After exchanging jerseys with Pogba, Zhang Xu hurriedly expressed his gratitude to the White Star fans and the new Chinese fans who had come out, and then walked towards the players' tunnel with Pogba, who had been waiting for him. They chatted casually as they walked.
"Zhang, you know what? I've decided to leave Manchester United," Pogba sighed with a hint of helplessness.
"Oh?" Zhang Xu was surprised. "But that's Manchester United!"
"Hmph, what about Manchester United? If they don't give me a chance to play, what can I do? I have to leave and find a team that gives me regular playing time!"
"I see! Keep it up, Pogba! You'll be successful!" Zhang Xu patted Pogba on the shoulder to encourage him.
"Of course, I am the most promising star! As for you, hmph, I don't even know when you'll make it to the top league!" Pogba looked at him disdainfully.
"Haha, don't worry, by the time you reach the top league, I definitely won't be far behind!"
"Deal!"
"Deal!"
The two shook hands firmly, encouraging each other's dreams.
As the most outstanding players in the match, they naturally became the focus of media interviews.
Zhang Xu and Pogba were immediately surrounded by reporters before they could enter the players' tunnel. Pogba was quite familiar with such scenes, but he wanted to see how Zhang Xu would handle it, so he pushed him to the front.
Surprisingly, Zhang Xu, a super scholar, handled the situation very smoothly, and Pogba felt that some of Zhang Xu's answers were even more professional than his own.
Of course, the reporters didn't miss the chance to interview Pogba, the super potential star. After questioning Zhang Xu, they immediately turned their attention to Pogba.
Some reporters asked provocative questions about their fierce on-field confrontation and arguments.
However, this had no effect on Zhang Xu and Pogba. After exchanging a smile, they simply brushed off the questions with a few non-committal responses.
Among these reporters were local journalists from Antwerp, those from the Wuluo region, Belgian national media, and even reporters from Manchester, England...
What surprised Zhang Xu the most was that there were also reporters from China!
Among the many French and English questions, a question in Chinese suddenly made Zhang Xu jump.
This Chinese reporter, Dai Dong, was a correspondent for Xinlang Sports in France, specializing in reporting on French and neighboring league news.
He originally didn't plan to watch this second division game, but by chance, while strolling through Antwerp's Chinatown, he heard about a Chinese player joining a team that would play against Antwerp.
Surprised, he became interested in this player named Zhang Xu.
After some research, Dai Dong was astonished to find that Zhang Xu was not a professionally trained footballer but a student who had been admitted to Paris VI University last year with excellent grades!
Such a scholar, not focusing solely on his studies but also trying out to become a professional footballer, was a rare case in China.
This piqued Dai Dong's interest even more, so he bought a ticket, put on his press badge, and went to the Bosuil Stadium to watch Zhang Xu's performance up close.
Ninety minutes later, Dai Dong was shocked.
Zhang Xu's physical condition was incredibly strong, able to compete with the robust and aggressive Pogba without falling behind.
His other qualities were also outstanding, including man-marking, interceptions, off-the-ball movements, and he even had a powerful long-range shot, with the first goal of the White Stars team coming from his extraordinary long-range effort!
Such a player, having tried out at more than seventy clubs without success, made him wonder if they were all blind.
With such abilities and level, not to mention the Belgian second division, even in the first division, he would have a place.
What excited Dai Dong was that this Zhang Xu was virtually unknown in China, meaning no domestic journalist had interviewed him.
This was an opportunity!
Dai Dong was excited. He took out his press badge and walked firmly towards Zhang Xu.
"Hello, Zhang Xu, I'm Dai Dong, a journalist from Xinlang Sports. Can I ask you a few questions?" Dai Dong quickly made his voice heard among the competing journalists, believing that his unique Chinese would immediately catch Zhang Xu's attention.
Indeed, Zhang Xu turned his head in surprise upon hearing Chinese.
"Are you a journalist from China?" Zhang Xu asked curiously.
"Yes, I'm Dai Dong, a journalist from Xinlang Sports," Dai Dong reintroduced himself.
"Oh, you can ask, but I have a question. Will your interview be published on the domestic Xinlang website?"
