Chapter 17 What Kind of Person is Wang Lie?
“Oops!”

McNeill, who was arranging a work plan, was attracted by the exclamation of assistant coach Valo. He turned his head and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Wang mentioned it to me and said he wanted to go train with the team this afternoon.”

“Let him go to hell.”

“But I forgot to tell Goetz about this…”

“What’s the problem?” McNeill waved his hand. “Don’t worry about it. We have our work to do. Wang’s physical examination report has come out. His physical ability is indeed not as good as before. The main reason is that the flexibility of his muscles has declined seriously, his movements are a bit stiff, and his explosive power has decreased. It is obviously impossible to expect him to sprint at high speed like he did when he was young. But his strength is still above the standard… We need to consider how to make tactical and training arrangements based on Wang’s current physical ability…”

Cesar Varo also felt that he was worrying too much. Even if he didn’t say hello in advance, what problem could there be?
We are all adults, and Wang Lie is a veteran with a professional career spanning twenty years. What kind of scene has he not seen?

This isn’t his first transfer, either.

I don’t need anyone to teach me how to go to the locker room or how to get to know my new teammates.

So after being reminded by McNeill, he shook his head to get rid of his previous worries and put all his attention on the current work.

※※※

“Uh… I didn’t receive any notice from the coaching staff saying that you would come to training today…” Elliot Goetz was so embarrassed that he didn’t know what to do with his hands. As the captain, he was seen by a new player in the team’s internal strife. He wished he could retire on the spot.

“It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea.” Wang Lie said with a smile.

Thinking of what he saw when he pushed the door open just now, Wang Lie suddenly wondered if McNeil had deliberately not informed the team, just to show him the true status of the team without any disguise.

Did he want me to experience firsthand what the team I was joining was like?

You’re quite brave, you’re not afraid that I’ll run away with the bucket in the middle of the night…

Wang Lie could increasingly understand why McNeill insisted on letting him come.

This messy locker room really needs a tough guy who can calm everyone down.

Current captain Elliot Goetz is clearly not such a person.

Goetz interpreted the smile on Wang Lie’s face as “joking”, which made him even more ashamed. If Wang Lie had only heard it outside the door, he could still pretend not to know and cover it up.

But now someone was standing at the door and saw it clearly. If he could still pretend that this didn’t happen, he would be deceiving himself.

So he could only shake his head and sigh: “I’m so sorry, you just got here and you saw something like this…”

He felt guilty, but Sonny Dean, the instigator, did not think so. Instead, he said to Wang Lie in a sarcastic tone, “It’s okay, Captain. Even if Wang didn’t see it today, he will see it in a few days. Maybe he can even participate in it, right, Wang?”

“Shut up!” If Goetz hadn’t been the captain and couldn’t take the initiative to beat up his teammates, he would have wanted to turn around and punch this bastard.

The other teammates were also speechless. They didn’t expect Dean to directly provoke Wang Lie. They knew that he didn’t like Wang Lie’s joining, but he didn’t even pretend…

This kid has really been let loose since signing with Kensington!
Wang Lie could feel Sonny Dean’s hostility towards him, but he would not be like the young Vitini, who dropped his bag and rushed forward to physically fight with his new teammate.

He seemed to turn a blind eye to Dean’s provocation, still with a smile on his face, and said something that surprised everyone present: “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this. This lively and vibrant scene is much better than the lifeless locker room atmosphere of Sofia United.”

Even Sonny Dean, who wanted to anger Wang Lie, was surprised: “Huh?”

However, he was the fastest to react, snorting coldly: “As expected of a wealthy superstar, your speaking skills are just great, insulting people as well as praising them.”

After he reminded them of this, some people in the locker room began to look at Wang Lie with unfriendly eyes.

Wang Lie waved his hand nonchalantly: “Come on, Dean, calm down. I can smell the sour smell from your whole body in the parking lot.”

