Chapter 1 China's Pride

China's Olympic team winning the gold medal was the biggest news in the country that day.

The Chinese team's Olympic victory was unexpected, making the surprise all the more intense.

The next day, all major domestic newspapers covered the game extensively, and even the story of the hat was dug up by the media. Reporters found the fan who threw the hat to Guo Bing, the leader of the national Olympic team, after the game. The national Olympic team returned the hat to him after the game, with the signatures of all the players. Head Coach Blazevic also wrote a thank you note to the fan in English inside the hat.

The fan who lent the hat told reporters that he simply wanted to do something for the national Olympic team and never expected the hat to return to his hands with so much more. He said he would never wear the hat again and would keep it as a permanent collection.

Some fans even jokingly called the hat a "Meritorious Hat"...

Everyone was praising the Chinese team in various ways, and most people didn't see anything wrong with it.

Of course, there were a few people who insisted on showing off their presence at this time, saying that winning an Olympic championship that traditional football powerhouses didn't value was like winning the World Cup. Such revelry only showed how embarrassing it was.

As a result, people who held this view and tried to show off their presence were cursed so badly that they couldn't take care of themselves.

In this time of national celebration, anyone who insists on showing off their superiority with a cool head is against the people.

Last year's Asian Cup also made fans happy throughout the process, but the final result was not perfect. The Chinese team lost the final and only won the second place. Although the performance was very good, in the football sport that values results more, the second place means failure. So the atmosphere in the country was definitely not as hot as it is now.

※※※

A day later, the entire Chinese Olympic team participated in the closing ceremony of the London Olympics, which somewhat made up for their regret of not participating in the opening ceremony. At that time, the national Olympic team was preparing for the second Olympic group match, and they didn't have the time or energy to participate in the opening ceremony.

So, they missed the highly anticipated opening ceremony, and no one cared about the absence of the national Olympic team in the opening ceremony delegation. After all, Chinese football is mostly the abandoned child of the Chinese people, and they only remember it when they need to vent their emotions and swear, just like a spittoon. When you don't need it, it's always placed in a dark and smelly corner of the toilet, and you only think of taking it out when you need to spit.

But as the Olympic Games progressed, the Chinese Olympic team used their actual performance to bring everyone's attention and attention back to them.

Starting from the knockout round against South Korea, the national Olympic team has been the focus of everyone's discussion and attention.

All the way to winning the gold medal in the final, the national Olympic team suddenly became the hero of the Chinese people.

This time, participating in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, they were also the focus of everyone's attention, and the TV broadcast gave the national Olympic team players many shots.

In the camera, the players of the national Olympic team smiled happily.

After participating in the closing ceremony, the national Olympic team will return to China in batches with the Olympic delegation. It is believed that at that time, a large number of fans will definitely go to the scene to welcome them at the Capital International Airport.

Subsequently, according to the Chinese Olympic delegation's practice, athletes who perform well in the Olympic Games will participate in the tour activities in Hong Kong, Macao and other places as representatives of outstanding athletes.

As an outstanding collective of the Chinese delegation at this Olympic Games, the national Olympic team will definitely have someone as a representative to participate in it.

But this representative will definitely not be any one of the Five Little Dragons.

Because after the end of the Olympic Games, it is not far from the start of the European leagues. The Five Little Dragons play in the Bundesliga, La Liga and Serie A respectively.

The first round of the new season's Bundesliga is on August 24, with Dortmund playing against Werder Bremen at home.

The first round of Serie A is one day later than the Bundesliga. Guo Nu's Cesena will debut on August 27, playing against Sassuolo at home.

The first round of La Liga is even earlier, starting on August 18. Because the loan agreement between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid was for two years, Sun Pan will continue to play for Atletico Madrid in the new season. On August 19, Atletico Madrid will challenge Levante away.

He Ying's problem is a bit complicated. He was loaned to Valladolid by Barcelona last season and performed very well. Now that his loan contract has expired, it is said that Valladolid hopes to buy him out, but now Barcelona does not want to let him go. During the Olympic Games, there was news that Barcelona would transfer He Ying to the first team. At the same time, many clubs in the transfer market are interested in He Ying, especially after his outstanding performance in the Olympic Games, he does not have to worry about finding a new home.

So now no one knows which team He Ying will play for next season.

Since the end of the Olympic Games is already August 12, less than a week from La Liga, these overseas players who participated in the Olympic Games must return to their respective teams to train, cooperate with the team, and prepare for the new season. How can they have time to follow the Olympic delegation to tour around?

This kind of high-profile treatment falls on the heads of domestic players. The Five Little Dragons will not even return to China with the national Olympic team. They will go directly from the United Kingdom to their respective teams to avoid the back and forth of flying back to Europe after returning to China.

※※※

The main force of the national Olympic team returned to China with the delegation, and the Five Little Dragons who stayed overseas also returned to their teams.

He Ying sat on the plane from London back to Barcelona, supporting his chin with his hand, turning his head to look at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window in a daze.

He remembered a long talk he had with Zhou Yi before leaving London, about his future and Zhou Yi's future.