"Uh, of course!" Dai Dong, thinking Zhang Xu was concerned about not being able to expand his influence domestically, hurriedly explained.
"Ah! It will be published in China, I'm done for!" Zhang Xu, who had remained calm even when the game was behind, suddenly became nervous and panicked, even attracting Pogba's curious gaze.
"Can I ask you for a favor?" Zhang Xu pleaded, grabbing Dai Dong's clothes.
"Of course!" Dai Dong was a bit puzzled, unable to understand what Zhang Xu was up to.
Zhang Xu pulled Dai Dong aside: "Brother Dai, can you not publish my news in China?"
"What?" Dai Dong was dumbfounded.
Usually, stars would ask him to make them look more heroic in articles, but this was the first time someone requested not to publish news. Besides, if he didn't publish the interview, how would he earn a living?
"It's like this, I got admitted to Paris VI University last year and haven't returned home. The reason is that I've been hiding from my parents and trying out everywhere. My family always forbade me from playing football and pursuing a professional career. I'm afraid if they find out I'm playing football in Belgium instead of studying, they'll come to Europe and take me back! That would be a disaster!" Zhang Xu hurriedly explained, seeing Dai Dong's reluctance.
"I see!" Dai Dong understood and was moved by the young man's dedication to his dream: "I can promise you that, but it's not a solution, you know. With your performance, other journalists will soon discover you. Even if I keep it a secret, others won't."
"What should I do?" Zhang Xu was at a loss, having never really thought about such a situation.
"How about this? You're not going back tonight, right?" Dai Dong thought for a moment and decided to help Zhang Xu.
"We're not going back, we have a half-day holiday tomorrow, and then we return in the afternoon!"
"Great, leave me your contact information. Let's sit down in the café of the hotel you're staying at tonight and see if we can find a way to get your parents to support your football dream, okay?"
"Okay!" Zhang Xu thought for a moment and agreed.
An hour later, at the Astrid Radisson Hotel in Antwerp, Dai Dong and Zhang Xu sat down together again.
"Let me ask you a question first, don't mind," Dai Dong began after settling down.
"Sure, no problem!" Zhang Xu nodded in agreement.
"How are your grades at Paris VI University?"
"Haha, grades? Didn't you investigate? I'm a scholar, so naturally, there's no issue with my grades. I've already received scholarships for two semesters! The highest kind, you know!" When it came to studies, Zhang Xu was full of confidence.
"Great! Another question, does Paris VI University have any opinion or objection to you, a student, signing a professional contract with a club? Is there any conflict between the university and the club?"
"Not at all! No one has ever told me that students can't play professional football, nor that professional football players can't attend university." Zhang Xu thought for a moment and answered confidently.
At this, Dai Dong finally breathed a sigh of relief, asking one last question: "Doesn't your heavy training schedule and intensive match play affect your university studies?"
"Of course not, the university courses, I can finish them all in a month at most, and still score high in exams! I'm confident about that!" Zhang Xu replied boastfully.
Hearing this, Dai Dong smiled.
"Haha, okay, I've asked everything. Actually, I think the problem of your parents coming to Europe shouldn't be a problem. Think about it, first, you haven't neglected your studies, second, you have a decent part-time job. Uh, let's temporarily consider playing football as a part-time job..."
Dai Dong saw Zhang Xu seemed unhappy with his view of professional players, so he changed his approach and continued: "There's no irreconcilable conflict between the two, right? So the main reason for your parents to be angry is gone. Now, there's only one issue you need to resolve."
"What issue?"
"The fact that you've been hiding your tryouts from your parents! I believe every parent wants their child to be successful and achieve something in society, and your parents are no exception. If they see your current achievements, they will definitely be very happy. If you sincerely apologize to them, I think your parents will forgive you and support your football dream!"
"Can this really work?"
"Absolutely!" Dai Dong affirmed emphatically.
Zhang Xu thought for a while, then finally looked up: "Okay, I'll do as you say, Brother Dai. I'll call my parents tomorrow and explain everything."
"Good! Then, can we do a special interview?"
"Haha, sure, no problem at all!"...