Chapter 495: Chapter 494: The Four Little Dragons of China, Landing in Manchester
But because Ronaldo and Vieri finally joined forces, and Inter Milan had cleared out "mediocre" players like Pirlo who were affecting the team’s operation, bringing in midfield talents like Viana, they marched triumphantly through the league and currently occupied the top spot in Serie A!
Competition was fierce among the three teams: Inter Milan, Juventus, and Roma.
Let’s get back to Wu Xudong.
This season, he made more than twenty appearances in the Portuguese league, and although most were as a substitute, one shouldn’t forget that Ibrahimovic, Matthaus, Deschamps, Pinto, and Feng Te were also part of the rotation players at Sporting Lisbon.
Among them, Feng Te, Pinto, and Deschamps made fewer appearances than Wu Xudong.
Moreover, Wu Xudong scored four goals and contributed four assists in the league.
From the right fullback and substitute right midfielder’s perspective, these stats were quite commendable.
In addition, he appeared three times in the Portuguese Cup, contributing one assist.
In the Champions League, he made four appearances, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
A substitute with 5/6 of his season’s data, he would be considered a qualified bench marauder for any club.
Except for teams brimming with superstars and talent like the national teams of France, Brazil, Netherlands, and Italy, to name a few.
Wu Xudong was certainly good enough to feature in over twenty of the thirty-two national teams that made it to the World Cup.
In fact, he should be a starter for about ten of those teams.
In a small handful of teams, he could even be the main offensive force on the right flank.
And these twenty-plus, ten, and handful of teams all included the Chinese team.
For European fans, "Lisbon’s Chengji Sihan" was on the same level as Frankfurt’s Yang Chen, Dundee’s Fan Zhiyi, and Manchester City’s Sun Jihai.
This was still because Wu Xudong had been in the spotlight for too short a time.
If he maintained his form for another two years, he would become the top Chinese player in the eyes of European fans.
You would never guess that the only call he had received related to the Chinese football association was last year’s call concerning the national youth team for the World Youth Championship.
And the content was that the relevant officials asked him to pay 300,000 yuan for a spot on the large roster.
The chance to play in a match was calculated separately.
The chance to start was yet another separate fee.
In comparison, the Swedish team had long announced the news of calling up Ibrahimovic.
Even though Ibrahimovic’s talent and fame far surpassed Wu Xudong, and his status on the team was also entirely different, as he was the team’s offensive core for the last twenty minutes of a game.
But there was a world of difference between the Swedish team and the Chinese team.
Comparing the two, the better one was clear at a glance.
In the end, at Estádio Alvalade, Sporting Lisbon had the largest championship group photo in its history.
Most of the team’s main players were still dressed in civilian clothes.
Ironically, those in soccer kits were mostly substitutes and youth players, including Hao Junmin, Shao Jiawei, Chen Tao, and Yu Shihao, who were not yet eligible for the Portuguese league championship medal.
Because they hadn’t met the minimum number of appearances and time on the field for the team.
But at the first opportunity to collect the medals, Deng Kai asked for the championship medals from Maxa and Trigella, in addition to his and Ronaldo’s, and put them around the necks of players like Hao Junmin.
The latter four became tearful on the spot.
For them, this was the greatest honor of their careers so far and possibly for a long time to come.
Thus, Sporting Lisbon went into the Champions League semifinals with their condition tuned to its best.
"Sporting Lisbon Youth Academy Produces Another Success! Five Youngsters from the Academy Start, Helping the Team Secure the Portuguese League Title!"
"Porto’s Dream of a Treble Shattered! China’s Super League Squad Ascends to the Champion’s Podium in Portugal!"
"Portuguese League Championship Medals in Hand! China’s Five Tigers Bring Glory to the Nation! Urging Consideration for the National Team’s World Cup Squad Selection!"
"The Lisbon Chengji Sihan of the Chinese Team at the Korea-Japan World Cup—Wu Xudong!"
"Is the Portuguese league podium too small? When Sporting Lisbon’s entire team went up to receive their awards, the podium couldn’t fit them all!"
"Another Chinese player clinches the Portuguese league’s Man of the Match! Hao Junmin outshines his talented teammate Mutinho, with limitless potential ahead!"
"Youth team eases the burden for the first team! The level of Sporting Lisbon’s academy is now able to compete with top Portuguese league teams!"
"Chinese players shine abroad, with more than five clubs interested in Lisbon’s ’Four Little Dragons’ from China!"
It’s on fire!
The "Lisbon Four Little Dragons", already well-known domestically, have exploded in popularity in China.
At this moment, the fans finally see hope for Chinese football.
There are top-tier European veterans like Wu Xudong, Yang Chen, Fan Zhiyi, and Sun Jihai.
There are emerging talents like Hao Junmin, Shao Jiawei, Yu Shihao, and Chen Tao, who are capable of playing in second and third-tier teams.
Add to that a few domestic stars and some versatile players.
A Chinese team like this would stand a fighting chance in the World Cup group stages!
"Wu Xudong is a shoo-in for starting right back!"
"No, let Sun Jihai take right back. With Little Wu’s strong impact, he’d be better as a right midfielder."
"Even in the last twenty minutes, we could put our own Chengji Sihan Wu up front. I wouldn’t say he could break through Brazil, but he should have no problem with Costa Rica and Turkey!"
"Chen Tao could be a substitute for Tiezi, he seems more reliable!"
"Shao Jiawei has the strength to compete for a starting center back position. I suggest he should form a ’Fan-Wei’ combo with Fan Zhiyi!"
"Yu Shihao could pair up with Yang Chen, after all, they both play in Europe and can create better chemistry. Qu Bo also performed well in last year’s Youth Championship, so he could be a substitute for Yu Shihao."
"Hao Junmin could actually take a spot as a winger, or at least he wouldn’t have any problem as a substitute. I feel like he’s more competitive than Qi Hong and Shao Jia Yi."
However, faced with the fans’ fervent discussions, the Football Association had not a word in response.
It was as if they were admitting what the fans were saying was true, but also as if they were completely ignoring them.
...
April 23rd.
Sporting Lisbon landed in Manchester.
Portugal’s young storm had hit Manchester of England in 1992!
Outside the hotel, English fans surged in excitement.
The vast majority were Manchester United fans.
They unfurled various banners.
"Ronaldo, you belong at Old Trafford, we’re waiting for you!"
"Deng Kai, bring your talent to Manchester!"
"Vidic, Manchester United needs a center back like you!"
"Schmeichel, we will always love you!"
The banners were quite touching.
This was the warmest and friendliest reception Sporting Lisbon had ever encountered from away fans.
Schmeichel went so far as to sign autographs for many fans, showing his appreciation for their nostalgia.
He once belonged here, and he will always belong here.
But there was a twist, as the chairman of Manchester City Football Club, Mansour, actually appeared at the hotel entrance to personally greet the arrival of Sporting Lisbon.
