Chapter 104 The Defending Bundesliga Champion In The New Season!
Su Luo was thrilled with his previous double draw. To his surprise, he drew another "double yolk egg"!
This time, alongside the "four-star" player Giroud, there was a five-star player: Modric!
Giroud, likely a possessive character, could help in crucial moments by taking over and competing for headers. But what about Modric?
In a possessed state, Modric would offer a range of abilities: defensive positioning, midfield organization, precise passing, and even long-range goals. With his spiritual attributes and honors, Modric was undoubtedly superior to De Bruyne. He was the Ballon d'Or winner and the world's best midfielder!
Drawing such a role could be a game-changer. Su Luo wondered if Modric's presence would be more passive, enhancing his overall abilities without taking direct control.
To test his theory, Su Luo called out the other sparring players and started a match in the illusion: Bayern Munich vs. Union Berlin. Modric, Ronaldo, and Inzaghi were on the opposite side, while De Bruyne, Haaland, and Su Luo were on the same team.
The result was a crushing defeat. With Modric's support, Ronaldo and Inzaghi were unstoppable, scoring four goals in quick succession. Su Luo and Haaland managed to score only two.
After 30 minutes of intense play, Su Luo collapsed on the grass, gasping for breath but excited. Modric's influence was indeed a passive aura that greatly enhanced his abilities. It also stacked with Inzaghi's, raising Su Luo's game to a new level. He could now play with a strategic perspective, fully aware of all movements on the field. His passing, dribbling, ball protection, long shots, and positioning had all improved significantly.
If Su Luo's skill level was initially at 75, Modric's aura had pushed him beyond 80, making him a true world-class player. However, there was a downside. The more significant the gap in strength, the greater the physical and mental toll. Playing for 30 minutes felt like playing for 60.
Despite the side effects, Su Luo was delighted. Trading some physical and mental energy for Modric and Inzaghi's abilities was worth it. With this newfound confidence, Su Luo was ready for the Champions League. His opponents were in for a surprise!
On the first day of training camp, Su Luo was photographed at a nightclub again. The local Munich media, Süddeutsche Zeitung, planned to criticize his professionalism and stir public opinion. But in Berlin, fans were used to Su Luo's nightlife.
"Su went to the nightclub again? Great! It shows he's full of energy for the new season," one fan said.
"Not bad. Su Luo looks in good shape," another added.
"Going to nightclubs before the season starts means Su will perform even better!" a third fan chimed in.
Berlin fans were optimistic about Su Luo's form for the new season, leaving the editorial team at Süddeutsche Zeitung stunned. Shouldn't players be criticized for frequenting nightclubs?
This incident sparked anticipation for the new Bundesliga season among major media outlets. Germany's most respected football publication, Kicker, analyzed Union Berlin's prospects.
"Union Berlin remains a strong contender for the championship. However, the team has lost three key players. If they fail to recruit players of the same caliber, the three-front battle will wear them down," Kicker wrote.
"Grealish's departure has little impact, but losing Sabitzer and Trippier is a significant blow to the not-so-rich club. They must bring in high-level players within their transfer budget. This will test the management's vision."
"Su Luo, the Bundesliga superstar, needs to transform into a world superstar. Last season, he scored 60 goals, and all teams will analyze his flaws. While Su Luo can play God at critical moments, his ability to perform consistently is crucial. Union Berlin can't rely solely on him to score; they need multiple scoring threats to reach a higher level."
Kicker's analysis was objective, detailing Union Berlin's strengths and weaknesses. The advantage was Su Luo, a supernova with unlimited potential. The disadvantage was the team's thin lineup and overreliance on Su Luo, who might hit a "rookie wall" if thoroughly studied by opponents.
Every year, dark horse teams rise in major leagues, and new stars shock Europe. But these teams rarely sustain their success, and many stars fade quickly. Ultimately, the powerhouses like Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester City prevail, and Ronaldo and Messi dominate football for years.
For the new season, the entire Bundesliga was curious about Union Berlin's potential. Only Union Berlin's fans remained cautious. According to a Bild street interview, nearly 90% of East Berlin fans had modest expectations.
"Relegation! Our goal for the new season is relegation."
"As long as we stay in the Bundesliga, I'll be happy."
"If we make it to the Champions League, what more do we need?"
"I just want to see Su Luo score goals, nothing else."
Last season's double championship felt like a dream to these fans. They feared expecting too much and having their hopes dashed. They preferred to support the team passionately, regardless of the final outcome, standing by them through thick and thin.
However, the club's management did not share the fans' modesty.
After the new season's players arrived, Coach Neuhaus gathered everyone with a serious expression.
"Everyone must have read the news these days," he began. "The fans are pretty lenient towards the club. But!"
Neuhaus's voice suddenly boomed, "We can't let down these lovely fans! I want to hear your opinions. What is our goal for the new season?"
The players exchanged uncertain glances, hesitant to speak. But then they saw Su Luo's confident smile, and their own confidence grew.
Quinine, usually quiet, was the first to shout, "Defend the title! Our goal is the championship!"
"Championship!"
"Championship!"
All the players shouted in unison, including Su Luo. He was pleased to see that his teammates had not lost their desire for victory after last season's double crown. Relying solely on himself would have been exhausting.
"Good! Very energetic!" Neuhaus nodded with satisfaction. The club's goal was also to defend the league title. As for the German Cup and the Champions League, there were no strict expectations—just to go as far as possible without compromising the league title.
To achieve this, the management was not stingy. They decided to reinvest Grealish's £45 million transfer fee into acquiring new players. The list of transfer targets that Su Luo had provided Neuhaus was reviewed, and management unanimously agreed to pursue them all.
Wide attacker Leroy Sane, midfielder Joshua Kimmich, right-back Benjamin Pavard, full-back Nathan Ake, defensive core Antonio Rudiger, attacker Maher Reiss, and midfielder Leandro Paredes were all on the list. Additionally, they targeted the 17-year-old Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez as a future star.
Lima was signed for a symbolic €500,000 and reported for Union Berlin's U18 team. Pavard, Rudiger, and Paredes together cost €13 million, while Maher Reiss could be acquired from Leicester City for €8 million. Kimmich's €7 million fee was also negotiable. These six players totaled €28 million.
The only issue was Sane. As Schalke 04's star winger, he attracted interest from many top clubs. Fortunately, Manchester City was not among them, which prevented the price from exceeding €50 million. Schalke 04 initially demanded €40 million, a sum Union Berlin couldn't afford. But with Champions League qualification, Union Berlin became an attractive option for Sane.
After negotiations led by Sane's agent and Sane's insistence on leaving, Schalke 04 relented and agreed to a €32 million transfer.
While Su Luo and the team trained hard, negotiations were in full swing. Finally, in mid-July, an agreement was reached. Sane would wear the red jersey in the new season and join the Iron League!
Grealish, Sabitzer, and Trippier had been sold for a total of €73.5 million. Acquiring new players for the new season cost €60 million. The remaining funds were used to raise staff salaries, which boosted morale. This demonstrated Union Berlin's ambition—they were not content with mediocrity.
The Union Berlin club also kept a strategic surprise. After all deals were finalized, the club's official website announced the arrival of seven new players for the new season, shocking the football world!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you've liked my work so far and would like to support me, your contribution would be greatly appreciated. since this is labor work and I'm not receiving any payment. your support means a lot to me to continue this fanfic. even a small amount, like 10rs. can make a significant difference.
Please consider using UPI id divyrajsinhsodha5167@ybl
Or you can visit my Patreon page:
patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
patreon have 10+ advanced chapters for you guys
Your help will be greatly appreciated.