Football: The strongest post-2000s Chapter 007

The team’s internal match concluded, and the U 15-U 16 players, like students leaving school, carried their small bags and departed from the Kirkby Academy.

“Li, see you tomorrow.”

Curtis Jones waved goodbye to Li Qing, who had just completed fifty push-ups, and followed his mother out of the training ground.

“See you tomorrow.”

Watching Curtis Jones and his mother’s figures gradually disappear, Li Qing’s mood became melancholic.

Through a search of his memories, he learned that the original owner of this body had experienced a family tragedy four years ago; both parents had died during an overseas trip, leaving only him, who had a match at the time, alive in this world.

Before his transmigration, Li Qing wasn’t an orphan, but he wasn’t much better off; his mother had died early, and his father was a gambler.

His psychological adjustment ability was quite excellent. Although he was alone, at least now he was well-fed and without family worries.

His parents’ deaths left him with two million pounds and a decent apartment, meaning he could live a worry-free life as long as he didn’t squander the money.

However, now with the system by his side, his future prospects were bound to be limitless. Becoming a professional player was Li Qing’s childhood dream, and now that he had such an opportunity, wasn’t it even better?

He knew this must be a preordained arrangement from heaven.

As Li Qing carried his Puma shoulder bag and walked towards his home, U 15-U 16 squad coach Tom Culshaw and U 18 youth team tactical analyst Scott Mason were routinely reporting the day’s scrimmage to academy director Inglethorpe.

Young players like Curtis Jones, Elijah Bonner, and Daniel Griffiths were already key focuses of the academy, so their outstanding performances were expected. However, the written report submitted by Tom Culshaw and Scott Mason wasn’t just about these few, but about a fifteen-year-old boy named Li Qing.

Liverpool Academy Director Inglethorpe looked at the report in his hand in surprise: “Smashed the Rhys Williams and Remy Savage combination? That’s interesting.”

Based on their strength, even in the U 18 youth team, they would be starting substitutes. For a fifteen-year-old boy to score seven goals alone against their partnership was noteworthy; his potential for development was absolutely on par with Curtis Jones, Rhian Brewster, and Ben Woodburn.

But… how had he never heard of such a strong player before?

Tom Culshaw was good at observing expressions and explained the reason to Director Inglethorpe.

After a while, Inglethorpe nodded slightly: “Becoming a professional player is not as simple as it seems; one must possess an iron will and an indomitable spirit. If this young player named Li can truly emerge from his slump, his future will certainly be limitless. Pay more attention to him in the upcoming matches.”

At this point, he looked at Tom Culshaw again: “Tom, is there a video of this match? I want to see his performance.”

Tom Culshaw took out a pre-prepared USB drive from his bag and placed it on the desk: “This is the full match video.”

After Tom Culshaw and Scott Mason left the academy director’s office in the main building, Inglethorpe inserted the USB drive into his computer and watched the forty-minute U 15-U 16 squad match.

The beginning of the match had no viewing value until a brief pause occurred. The red number nineteen, who had been dazed by a collision, seemed to transform, gradually becoming more active, especially with his superior football IQ.

He knew to pull wide and seek opportunities when being tightly marked, using his speed and good footwork to cooperate with the team in counter-attacks.

His speed was superior, his ball control excellent, his dribbling ability extremely strong, and his composure in front of goal was baffling.

These four characteristics are common among different professional players, but when all are concentrated in one person, it becomes extraordinary.

“Knock, knock, knock~”

Just then, there was a knock on the office door. Inglethorpe’s eyebrow twitched, and his voice was somewhat displeased: “Who is it?”

“It’s me, Jürgen.”

Inglethorpe’s expression suddenly changed. He quickly put on a different face and personally opened the office door, smiling: “What strong wind has blown our first-team coach here?”

Klopp looked troubled, shrugging his shoulders: “You know there’s a widespread injury crisis in the first team right now, and Sadio Mané will be participating in the Africa Cup of Nations in January. I wanted to ask if you have any good young forwards to recommend.”

“Ben Woodburn, Harry Wilson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Glen McAuley could all be tried, but… it seems your requirements are higher.”

Inglethorpe spread his hands, indicating helplessness.

“Are there no young players with more distinct characteristics?”

As Klopp spoke, his gaze naturally fell on the monitor on Inglethorpe’s desk, which was still playing the video. He saw a red-vested player, moving at extreme speed, use his pace and skill to overpower two defenders. He instinctively blurted out: “Beautiful!”

The player was at full speed, but he didn’t rely on his speed advantage to get past the covering center-back. Instead, he used a realistic feint to shift the defender’s center of gravity before facing the goalkeeper.

His subsequent choice was unhurried and very calm; he dribbled past the goalkeeper and scored into an empty net.

Klopp had been keen on developing young players since coaching Mainz. At Dortmund, he ignited a youth storm. Seeing the young player execute such technically sound movements, he became interested.

Inglethorpe was also very interested; such an outstanding young player, given time, would surely be useful for the first team!

The video continued to play, with Klopp and Inglethorpe watching intently until Li Qing scored five goals. Klopp pressed the spacebar with his left hand, freezing the frame. His eyes filled with excitement, and he pointed at the goal scorer: “Who is this?”

Inglethorpe shrugged his shoulders: “This is a young player from the U 15-U 16 squad. He’s not suitable for you.”

“Oh? He’s from the U 15-U 16 squad?”

Klopp’s excited expression gradually turned to regret: “Indeed, he’s not suitable for the first team.”

With the first team’s forward line currently plagued by injuries, fifteen or sixteen-year-olds certainly couldn’t bear the heavy responsibility of first-team matches. Klopp sighed inwardly. As he was about to leave, he asked, “By the way… Alex, what’s this kid’s name?”

Inglethorpe looked down at Li Qing’s resume and truthfully replied: “Qing Li, local household registration, Chinese descent.”

“Li? Chinese descent?” Klopp’s lips curved slightly: “Interesting.”

Although the boy in the match video was only fifteen or sixteen, if he developed fast enough, he could be brought into the first team.

Weren’t Mario Götze at Dortmund, and Ben Woodburn and Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, such natural talents?

Li Qing might not be suitable for the first team currently, but who knows about the future?

Weren’t superstars like Pelé, Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi, and Rooney all famous from a young age?

In Klopp’s mind, he had already consciously begun to pay attention to a Chinese-descended player named Li Qing.