Chapter 1 When the Saint Petersburg Media Discovered the News

When reporters from the Saint Petersburg media discovered this press release on the Napoli club's official website, they could hardly believe it—the team's absolute mainstay, its core striker, had been quietly sold off just like that!

At first, they thought it was a mistake, but soon after, on the same evening, Saint Petersburg Zenit's official website also published a press release with almost identical content.

"...We are very pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with the Italian club Napoli. Chen Hero will transfer to Napoli on July 1, 2008..."

The only difference was that, at the end of the article, the club thanked Chen Hero for his contributions to the team over the past three seasons.

"...We thank him for his contributions to the team in the 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons, thank him for his goals, and thank him for helping the team achieve victory. The club wishes him all the best in Naples and continued success in scoring goals..."

A very official article, even the thanks didn't sound like thanks, but more like a perfunctory, routine matter.

Actually, it was a little awkward to release such news now, because Chen Hero was still on the team... But in order to uniformly respond to the sudden increase in interest from clubs interested in Chen Hero recently, Zenit had no choice but to do so on the official website.

These words seemed emotionless, but every word was soaked in Sasonia's blood and tears!

It was to tell those later clubs: "You're all late! Stop thinking about Chen Hero! Damn it!"

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Even Saint Petersburg Zenit's official website had announced the news, so it was definitely true!

Saint Petersburg Zenit had really sold their star striker!

Although everyone had been saying that Chen Hero was likely to leave Saint Petersburg Zenit, the Saint Petersburg media still didn't want it to be true. They still harbored illusions—that one day they would wake up to a phone call from their editor-in-chief: "The press conference for Zenit and Chen Hero's contract renewal is about to start! What the hell are you still doing in bed?!"

Unfortunately, what they received was the definite news of Chen Hero leaving Zenit.

For Zenit fans, this period of time was like riding a roller coaster—they had just experienced the sadness of Arshavin's transfer to Napoli, and then the team crushed Bayern Munich 4-0 at home, proudly entering the UEFA Cup final. Before this ecstasy could last for even a day, before they even had time to laugh at this joy, they saw the news that Chen Hero was following Arshavin to Napoli... The excitement of reaching the final and defeating Bayern Munich was immediately diluted.

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The number of people coming to the Yudeney Park training base the next day obviously increased. The media wanted to hear the club talk about the specific transfer matters. What they cared most about was Chen Hero's transfer fee. How much was such a prolific and combative striker worth?

The fans came to express their dissatisfaction with the club and Chen Hero.

They were dissatisfied that the club had really let Chen Hero go, and they were also dissatisfied that Chen Hero was "ungrateful" and ruthless.

They hoped that Chen Hero could renew his contract with the club and ultimately stay with Zenit, continuing to create the glory that belonged to Saint Petersburg. Because there was still the Champions League to play in the second half of the season. Zenit fans had been looking forward to this Champions League qualification for a long time.

But now that Chen Hero was gone, their expectations were greatly reduced.

Some extreme fans held up banners at the training ground, denouncing Chen Hero's betrayal.

"Get out of Saint Petersburg, Chink!!"

"Zenit doesn't need traitors!"

They completely forgot that just a day before, Chen Hero had helped Zenit eliminate Bayern Munich and historically reach the European war final for the first time.

Facing such slogans was truly heartbreaking. Once Zenit's hero, he had now become the target of fans' abuse.

His teammates were worried about whether Chen Hero could withstand such a change, so the atmosphere within the team was a little depressed that day.

Of course, Chen Hero also saw the banner.

The first person to come and comfort him was Arshavin. Perhaps thinking about the situation he was about to face, Arshavin felt a sense of shared suffering with Chen Hero.

"Don't take it to heart, Hero. Fans are always so black and white, and... they will understand you sooner or later."

Chen Hero smiled at Arshavin: "I know, Shava. I'm not taking it to heart."

Arshavin patted him on his broad back, hoping that this kid really didn't take it to heart as he said.

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The news of Chen Hero's transfer to Napoli attracted countless eyes, both in the Russian media and the Chinese media, who paid close attention to this matter.

Especially the Chinese media.

You should know that Chen Hero was not the first Chinese player to land in Serie A. Before him, there was a senior named Ma Mingyu, who joined Perugia that year and was the first Chinese player to join a Serie A team. But unfortunately, he never appeared in Serie A on behalf of Perugia.

