Chapter 132: Stone Hammer Pig Association! Paying Money To Join The National Team Was Exposed!

After the Golden Week holiday, the entire country has returned to intense and busy work. On October 8th, at the Football Association Headquarters in the Shidong International Building, Chaoyang District, Beijing, football reporters and sports media from all over gathered. The press conference hall was packed, buzzing with excitement as everyone waited for the spokespersons from the Football Association and the national team.

During the wait, the reporters chatted amongst themselves.

"Is this press conference just to announce the squad for the match against Uzbekistan? Is it really necessary?"

"Haven't you heard? It's mainly about Su Luo this time..."

"Really? What's the point of bringing Su Luo back now? The top 12 matches are almost over."

"Maybe he can turn things around."

"Seriously, where was the Football Association earlier? What a bunch of..."

Just as a reporter was venting his frustrations, a group of officials in suits walked past him. Among them were Hong Chen, the deputy head of the Football Association, Liu Dianqiu, the national team leader, and Alain Perrin, the national football coach.

The reporter, realizing who had overheard him, saw Deputy Head Hong Chen frown. But the reporter thought, so what if he heard? They deserve it for letting the national team fall to this state! Maybe in the next few years, these officials will be out of their jobs!

Finally, the officials took their seats at the speaking table, and the press conference officially began. They first apologized for the national team's poor performance in the top 12 matches, with 1 draw and 2 losses.

Coach Perrin spoke with a tone of helplessness. "We had hoped to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, but the performance in these three games was unfortunate. To be honest, I can't control many factors... Yes, like luck, our luck has been terrible."

The media sensed Perrin was close to revealing more than he should. He had hinted before that the Football Association held too much power over player selection, and as the national team's coach, he had no real authority in choosing his squad. The Football Association recommended players who couldn't even make their club teams. Selection was based on factors other than ability, which Perrin found baffling until the end of his tenure. Fortunately, he didn't publicly expose these issues, attributing the failure to bad luck instead.

After summarizing the previous defeats, the national team announced the squad for the upcoming match against Uzbekistan. The usual names were there: Wu Lei, Yu Hai, Yu Dabao, Gao Ling, and Yang Xu. But once again, no Su Luo.

During the free question-and-answer session, a reporter couldn't resist raising his hand. "Su Luo has been a core player in the Bundesliga for the past two years, leading a newly promoted team to win the Bundesliga double and setting numerous records. He's one of the hottest players in Europe. Why hasn't the national team chosen to recruit him?"

Everyone's eyes turned to the officials. Deputy Head Hong Chen's face turned pale, and he looked at the team leader, who then glanced at Coach Perrin. Perrin, understanding he was the scapegoat here, had no choice but to respond.

"Indeed, Su Luo is currently the best Asian player in the European league and incredibly talented. However, his personal life is chaotic; he often goes to nightclubs and doesn't adhere to team discipline. When he was in the National Youth League, he was expelled for going to a nightclub. The national football team needs disciplined players. No matter how skilled they are, players who disobey management cannot represent the country."

Team leader Liu Dianqiu added, "We contacted Union Berlin and Su Luo's agent before. But Su Luo, relying on his status as a Bundesliga champion, had a bad attitude when communicating with the Football Association. We tried to recruit him, but he refused to heed the call of the motherland. Such unorganized and undisciplined players cannot represent the country."

The room erupted in whispers. It seemed the national team had indeed tried to recruit Su Luo. But something felt off.

After the press conference, the news quickly sparked controversy on Weibo. Some fans who usually disliked Su Luo seized the opportunity.

"Playing abroad for so long, does he think he's above everyone else?"

"I knew it. What good can come from a player who goes to nightclubs every day?"

"Don't expect much. His form will decline in two years."

"Just a Bundesliga champion, and he's acting all high and mighty?"

However, these voices were quickly drowned out. Most fans had seen Su Luo play and knew how dedicated he was. They couldn't believe the Football Association's portrayal of him. When he was in the National Youth League, he had risked his life for the honor of his country. How could he have changed so much in two and a half years?

"Have these critics even watched him play?"

"It's just mindless bashing. Anyone who has seen Su Luo play wouldn't say that."

"It's crazy that while Japan and South Korea recognize him as Asia's best, his own country belittles him."

"Does Su Luo need defending? Even if he goes to nightclubs, so what? Do other national team players not go to nightclubs?"

As the debate raged on Weibo, Su Luo himself finally spoke out. He didn't say much, but he released a recording of a conversation between his agent, Mino Raiola, and a Football Association contact.

"...So, your country's football association really wants Su Luo to join the national team? That's great. Su Luo is eager to play for his country and can respond to the national call at any time."

