Because Naji is a local born and raised in San Remo, Italy, he has been playing football in the San Remo area since childhood and joined San Remo’s broken youth training team at the age of eleven.
Everyone in San Remo watched Naji grow up.
Naji is also very familiar with them.
This positive relationship was rapidly elevated and mythologized after San Remo’s promotion.
In all of San Remo, besides Lu Yang and Morici, who is the most renowned, the hottest, and the most loved by local fans?
It’s not Bai Zhami, not Versachi, not Sogel, but Naji!
Pampered and arrogant.
This is precisely Naji’s situation.
"But I have never stopped progressing; I’m getting better and better!" Naji finally began to retort to Lu Yang because Lu Yang pierced his comfort zone, directly exposing him to the harsh realities of society.
Everything you have now is not because you work hard or because of your strong ability, but because you’re well-connected and people are looking after you.
This is unacceptable to anyone with ambition.
They crave recognition of their strength from others.
Such words are often heard from idol stars or boy band members who lack substance.
The less real skill or ability one has, the more they hope their abilities will be recognized by others.
And Naji, compared to Lu Yang, Morici, and others, isn’t he just an idol star?
He never had the ability to change the course of the game.
If Morici controlled all of San Remo on the pitch,
If Lu Yang dominated all the matches San Remo participated in and dictated the fate of San Remo and their opponents,
Then the only thing Naji could control was his own goal, but in a way of own goals and mistakes.
He is far from as steady as Palacios and Rondo.
Those two players, as long as they don’t want the opponent to score, it seems they can definitely do it.
Naji will never possess such aura because he knows there are some people he simply cannot defend against.
But he has never tried, even if everyone knows I can’t defend against them, but I just want to try to defend... even if it’s just once?
He never did!
"Are you sure your so-called progress is enough for this San Remo?" Lu Yang asked a soul-searching question, "From the Italian D Division to Serie B, the team has actually undergone a renewal once."
"Barring any surprises, this season and next, a second renewal will take place."
"The pace is very fast, compared to normal teams that take five to six years or even ten years to replace a generation, San Remo’s speed of two replacements in three to four years is indeed too fast."
"Because both we and our opponents are becoming stronger exponentially. This season, we might encounter opponents that are of the Five Major Leagues level in nearly half of our matches."
"We might even face top-tier prestigious teams with both fame and strength."
"And you, are you ready?"
"Look at the faces of your teammates around you, how many of our teammates from the Italian D Division can you find? They’re all in the office now, why? Besides age, are there no other factors?"
"Do you also want to work in San Remo’s scouting department next year or the year after? If so, I can help you apply for a chief scout position with Mr. Russell!"
"Even if you don’t like to hear it, I can tell you directly, in the current starting lineup and main rotation of San Remo, you are most likely the weakest one!"
Lu Yang’s words were very direct.
He even heard the sound of a crack.
That was the sound of Naji’s heart breaking, oh no... that was the sound of Morici’s car door handle breaking.
"You can’t say that about me, Lu. We are good friends; I respect you a lot in the team, although you’re younger than me, I always see you as a Captain. What you’re saying now is too hurtful!" Naji’s neck turned red, filled with both anger and grievance, "You can’t evaluate me this way just because you’re famous now, in the National Youth Team, your salary is higher, and your worth is more!"
Naji stood by the car, getting angrier as he spoke, as furious as a beast.
"You think I want this?"
Bam!
Lu Yang angrily slammed the car hood, the small broken car shook almost to the point of falling apart on the spot.
Lu Yang’s eyes were wide with fury: "What I told you are all facts. Except for the local media in San Remo, others evaluate you this way."
"And both you and I know, their evaluation is correct, you really are like this! You’re almost falling behind San Remo’s pace!"
"I am your Captain, and I also see you as a friend, so that’s why I must tell you this."
"Because I don’t want, when we lift the championship trophy in the future, for Naji not to be there!"
Naji’s pupils contracted as if he finally saw the terrifying scene of the future.
If in the championship photo of San Remo, he is no longer present...
"After the Italian D division season ended, when the team was preparing for new signings, they planned to recruit one or two young central defenders." Lu Yang said, revealing some secrets, information only he knew, given by Sotu as his top insider privilege.
Not even Naji, or Morici knew about this.
"I said this was detrimental to your growth. If the environment for the growth of young players is too intense, too utilitarian, with too much pressure, it’s very possible they might buckle under the burden or grow in a skewed manner due to impatience." Lu Yang said, "I firmly believe your talent is enough for you to keep pace with or even surpass the team’s growth speed."
"I’ve also seen geniuses more talented than you who, due to immense pressure, never pass the ball during team matches, squandering every shooting opportunity as they go all out, eventually turning from a promising soccer king to a disappointing tale among fans."