Then he said to all the members in the locker room, “I am serious. Although Dean and Vitini had a fight just now, at least they communicated their opinions honestly and fully. In the locker room of Sofo, even if everyone has some ideas in their hearts, they will not speak them out easily. Everyone looks like they have a lot on their mind… Do you know when the locker room of Sofo has been the busiest in the past six months?”

Everyone shook their heads in confusion, thinking that Wang Lie’s question was hilarious – we are Tyne players, how the hell would we know what goes on in the Sofia United locker room!

Fortunately, Wang Lie announced the answer quickly instead of asking everyone to continue guessing with a smile.

He said: “That’s when I was kicked out to the youth team.”

The locker room suddenly became quiet, but the silence was soon broken by a suppressed sneer.

“Ah… sorry…” Hugo Gunduzzi covered his mouth with his hands, looking a little embarrassed – the sneering sound just now was made by him.

Wang Lie didn’t care. He shrugged and said, “Don’t apologize, because I told you this as a joke. Compared with Sofia, I think your team is pretty good. It’s a normal team atmosphere. If you have any opinions, just say it directly. Isn’t that good?”

Goetz really couldn’t tell whether Wang Lie was being sarcastic or speaking from the heart. He could only criticize himself from his own perspective: “No matter what, fighting is wrong…”

Wang Lie patted him on the shoulder and said to him, “Fighting is no big deal. We are all men. If there is a real conflict, it is better to fight than to keep it in your heart and always think of doing bad things behind your back. The most important thing is to be honest and communicate. If you have any opinions, say what you want to say. Only when the problem is spoken out can it be solved.”

Everyone in the Tyne dressing room looked at each other in bewilderment. None of them had expected that this legendary troublemaker, who looked like a peacemaker, was actually so easy to get along with and talk to…

Although there has always been media surrounding Wang Lie throughout his twenty-year career, his every move has been the focus of everyone’s attention.

But in fact, many people are not quite clear about who Wang Lie is, and he seems to be surrounded by layers of fog.

His image is even completely contradictory.

Some people say that he has a bad temper and is overbearing and rude.

Some people say that he is very caring and never refuses fans’ requests.

Some people say that he is unkind and lacks friends.

It is also said that he is very happy to give advice and help to young players.

So as to what kind of person Wang Lie is, every Tyne player must have a different answer in their mind – doesn’t Barnabas think that Wang Lie is a petty person who holds grudges?

However, the Wang Lie standing in front of them at this moment did not seem to be as aggressive, eccentric and eccentric as the previous legends said.

Could it be that after being kicked out of Sofia and having almost nowhere to go, he finally decided to reflect on his past actions and turn over a new leaf?

If that were the case, they wouldn’t have to worry about how to get along with Wang Lie…

Just as the Tyne players were thinking this, Wang Lie said:
“So even though it’s only my first day in our team, I plan to speak my mind and communicate fully and honestly with everyone. Of course, this is also part of my personality. I’m like this, I say what I want to say directly and don’t beat around the bush. So sometimes it’s inevitable that I might give people an offensive feeling…”

Elliot Goetz, who was standing next to Wang Lie, suddenly had a feeling – this man was the captain of the team, but he was not.

“First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Wang Lie, a Chinese player. You can call me Wang or Wang Lie, it’s all fine. But don’t call me ‘Lie Wang’, that doesn’t conform to our Chinese customs. It sounds awkward to me and I can’t react that you are calling me. Just like I won’t follow our country’s custom of putting your surname before your given name, because you are not used to it either. So this is a matter of habit and a matter of mutual respect. I respect your habits and I hope you respect mine.”

This statement is a bit… overbearing, but it is also hard to find fault with it.

Because there is nothing wrong with respecting each other’s habits or respecting each other.

Is there anyone who would stand up and oppose at this time, saying that they just want to disrespect others?

No.

