Football: The immortal legend on the green field

"Florentino's superstar policy shows its power again, Beckham arrives at the Bernabeu." - El Mundo

"The Cosmos team traveled to Asia, with eight superstars performing together and barely tying the Chinese team." - Barcelona Sports Daily

"Ronaldo sells medicine in China, 'Throat treasure, give you a golden voice like Madonna'." - Catalonia Newspaper

"With the Nigerian youth team defeating Egypt 05-24, all participating teams in the World Youth Championship have been confirmed." - Dutch World Sports

"The 03 Coca-Cola "Rising Stars" Football Summer Camp will open in Nice on July 7, and the world's best 20 young football talents will gather in France." - "French Football"

As a player born in 88, Shen Bin was provided two plane tickets by the organizing committee, one for him and one for his guardian.

The plane ticket Shen Yuanchao bought himself wasted. It was because he didn't understand the situation. Chen Tao was following him, so he was embarrassed to cancel the ticket and had to give the guy a discount. Fortunately, the Netherlands is not far from France, and the ticket only costs a few dozen euros.

As soon as they walked out of Nice International Airport, they saw a group of media not far away interviewing a seemingly famous star.

The most annoying thing is that person's follower, the man with a voice as loud as a trumpet, who loudly points out who can ask questions and who cannot, just like the team's press officer.

It would be fine if he just had a loud voice, but he also had a horse face that would make Socrates bow down to him.

What made Shen Bin feel strange was the person behind the follower.

In addition to a group of media interested in him, his followers behind him were also very hard-working. Some of them carried portable cameras and filmed everywhere, shouting loudly: "Training camp, Balotelli is here!"

"Who is that?" Shen Bin asked.

After all, Chen Tao has national team experience, and he has more information about rising stars of the same age in other countries than Shen Binqiang. After careful identification, he said ambiguously: "It could be Balotelli, the super striker of the Italian youth team, whose fame in these four age groups is second only to Wayne Rooney of England."

"Is Rooney coming too?" Shen Bin asked unexpectedly.

Chen Tao shook his head and said, "He participated last year and has proven his ability in the training camp. There is an unspoken rule in the training camp, that is, the organizing committee generally does not invite players with professional game experience. Rooney played for Everton last season and I heard that he just transferred to Manchester United to replace Beckham."

Shen Bin looked at the tall and strong black and hard man with a Mohawk hairstyle in surprise.

Chen Tao continued, "This guy is interesting too. He is already very famous in Europe. It is said that he has played for an Italian Serie B team for a season and has scored 19 goals. He has scored 12 goals in 8 games in the European Under-9 Championship qualifiers, making him the third-highest scorer in the European qualifiers, only less than Rooney who scored goals and a Ukrainian named Shevchenko."

"Ukrainians also scored 9 goals?" Shen Bin became interested in Mo Sheng's Ukrainians.

"No, Shevchenko scored 13 goals."

Shen Bin...

"You don't have to envy them, they are older than you. Rooney and Shevchenko are both 17 years old. Neither of them will come to the training camp. I heard that AC Milan is actively negotiating with Dynamo Kyiv to introduce this Ukrainian with the title of "nuclear warhead". You will face this big black guy in this training camp. He is the same age as you. I heard that Inter Milan is actively trying to introduce him."

It would be a lie for Shen Bin to say that he is not envious of his peers who have become famous at a young age. Who doesn’t want to become famous overnight and be scrambled for a football life with rich and powerful clubs?

However, it is hard to understand why Balotelli, who is so famous, still comes to the training camp. With such a big reputation, he must have a mature team. Isn't it good for him to train seriously in the club and actively prepare for the new season?

For a player like Balotelli, if he was beaten by a player one year younger than him in the training camp, wouldn't it be a loss?

"Since he is so famous, why is he here?" Shen Bin asked.

"I'm not sure either. He can't be compared with Rooney. He and Shevchenko both became famous through the European Youth Championship a month ago. I'm afraid he thinks he's not famous enough. Or he may be confident in his own ability. I guess he wants to take advantage of you. You're in danger." Chen Tao looked at Shen Bin with sympathy.

Balotelli is a big mouth. When the media asked him what his goal was for this training camp, he said without hesitation: "I will rank first at the end of the training camp. I will beat everyone. I am not here to play. I am here to show my talent. I love competition. You know who I am. No one can stop me!"

Then the younger brothers around him began to agree, and the whole scene became extremely lively.

For those who try to increase their influence through performance in training camps, if they are not so arrogant as to think they are invincible among their peers, then they have a bigger agenda.

For example, if a player has a dominant performance in the training camp, the momentum created will allow him to gain more benefits in the transfer market.

After all, he is in the most critical period of transfer negotiations with Inter Milan. If he does not continue to hype himself, it is unrealistic to rely on the media for automatic publicity. The influential media is not owned by his own family. There are so many superstars in the football world, and the media has nothing to do but report on these young talents who are still in their infancy.

"Let's go," Shen Bin said self-deprecatingly, "There aren't a bunch of media outlets here specifically to interview me."

Chen Tao's eyes rolled. "If you need it, I can help you find a way to arrange it. I heard that "Electric Motor" Anqila will be present at the opening ceremony. You are so handsome, you can try to create a scandal with him..."

Shen Bin glanced at Chen Tao with disdain, and then glanced at the media surrounding Balotelli, "Were those people also arranged?"

"It's hard to say, but he has played in the professional league for a season. I heard that his weekly salary is 15,000 euros. He is not short of money. It is also possible that he is really popular."

"Forget it. I don't want to be followed by the media wherever I go."

At this time, Shen Yuanchao called a taxi and went to the Marriott Hotel arranged by the organizing committee.

Originally Shen Yuanchao wanted to book an ordinary hotel for himself, but later he learned that two rooms were arranged for the two age groups of 88 and 89, which was more than enough for three people.

Dong Fangzhuo, who is two years older than Shen Bin, was not so lucky. The organizing committee only arranged one room for each of the players in the 86 and 87 age groups who were already adults.

Shen Bin checked in smoothly, and immediately went to find Dong Fangzhuo who had arrived a day earlier. Their rooms were one floor apart. Shen Bin commented on this matter: "I feel sorry for Mr. Dong. I have to pay one more day's rent for a prodigal son like you."

What is there to adapt to? He doesn't understand. This is not a home or away game. This is a training camp. Even if there are spectators, they are friendly spectators who speak nicely.

"Hello! You are Shen Bin! Chen Tao often mentions you in the National Youth Team."

It was the first time that Shen Bin saw this young Chinese talent who was more famous than himself. Shen Bin's fame was like a gust of wind, while Xiao Dong was a talented player who had been famous in Asia since the U17 Asian Championship two years ago.

However, Shen Bin's first impression of Dong Fangzhuo was quite different from what he had imagined. To be honest, he did not look like an athlete. Compared to athletes who are generally extroverted, Dong Fangzhuo was too shy, which did not match his tall and rough appearance.