beautiful! The third goal in three consecutive matches!!" Bueno raised his arms in triumph. "Truly a 'magical Chinese kid'!"

Seeing the ball roll into the goal, the cheers in the Morumbi Stadium reached a peak!

São Paulo fans jumped from their seats, waving their arms and stomping their feet in celebration.

Why did they come to the Morumbi Stadium?

Wasn't it to see this thrilling moment?

The most exciting and thrilling sports on this planet are all closely related to speed.

Football, basketball, F1, and sprinting all involve speed...

Speed can make your blood boil!

Speed can make your heart race!

Speed can make you dizzy!

***

"Rong once again broke the deadlock for São Paulo! With goals in three consecutive matches and one assist, we can clearly see a new star rising!"

Cafure also gave Rongguang high praise.

If one match's performance can't prove anything and can only be attributed to luck.

Then what about two matches, three matches?

Three matches with goals and outstanding performances—what else could this be but a promising new star?

The cautious Cafure had never used such words to describe Rongguang before.

But after observing Rongguang for three matches, he believed Rongguang deserved such praise.

Grayson slammed the lid of his laptop on the table.

Rongguang's goal made him furious.

What's this Chinese kid up to?

Is he deliberately going against me?

I said you're not a genius, and you score a goal in every match?

Are you doing this on purpose?!

He realized he might have to admit defeat, because no matter how professional you are, the media and fans care more about the results.

If Rongguang can score in three consecutive matches, no matter how many tactical flaws you point out, it won't affect the media and fans' crazy attention and praise.

Kaká's debut wasn't even this impressive!

But Grayson was not willing to