So even the troublemaker Sonny Dean didn’t say anything, but just stared at Wang Lie, trying to figure out what he was up to. In the quiet locker room, Wang Lie continued, “I’m glad to meet you all – in fact, we’ve met and played against each other before, but today is the real formal acquaintance – and I’m glad to join the Tyne team and become teammates with you all. I believe that everyone must have heard many versions of how I came to Tyne in the media and on the Internet, and what I’m going to tell you now is my version:

“On the night I was kicked out to the youth team, I received a call from head coach McNeill, who invited me to join Tyne. He believed that I could still contribute to the team and still be an important member of the team. I hesitated for a few days and then agreed to him. I didn’t ask for too much in terms of personal treatment. The transfer took so many days mainly because my agent was negotiating the termination terms with Sofia United – I didn’t want to compensate them a penny because I didn’t think they deserved to ask me for compensation.”

Before they knew it, the Tyne players were listening intently.

There are many different versions on the Internet about how Wang Lie came to Tyne, and this is indeed a “new version” that they have never heard of.

After all, no media outlet could know the details of the phone call between their head coach Sam McNeill and Wang Lie…

“That’s the thing. The head coach and I both think that I can still contribute to the Tyne team and I can still do a lot for the team. It’s my honor. So, I’m not here to retire – how can you stay in the Premier League to retire? If I want to retire, why don’t I go back to China? More money, less work, close to home, more perfect job. But I still choose to stay in the Premier League, why?”

Wang Lie glanced at the whole room and noticed that Vitini’s lips were moving, as if he wanted to speak.

But he didn’t give the Brazilian a chance to answer, instead he answered himself:
“Because I am unwilling to leave England and Europe as a loser. I haven’t won enough. So…” Wang Lie paused, then raised three fingers.

“To be honest, I came here to do three things: Win. Win. And freaking win!”

His words caused quite a stir in the locker room.

Wang Lie didn’t care and continued to talk:
“I can give everything to win. I will train hard and try my best in the game. Of course, I also know that football is a team sport and it is not enough for me to do it alone. So I will continue to train hard with you and try my best in the game.”

When he said this, he stared straight at the other players in the locker room, his eyes full of fire, without any evasion.

On the contrary, other Tyne players felt very uncomfortable with such hot and undisguised gazes, and some of them couldn’t help but look away.

Wang Lie didn’t feel embarrassed at all. He continued, “I will pull all of you forward together and will not stop until we reach our goal. Don’t think I’m joking with you. I promise that every word I said just now is from the heart. I mean it. I don’t care what you think in your hearts. I will do this. I will tie all of you together and bundle you into a whole. Then we will rush forward together and win together.”

Since just now, Wang Lie has been observing the expressions of his new teammates in the locker room. Some of them were obviously excited when they heard him say this, some looked numb, and some were obviously a little panicked…

So Wang Lie stared at the panicked Sonny Dean and grinned:

“This is what I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart. I will say this and do this. I don’t know if you can accept it. But it doesn’t matter. If you can accept it, of course it will be better, and I can save some energy. If you can’t accept it… you have to accept it. Don’t worry, even if I have to drag you, I will drag you to the finish line. Even if you are dragged to pieces and bloody, I will not stop because you scream in pain. If you want to suffer less, then try to keep up with me and run.”

※※※

After introducing himself, Wang Lie did not continue to greet or chat with his new teammates to build relationships.

He changed his clothes quickly and went straight out.

No one asked him where he was going – even though he had never been teammates with Wang Lie before, he had seen various reports about Wang Lie in the media, so he knew that Wang Lie went out to train and warm up in advance. This has been his habit for many years.

He is the first one to arrive at training and the last one to leave after training.

Sometimes you might not even see him in the locker room for several days in a row, because he would always change his clothes and go out of the locker room before the whole team arrived. Only after the whole team left would he return to the locker room from the training ground to change his clothes and shower alone.

Today, everyone had a fight in the locker room before seeing Wang Lie. This can indeed prove that Wang Lie really decided to come to training this afternoon on a whim…

As he left, the stagnant air in the locker room loosened somewhat.

Tyne’s players seemed to come alive and could finally breathe deeply and speak freely.

Sonny Dean jumped out first, still with the familiar yin-yang tone: “What nonsense is he talking about? Who does he think he is?!”