…

"I don't really recommend you stay in Barcelona, He Ying," Zhou Yi said. "You've basically wasted this season's pre-season training. You haven't trained with the Barcelona first team, which will definitely affect your performance in the new season and will make Vilanova doubt your state. I don't think you'll be able to play much in the first team for a while."

"Although not everyone can be a substitute in Barcelona, I don't think it makes any sense for you right now," Zhou Yi continued. "You've already tasted the benefits of playing in Valladolid, and you shouldn't go back to a state where you can't play. If your outstanding performance in Valladolid is just to let you go from La Masia to the Barcelona first team to sit on the bench, I don't think it makes any sense."

He Ying didn't speak, listening quietly with his head down.

"I know you're a Barcelona fan, and you definitely want to play in Barcelona. So I suggest you take a roundabout route. Don't worry about whether you can play in Barcelona now. Go out first, go to a team that can guarantee you playing time, play stably, quickly improve your strength, and accumulate enough experience and fame. One day, when you return to the Barcelona first team, you will be a starting player. And now, in the first team, you can only be a substitute for Messi and the others, which is meaningless."

He Ying raised his head: "So do you think I should be loaned or transferred?"

Zhou Yi said: "I think if you want to have greater development, a permanent transfer is the best."

Hearing Zhou Yi say this, He Ying lowered his head again, silent, and fell into silence again.

Zhou Yi knew that He Ying was hesitating. After all, his dream was to play in the Barcelona first team and become a real Barcelona player. Now he has to permanently transfer away from Barcelona. Who can easily accept it?

Zhou Yi decided to say so much. It's meaningless to say more. Whether it's a transfer or a loan, it's He Ying's own decision. He can only provide suggestions, but he can't make the decision for He Ying.

So he said: "Of course, these are just my own opinions. You can refer to them, but you don't necessarily have to listen to me. You can also choose to stay in Barcelona. At most, the competition will be more intense."

Hearing this, He Ying nodded: "Understood, I will consider it carefully. Thank you, Zhou Yi."

"You're welcome, friends should help each other. If you have any questions, just say them." Zhou Yi waved his hand with a smile.

Seeing Zhou Yi's smile, He Ying suddenly thought of something, so he asked: "What about you, Zhou Yi, will you leave Dortmund this summer?"

Before the Olympic Games, there were many rumors about Zhou Yi's transfer. After Dortmund let go of Kagawa Shinji, it really looked like the kind of unmotivated club. Can such a team keep the radiant Zhou Yi? It's very doubtful…

But at that time, Zhou Yi made it clear internally and externally that he didn't care about the transfer during the Olympic Games. Any transfer news would be announced after the end of the Olympic Games.

So although various rumors about Zhou Yi's transfer were flying around as the Olympic Games progressed, Zhou Yi really didn't respond to any of them.

Some media speculated whether Zhou Yi had reached some agreement privately and was waiting to announce it as soon as the Olympic Games ended. Otherwise, how could he be so calm?

Facing He Ying's sudden attack, Zhou Yi calmly shook his head: "No, I will not leave Dortmund."

"Why? I don't think Dortmund can keep you anymore." He Ying was a little surprised. "With your ability, you can go to a bigger team, to a real giant, to compete for the Champions League title."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "I can also compete for the Champions League title in Dortmund. We can also participate in the new season's Champions League, you know!"

"I'm telling you the truth, Zhou Yi, don't think I'm saying something unpleasant. But I don't think Dortmund has the strength to win the Champions League." He Ying said.

"I don't think so. Look, the season before last, we were in the Champions League quarter-finals, and last season we were in the Champions League semi-finals. We're improving every year." Zhou Yi was quite optimistic.

"But that doesn't mean you can reach the final and become the final two this season, does it?"

"Why not?" Zhou Yi spread his hands. "According to the rules of arithmetic progression, I think it's entirely possible!"

"What does this have to do with arithmetic progression!" He Ying couldn't help but complain.

"Quarter-finals, semi-finals, finals, eight, four, two, arithmetic progression." Zhou Yi gestured with his fingers. "A sequence in which the difference between each term and its preceding term is a constant..."

He Ying quickly interrupted him: "No, no, no, don't make up the numbers."

"Okay." Zhou Yi shrugged.

"Kagawa Shinji is gone. Does that have a big impact on Dortmund?" He Ying asked.

"There must be some impact. But it's also quite normal. The key is...isn't it that I didn't leave?" Zhou Yi smiled.

He Ying didn't know if Zhou Yi was really confident or just joking.

But it seems that Zhou Yi has a very clear plan for his future. At least he won't leave Dortmund this summer.

In fact, sometimes I really envy people who clearly know what they want to do and how to do it…

Maybe Zhou Yi is never confused about his future?

Withdrawing from his memories, He Ying returned to the plane.

The cabin rang with an announcement. Barcelona was below the clouds, and the plane was preparing to land.

Zhou Yi's career has been successful so far, which should be related to his clear understanding of what he wants.

So what does he want?

Is it the title of "Barcelona player"? Or to become a star like Zhou Yi who is sought after by European giants?

The plane began to descend, bringing some weightlessness, as if falling from the clouds.

In the slight weightlessness, He Ying realized that this time, he had to truly face his future, and there was no longer any reason to escape.

Should he stay in Barcelona and compete? Or leave this city he once dreamed of completely?