Chapter 82: Chapter 82: A Massacre Triggered by Caesar’s Celebration
First of all, Veloso’s weight was definitely not over the limit.
Moreover, in professional football, issues with weight are essentially "unfounded", as a player’s weight can be easily managed. Whatever you need it to be, it can be.
"Veloso can accept being dismissed from the squad, but he needs a formal reason, not some disrespectful, token excuse!" Trigella was filled with righteous indignation, "Besides, after his dismissal, even his family was dragged into the controversy."
"His father, esteemed as a Portugal national player, was unfairly suspended by the club despite being in perfect competitive shape, forced to publicly apologize within the team!"
"What son could bear to watch his father endure such humiliation?"
"It was precisely because Deng Kai was aware of this that he led Veloso to the stands where the Benfica fans were, after Veloso scored."
"He wasn’t leading Veloso into any mischief; on the contrary, he was teaching Veloso how to be a real man!"
A reporter from Bola newspapers raised a hand to object, "So being a real man means telling the fans to go to their mother’s?"
Trigella nodded, "Yes, go to their mother’s!"
The Bola newspaper reporter turned pale as if someone was cursing him?
Trigella repeated, "Go to their mother’s! Telling those who look down on you and don’t respect you to go to their mother’s is what being a real man is! Do you understand?"
"If you don’t, I can repeat it a few more times: go to their mother’s, go to their mother’s, go to their mother’s!"
...
Without a doubt, this press conference was an unprecedented success.
The stalemate continued with neither side backing down.
The additional suspension for Deng Kai that Benfica requested had yet to come to fruition.
This was because data showed that the attention brought to every other match in the Portugal U15 league combined didn’t match the heat of Sporting Lisbon’s U15 games.
This was the only ’traffic-laden’ team in Portugal’s youth football.
They were still competing in the Youth Champions League!
Just when everyone thought the issue would fizzle out, Benfica’s captain and Portugal national team’s main right-back, Antonio Veloso, along with his son Miguel Veloso, held a press conference.
On camera, Antonio spoke about his feelings for Benfica.
"It has been an honor to play for Benfica in the first half of my life! But..." Antonio’s tone shifted, "Even the happiest of relationships has its end."
"Benfica is like my life."
"But my child, my family, is more important to me than my own life!"
"My upcoming decision might not be forgiven by Benfica’s fans, but I believe there is no parent in the world, no son or daughter, no brother or sister, who would not understand me."
"I, Antonio Veloso, formally submit a transfer request to the club."
"In the upcoming matches, if the club needs me, I will still give my all for the team. But after this season, I will definitely leave Benfica. Definitely!"
"I cannot continue to play for a club that humiliates, slanders, vilifies, and takes malicious revenge against my son and my family."
"Between my own career and my child, I choose the latter, and I will never regret it!"
In an instant, Portugal’s major media outlets changed their front-page headlines.
"Bombshell! Benfica Captain Requests Transfer, Behind the Scenes Reasons Will Bring You to Tears!"
"Antonio is a Real Man! A True Father!"
"Antonio: Benfica, You Can Mess With Me, But Don’t Mess With My Family!"
"Overweight? The Humiliation on the Youth Report Prompted a National Player to Leave!"
"Good on You, Antonio! Over 80% of Fans Support Antonio’s Decision to Leave!"
"Up to Five Players From Benfica’s First Team Show Their Support for Antonio!"
"A Benfica first-team player, who wished to remain anonymous: The club pays us salaries, but we also hope our families can get respect from the club. Remember, there are many clubs willing to pay us more—our families are one of the reasons we stay!"
"Boavista’s Sports Department staff are making contact with Antonio’s agent!"
"Porto Expresses Interest in Antonio!"
"Braga Supports Antonio and Is Willing to Offer a Significant Contract!"
"Other members of the Veloso family fully support Antonio and his son’s decision, stating: We are now fans of Sporting Lisbon!"
As a father, Antonio’s break with the club over his son was a highly charged affair.
Benfica’s senior management could never have anticipated the issue escalating to this point.
This was no longer just about dismissing a youth player or punishing a first-team player.
This had already injured their youth academy’s foundation.
It also nearly declared in advance their failure to sprint for the Portugal championship this season!
The team captain announced his departure half a season early, which was almost a devastating blow to the morale of a championship-contending team.
A portion of Benfica players aiming for the title thus criticized Anthony.
But there were also those who felt the chill from a distance, defending Anthony on the grounds that everyone has children, and no one wishes to see their child swept out the door and then followed by labels such as "dry trash", "wet trash", "excessive trash".
The atmosphere within Benfica collapsed, and even during training matches, conflicts occurred, resulting in bloodshed.
Benfica’s star, Nuno Gomes, was sent to the hospital for treatment.
But the person who had the conflict with him was not Anthony, but other players who couldn’t stand Gomes.
Because of Anthony’s issue, many other conflicts within the team also started to surface.
Afterwards, some called this conflict "The Bloodshed Sparked by Caesar’s Celebration".
Following this turmoil, many parents began to shake their heads at the mention of Benfica’s youth training.
Many parents who wanted their children to develop in football were now more inclined to send their kids to Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy.
The problem of the quality of recruits that Sporting Lisbon couldn’t solve for years got resolved thanks to Deng Kai’s transfer.
High-ranking officials in Sporting Lisbon began to support Trigella and Deng Kai, considering Deng Kai as the team’s "lucky general".
Ever since they had him, the team’s youth training attracted much attention.
The executives were no longer worried about finding buyers for Simon.
Didn’t Barcelona say they wouldn’t want him if the asking price exceeded ten million euros in the first half of the season?
Now Barcelona is already asking if fifteen million euros will do?
Even at this offer, Sporting Lisbon wasn’t too willing, as there were other buyers inquiring about Simon as well.
They were attracted by Sporting Lisbon U15’s matches and news, but they can’t wait for the day when Ronaldo or Deng Kai mature. After arriving, they could only take a look at Simon, Quaresma, and others.
These players carefully selected and promoted by Sporting Lisbon naturally have their advantages. If you take one look, you’re likely to be moved.
...
February 2.
Sporting Lisbon U15 traveled to challenge Maritimo.
With Deng Kai suspended due to a red card, the match was a tough one for Sporting Lisbon.
Thanks to Ronaldo’s decider in the 83rd minute, they narrowly defeated their opponent with a score of one to zero, continuing their winning streak.
February 9.
Sporting Lisbon continued to play away against Lianar.
In the first half, the returning Deng Kai assisted Ronaldo, with the team leading one to zero.
In the second half, Lianar managed to even the score.
But Wu Xudong, the Chinese newcomer who kept starting due to the right-back Duarte’s injury, repaid Maxa’s faith by delivering a brilliant assist at the last moment.
Deng Kai completed the decider.
The Chinese connection shined in Portugal.
The team won another battle two to one.
February 15.
Sporting Lisbon returned home to face the challenge from Estoril.
Marcelino broke his goal drought.
Ronaldo scored twice, raising his personal tally for league goals to thirty-six this season!
Unrivaled in U15!
In the upcoming match, they would fly to Groningen in the Netherlands, to play their U19 Champions League round of 16 match at Groningen Football Club’s Euroborg Stadium!
It was Groningen’s reward for advancing from the group stage in first place—home advantage.
Considering the U19 Champions League was a single-elimination tournament, this was a great advantage for Groningen.
Moreover, in this team, the Netherlands had a highly anticipated talented winger, Arjen Robben.
Most fans believed that this time, Sporting Lisbon was going to face a setback.