Brazilian teenager Vitini, who was at odds with him, retorted without showing any weakness: “He is Wang Lie, the two-time Ballon d’Or winner! He is also the current top scorer, the current Champions League top scorer, the national team’s all-time top scorer, and he is a seven-time champion! Who do you think you are?”

Dean was eager to try: “Ha! What? You still want to fight me? Come on!”

Vitini snorted, “Sorry, I don’t have the time for that right now. I have to try to keep up with the king!”

After saying that, he had already changed into his jersey and ran out of the locker room to chase his idol.

“Tsk! Idiot at the top!” Dean snorted in dissatisfaction, then turned to complain to Captain Gotz: “Wang just got here, and he looks more like a captain. It’s obvious that he doesn’t take you seriously, Captain.”

Goetz retorted with a dark face: “You don’t take me seriously either!”

Dean didn’t care at all and still had a playful smile on his face: “Captain, do you really believe what Wang said? I mean, he wants to drag our entire team to fight together…”

“It doesn’t matter if I believe it or not. He doesn’t need me to believe it, he will do it himself.” Elliot Goetz said, and then he turned to the whole team. “I think Wang is right in one point. All of us must work harder than before. We must try our best in training and in the game. I know that there are many bad things about us in the outside world. I hope everyone can remember that before you leave, we are still a team.”

I don’t know how many people in the locker room took his words to heart. Everyone just kept doing their own things and few responded to their captain.

The team’s main central defender Hugo Guendouzi was whispering to his partner Matej Katic:
“It really opened my eyes. He really expressed his thoughts fully and frankly… But he is a newcomer who just transferred here. I thought he had played for this team for many years…”

Katic smiled and said: “Although I have never been a teammate of Wang, his attitude of looking down on everyone is exactly the same as when he was in La Liga. It has not changed at all. I thought he would become more and more peaceful as he grows older, just like me…”

Barnabas asked him, “Are you worried that the king will cause trouble for you?”

Katich glanced at Sonny Dean and whispered, “Why worry? I have never been lazy in training or in competitions.”

※※※

Before Wang Lie even reached the training ground, he heard someone behind him calling him, “Wang! Wang!”

He turned around and found that it was the Brazilian young player Vitini in the team, so he stopped and waited for him.

When Vitini saw Wang Lie waiting for him, he immediately jogged a few steps and sped up to catch up.

After catching up with Wang Lie, he grinned, showing his big white teeth, and laughed happily: “Are you going to warm up in advance? I’ll go with you! I know this is your habit, please take me with you when you do this next time!”

Wang Lie looked the Brazilian boy up and down. He was quite impressed by him because Vitini had said more than once that his most admired football star was Wang Lie.

These remarks also caused him controversy online.

Because he is a Brazilian, he does not worship his compatriot and senior Ronil, but worships a Chinese player, who is also Ronil’s competitor. Although Ronil’s fans have always claimed that Wang Lie is not worthy of being compared with their idol, they are also particularly hostile to Wang Lie. When Vitini said that Wang Lie was his idol, many Ronil fans broke down, and Vitini also suffered a lot of public pressure.

However, despite such great pressure, Vitini did not change his mind and continued to express his admiration for Wang Lie in public many times.

It is worth mentioning that after Wang Lie’s farewell letter to Sofia fans was published, Vitini liked and forwarded it immediately, and praised Wang Lie as an eternal legend in the forwarding.

The position is quite firm.

This enthusiasm made Wang Lie doubt that the boy in front of him might have been misled by the media propaganda and had some fan filter for him. He didn’t know if he would still like him after he really spent time with him day and night…

Don’t you like dragons?
The dragon is coming to you now.

We’ll see whether you really like dragons or not.

Wang Lie smiled and nodded at him: “Then you have to work hard. Don’t blame me for not reminding you. It’s very hard to practice with me.”

Vitini showed no sign of weakness: “That’s exactly what I want! I want to be like you!”

Wang Lie hooked his finger at him: “Come on, let’s warm up together first.”

(End of this chapter)