"That's good to hear, Mr. Raiola. The conditions discussed before are still valid. As long as the management fee is paid, arrangements can be made soon. There's also a chance to play in the top 12..."

"Wait, I thought it was a joke. To join the national team and get a starting position, it costs 3 million?"

"With Su Luo's salary, this management fee shouldn't be a big deal, right? We don't care about the money; it's just a security deposit. We hope he can obey the organization..."

"This is too ridiculous. In any national team, such a thing is unacceptable. I can speak for Su Luo: we cannot accept this."

The recording, less than two minutes long, sent shockwaves through the netizens. Many were hearing for the first time that one had to pay to join the national team. It turned out that selection wasn't based on ability but on money?

Those who had doubts about Su Luo before now turned their anger towards the Football Association and the national team, blaming them for the national team's failures over the years. Netizens didn't want Su Luo to join the national team now, fearing he would be tainted by the toxic atmosphere.

"No wonder we haven't been able to play well for so many years! The national team is a joke!"

"I've known about this since 2005... Nothing has changed."

"Su Luo, don't come back! Stay away!"

"It's rotten to the core!"

"In other countries, poor kids play football to change their destiny. Here, you need money to play football!"

"The national team is finished. Just disband it."

"They should investigate thoroughly! No one in the Football Association is clean. Arrest them all!"

As fate would have it, this netizen's words came true. After some officials were arrested, the Football Association initially tried to blame Su Luo, hoping to deflect fans' anger. But Su Luo fought back fiercely, silencing the Football Association and shifting public opinion in his favor.

The backlash from fans was overwhelming, flooding social media platforms like Weibo, Zhihu, Douban, and Tieba. However, posts related to Su Luo and the Football Association were quickly deleted. Searching for information on the incident only yielded a message: "According to relevant laws, regulations, and policies, some search results are not displayed."

Meanwhile, entertainment news took over the hot searches, diverting attention from the Su Luo incident. But loyal fans of Su Luo would not forget. His Weibo followers grew from 20 million to over 35 million in less than a week, nearing the 40 million mark. Messages of support flooded his account, with fans expressing their admiration and disappointment in the Football Association.

"Those who criticize him, have they even watched him play?"

"It's just mindless hate. Anyone who has seen Su Luo play wouldn't say that."

"Japan and South Korea recognize him as Asia's best, yet his own country belittles him."

"Even if he goes to nightclubs, so what? Do other national team players not go to nightclubs?"

Flashback to National Day

During the National Day holiday, while his international teammates were playing in international matches, Su Luo enjoyed some rare leisure time with Josephine. They spent three days together, visiting the Seine and drinking coffee on the Left Bank. Su Luo and Erica also traveled to Vienna, walking the streets like in the movie "Before Sunrise." Thankfully, Taylor Swift was far away in Los Angeles, or Su Luo's schedule would have been even tighter. Balancing time with two beauties in three days was as exhausting as a 120-minute overtime game.

One day, while Su Luo and Erica were about to get intimate in a hotel, Mino Raiola's phone call interrupted them.

"...That's what your Football Association liaison said. Do you want to join? If you really want to, I can personally pay the 3 million RMB to help you."

Raiola, ever loyal, left the decision to Su Luo after explaining the situation. Su Luo pondered for a long time. Wearing the national team's jersey and serving the country should be a sacred honor. Why should it be tainted by corruption? Even if he paid 3 million, it would be hard for him to help the national team in his own way unless he bowed to those who didn't understand football.

"Sorry, I can't do that. I'm willing to play football for the fans and the flag on my chest. But I can't play for those corrupted by greed. Maybe one day, if the environment truly changes for the better, even if I'm 40, I'll come back to play."

"Understood. Leave the rest to me. You focus on training and playing well," Raiola replied, hanging up the phone.

Erica noticed Su Luo leaning against the bedside, lost in thought. Since Raiola was practicing his Chinese, Erica couldn't understand their conversation. She had never seen Su Luo so confused before. But soon, his eyes cleared, as if he had figured things out.

"Nothing. Let's continue," he said.

"Huh? Wait a minute... Oh!"

Back to Training

A few days later, when Union Berlin's teammates returned to the club, they noticed Su Luo seemed very tired.

Kimmich couldn't help but admire him, "Worthy of being the captain. While we were playing in the national team, he was still training hard. He's a true role model!"

"That's right. No wonder Su is so strong. It's all because of his hard training!" Pavard added with admiration.

"We should learn from the captain and work harder!" Forsberg said enthusiastically.

Su Luo didn't know what to say. Everyone seemed to have misunderstood his tiredness. It wasn't because of training...

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