So Chen Hero had the hope of challenging the honor of "the first Chinese player to appear in Serie A."

Since 1989, China's national television station, CCTV, has been broadcasting the Italian Serie A league for nineteen consecutive years, cultivating a large number of Serie A fans in China. Many people who have now entered the workforce grew up watching CCTV's Serie A football broadcasts during their student days. Therefore, among Chinese fans, there is a special Serie A complex. Nowadays, the level and influence of Serie A are getting worse year by year, but its influence in China is still very large.

It can be said that the happiest people about Chen Hero's transfer to Napoli in Serie A were the Chinese fans and reporters. Because they could watch Chen Hero's games every weekend in the evening. Chinese fans at home would also end the embarrassing history of not being able to see Chen Hero's games live in the first time, so they could enjoy Chen Hero's wonderful goals live.

Some Serie A fans were even looking forward to—whether Chen Hero's arrival could make the new generation of domestic fans interested in Serie A, so that Serie A could rejuvenate in China?

Of course, there were also disappointed people, such as those supporters of La Liga, the Premier League, and the Bundesliga, who had previously hoped that Chen Hero could play for their favorite team. The love for the team and the love for Chen Hero could overlap, and the joy would be doubled. Now that hope was shattered...

Similar comments also appeared in China, such as "What's so good about Napoli? It's just a promoted team?" "Chen Hero must have had his brains caught in the door to go to a small team like Napoli" "Hero should obviously go to a giant team, a giant team! If not, he has to go to a Premier League team!"...

But no matter what the voices were, they couldn't stop the fact that Chen Hero was going to Napoli.

The Chinese media wanted to figure out why Chen Hero signed with Napoli, while the Saint Petersburg media wanted to know how Chen Hero would face the fans' scolding...

The match against Moscow CSKA was imminent. Would the fans' criticism of him at this time affect his emotions and thus affect his condition?

As soon as the training ended, Chen Hero was surrounded by reporters from both sides.

Countless microphones, mobile phones, and recorders were pointed at Chen Hero, and everyone threw questions at him.

"Why Napoli? What attracted you to Napoli, Hero?"

"Is it too cruel to the fans to make the decision to leave the team in advance?"

"Now that you have confirmed the transfer, how much of your heart is still left in the current Zenit?"

……

Chen Hero raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. He couldn't say anything with so much noise.

Everyone was very obedient. Seeing his gesture, they closed their mouths. Everyone looked at him, waiting for his answer.

Chen Hero cleared his throat.

"Why choose Napoli? First of all, I can only choose Napoli, because the club didn't give me any other options. Secondly, Napoli is a team with ambition, and I think I can do something big together."

The reporters were about to ask questions again, but seeing them open their mouths, Chen Hero raised his hand again. Those people's questions were stifled back, and each of them looked very uncomfortable.

"I admit that leaving Zenit like this is cruel to the fans. I don't beg for their forgiveness, because they have the right to criticize me. I just want to tell the Zenit fans—I love you, I love this team! There is no doubt about this..."

"How do you prove it!"

In addition to the reporters, there were also Saint Petersburg Zenit fans surrounding Chen Hero at this time.

Someone shouted loudly after hearing Chen Hero say this. They had seen too many such empty words, and they wouldn't be easily fooled!

Chen Hero didn't know who asked the question, he just answered along: "It's very simple, score goals! I will answer you with goals, to prove my love for Saint Petersburg Zenit! I am a striker, except for scoring goals... I can't do anything else. So I can only use goals to prove myself, to prove that I am not an ungrateful bastard! I will prove to you my love for Zenit... By the way, the game against CSKA is the day after tomorrow, right?"

He asked to the side.

Someone nodded and replied, "That's right!"

"Very good, then use the match against CSKA as the first proof, let CSKA witness my feelings for Zenit!"

Moscow CSKA cried—Can you please let us go! We are shot in every position! What does your grievances with Zenit fans have to do with us...

Chen Hero raised his arm and held up four fingers.

"From the eighth round of the league to the eleventh round of the league, there are four games left. Four games, four proofs. Use goals! Use more goals!!"

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ps, I use updates and good-looking enjoyable stories to prove it, what about you guys?