He closed and then opened his eyes.
Tang Yi had already crossed time zones.
It was 7:10 AM on November 26th, local time in Spain.
The plane broke through thick clouds and landed at Madrid-Barajas International Airport.
Having been here many times in his previous life, Tang Yi was very familiar with the process, quickly clearing customs and entering the international arrivals hall.
Real Madrid staff waiting there immediately greeted him.
But Tang Yi's gaze was drawn to someone behind them.
He was not tall, with brown hair, slender, a smile on his lips but a slight frown, looking like he pitied the world.
The last remaining fruit of Real Madrid's "Ceremonial Midfield."
Luka Modric!
Tang Yi was somewhat surprised by Modric coming to pick him up.
As a newcomer, he certainly wasn't important enough to bother Real Madrid's first Captain.
Modric extended his hand proactively, "Hello, Tang, Madrid welcomes you."
"Thank you."
Tang Yi calmly extended his hand and shook it.
Modric was confused; this young man in front of him wasn't even curious why he had come?
The group bypassed the few travelers in the early morning airport, took a private passage, and arrived at a VIP parking lot.
Tang Yi got into Modric's black Bentley Continental GT.
The car quickly got onto the main road.
Modric focused on driving, frowning and saying little.
Tang Yi yawned, naturally pressing open the storage compartment behind the gear stick and taking out a bottle of mint chewing gum.
"To refresh, do you mind?"
Without waiting for an answer, Tang Yi poured out two pieces and popped them into his mouth.
Modric's frown deepened, and taking advantage of a red light, he turned to look, "I don't mind the chewing gum, but... how did you know it was there?"
"I just have a bit of a premonition talent."
Tang Yi pouted.
How did he know?
He often rode in this car in his previous life, just in Dragon Country...
The light turned green.
The car continued forward.
Modric became interested and continued to ask, "So, can you also predict why I came to pick you up?"
"Mario, our Dragon Country national team coach, Mario Tokic."
Tang Yi said confidently, "He entrusted you with something, that's why you came."
"Entrusted with what?" Modric pressed.
"Alright, Captain, premonition isn't omnipotent, otherwise I'd be rich already!"
Tang Yi raised his hands, and seeing Modric still waiting for more, he rephrased, "Before I came, I looked up some information, and after analyzing it, I pretty much guessed it."
He guessed it...
In his mind, he gave Tang Yi the appraisal: "Intelligent, with extremely strong observation and analytical skills."
Modric smiled like a child who had solved a magic trick, "Tang, I admit you're a smart person. Mario asked me to look after you."
Tang Yi raised an eyebrow.
Tokic and Modric were once teammates in the Croatian national team, and their off-field relationship was also good.
Modric would proactively come to pick up a "rookie" like him.
He couldn't think of any other reason.
Tokic was as warm-hearted as in his previous life, which was a great help...
Just before taking the chewing gum.
Tang Yi had already identified the target he must "conquer" at Real Madrid.
Modric, introverted, resilient, approachable.
He was the kind of person who, once he recognized someone, would be "loyal to the end," and he was also one of the few active players in football who could be called a "midfield maestro."
As Real Madrid's first Captain, gaining his support and trust was the only way to become a leader at Real Madrid.
It was just that Modric was nearing 40 and wouldn't easily open his heart.
To win his "heart," one had to be prepared for a long battle; it couldn't be rushed.
"Also, you can call me Luka, no need to call me Captain."
Modric turned the steering wheel and continued, "Or like everyone else, call me Lukita."
Tang Yi regained his composure, pursed his lips, and after thinking, said, "Calling you Captain is better; you are a convincing team leader."
Lukita, literally translated as "Little Luka."
It was Modric's nickname within the Real Madrid team.
It also carried the meaning of Modric always being young.
But in Tang Yi's opinion.
The appellation Lukita was not serious enough for a team Captain.
No wonder the current bunch of youngsters in the Real Madrid team only respected Modric, rather than truly revering him from the bottom of their hearts.
This was absolutely related to Modric's "good temper."
"One of the Team Leader's Commandments"!
You can be approachable, but not too easygoing.
A true team leader must have authority.
Real Madrid's performance fluctuated.
Besides the imbalanced offense and defense, it was greatly related to the current lack of a "true big boss" within the team.
Understanding Tang Yi's subtext.
Modric put away his smile and drove with a frown.
Tang Yi also said no more, staring out the car window at the fleeting scenery, lost in thought.
Real Madrid's training base, once Valdebebas, now the Florentino Pérez Sports City, was only 12 kilometers from the airport.
Soon, on the right side of the road, a cluster of low-lying buildings, guarded by green trees, appeared.
After entering and parking the car, Modric said in a deep voice, "Tang, I understand what you're saying, but what you should be thinking about most right now is how to get on the field."
"I'll give you a piece of advice: relying only on commercial value, you'll have a very hard time in Madrid."
"..."
Tang Yi rested his chin on his hand and said nothing.
Only when he opened the door and got out of the car did he put his hands in his pockets, looked at the huge training base, and said, "I'm not interested in live streaming to sell goods. Don't worry, Captain, I understand that strength speaks for itself."
Modric was stunned.
Tang Yi's expression and tone were exactly the same as his own when he first arrived at Bernabéu.
But this was Real Madrid.
Real Madrid, which had made countless superstars and also buried countless geniuses.
To make a name for oneself here was an absolute hellish difficulty.
"Then I wish you good luck."
Modric didn't have a habit of pouring cold water on people. He got out of the car, patted Tang Yi's shoulder as encouragement, and then led the way towards the medical center.
The bearded General Manager Sánchez.
The bald and shiny team fitness coach Pintus.
The medical director Segura, wearing a white coat, with hands in his pockets and a gaunt face...
A large group of people waited at the entrance.
Handshakes and pleasantries.
Followed by a series of professional medical tests.
Sánchez and the others instantly transformed into examiners, their faces full of scrutiny.
A height of 1.88 meters, a weight of 88 kilograms, a body fat percentage of 8%, muscle content of 48%...
Despite the long flight, Tang Yi's various data were impeccable.
The group's faces changed to smiles again.
"Tang's physical data is only slightly worse than Cristiano Ronaldo's when he first arrived in Madrid!"
Segura said in a low voice, surprised.
"I thought a 'mascot' had arrived, but I didn't expect him to have such great potential!"
Pintus licked his lips, wishing he could drag Tang Yi onto the training ground right now and thoroughly enjoy him.
"I never do a losing business!"
Sánchez's face was beaming.
Modric, on the other hand, showed a shocked expression for the first time since he met Tang Yi.
At 18 years old, his physique was almost on par with Cristiano Ronaldo's back then, simply at a "monster" level.
But Tang Yi currently had no time to bother with the group's pointing and whispering.
【Modric Support +3, you have taken a solid step towards the goal of becoming a Real Madrid leader】
The system, silent for several days, suddenly made a move!
But now was not the time to check it.
Tang Yi quickly calmed down, followed the crowd out of the medical center, and got onto the shuttle bus.
At the entrance of the Real Madrid trophy room.
A large group of reporters gathered.
President greeted Tang Yi with a smile, giving him a big hug.
There was no grand fan meet-and-greet ceremony.
Inside the trophy room, against a backdrop of rows of shiny "Big Ears" cups.
The two signed the contract and then displayed the Real Madrid white home jersey printed with 18 TANG.
Tang Yi became a member of Real Madrid, just waiting for formal registration during the winter break.
...