He arrived in obscurity, yet left with his chest raised high.
Su Dong savored the envious and even jealous glances from those around him. It was something that fascinated him deeply.
Not too long ago, he had looked at these same teammates with a similar gaze—one of admiration and longing.
Since his arrival in Portugal, never before had he received such recognition and appreciation like today. From the fans, the coaches, and even his teammates, all the way to promises made by head coach Gorba, everything pointed towards his growing value.
All of this made him so excited that he felt like shouting.
He needed to find someone to share this joy and achievement with.
The first person that came to mind was Cristiano.
So, after his assessment, he sprinted straight to Edward VII Park, located two kilometers away.
What surprised him even more was finding that the familiar figure, who had been away for a week, was unexpectedly waiting for him in the indoor football stadium they frequented—a stadium Su Dong had thought would be empty.
"Cristiano? When did you come back?" Su Dong ran over, his voice brimming with excitement.
Cristiano, who had been patiently waiting, turned at the sound of his voice. His expression lit up with genuine happiness upon seeing Su Dong.
"I got back just after midnight last night," Cristiano replied with a grin. "Slept in a bit this morning."
They embraced warmly. It had only been a week, but to Su Dong, it felt like ages since they had last seen each other.
"Have you been slacking off lately? Why are you here so late?" Cristiano asked with mock concern.
It was nearly noon, and Su Dong had only just arrived. Cristiano's playful tone masked his slight disappointment.
"I've been up since five," Su Dong said with a smile. "But we had team assessments today."
Cristiano immediately understood. Of course, Su Dong wasn't the type to slack off.
"How did it go?" Cristiano asked, now more serious.
"It went well," Su Dong replied, downplaying his excitement.
"Well? That's it?" Cristiano raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the modesty. "After all this training together, that's all you can say?"
Cristiano still hadn't told Su Dong exactly which club he was training with, but Su Dong had mentioned his affiliation with Clube Atlético de Portugal's youth team. In Cristiano's mind, this third-tier club was far from elite.
The first team wasn't anything special, and the youth team, even less so.
Su Dong laughed. "Actually, I did pretty well. After the assessment, the club said they wanted to sign me right away."
Cristiano's face broke into a smile. "That's great news! Looks like you'll be sticking around for the future."
Su Dong nodded earnestly, his gaze towards Cristiano filled with gratitude.
Although his rapid improvement was largely thanks to his relentless effort and training, he knew he wouldn't have progressed this quickly without Cristiano's support.
Cristiano, sensing what Su Dong wanted to say, spoke first: "Now that you've made it, let's not dwell on it. Show me what you've got. I want to see if you've really made any progress this week."
With that, Cristiano kicked the ball towards Su Dong, a familiar smile on his face.
And so, in the football field of Edward VII Park, their rivalry was renewed once again, two friends pushing each other to be better.
...
After reaching the third level in the system, Su Dong realized something remarkable during his training sessions with Cristiano. In every confrontation, he was now able to earn 300 Glory Tokens—a clear indicator of just how strong Cristiano was.
This revelation took Su Dong by surprise. It was one thing to know that Cristiano was talented, but to realize his strength far exceeded his expectations left Su Dong both curious and deeply impressed.
How strong is he really? Su Dong couldn't help but wonder, admiration filling his thoughts.
However, what Su Dong didn't know was that Cristiano was just as surprised by his progress.
Previously, they had trained together daily, and the improvements Su Dong made had blended into their routine. Cristiano hadn't noticed much of a difference over time, the familiarity of their practices making the growth seem gradual. But this time was different. After a week apart, the moment Cristiano saw Su Dong again, he could immediately sense the change. The improvement was clear—undeniable.
Especially during one of their duels, when Su Dong took control of the ball, made a quick, deceptive step, and unleashed a powerful shot. The ball rocketed towards the bottom corner of the net, leaving Cristiano momentarily stunned.
"Batistuta!" Cristiano shouted in recognition of the technique.
Su Dong grinned, delighted by the acknowledgment. "I've been practicing that in secret."
But Cristiano wasn't one to let it slide. With a playful smirk, he soon returned the favor, shaking his finger provocatively as if to say, So what if you can shoot like Batistuta? I can do it too.
Su Dong was left speechless by the cheeky challenge. This arrogant kid... he just refuses to admit defeat.
The duels continued, and Su Dong seized every opportunity to strike. He scored a few more goals—shots that, just a short while ago, would have seemed impossible for him to pull off.
From this, it was clear that his recent progress had been substantial. He was no longer the same player he had been just weeks ago.
Yet, despite his improvements, the gap between him and Cristiano remained vast. There was still much work to be done if he wanted to catch up.
...
"Here, take a drink first."
By noon, the two of them were thoroughly exhausted, resting on the sidelines, panting heavily. Su Dong tossed a bottle of Bull energy drink to Cristiano.
"Where did you get this? It's pretty good," Cristiano said, taking a sip before downing the entire bottle in one go.
"If you like it, I've got plenty," Su Dong replied proudly, offering him more.
Cristiano didn't hesitate to accept, but soon shifted the conversation back to their earlier training session.
"That Batistuta-inspired technique of yours—it's still not there yet," Cristiano said critically. "Your accuracy's off, and the power isn't quite right either. You need to work on it more."
Su Dong nodded in agreement. He had felt the same during their drills. "Our club doesn't have a proper gym, just some basic equipment. I can't really train properly because I'm always worried about getting injured. You know how much trouble that could cause."
"You're right to be cautious," Cristiano said, nodding thoughtfully. "But I know a gym I go to regularly. The coaches there are top-notch, very professional. I can take you there."
"Sounds great," Su Dong agreed readily.
By now, he had come to realize just how demanding Cristiano was. Even the smallest flaw in Su Dong's training didn't escape his notice. Cristiano had the habit of pointing them out immediately, often pushing Su Dong to fix them. Su Dong had even joked to himself that his friend's perfectionism was worse than that of a Virgo.
"Oh, by the way, how did things go back home this time?" Su Dong asked, concerned.
Cristiano's smile faltered for a second, and a hint of worry flashed across his face. He quickly shook it off and replied, "It was nothing, just a small issue. It's been taken care of, so don't worry about me." He gave Su Dong a grateful smile.
"What about you, though? Now that you've passed your assessment, what are you planning to do next?"
Su Dong sighed, his expression turning serious. This was the question that had been giving him the most trouble lately.
Coach Gorba had just told him that Clube Atlético de Portugal wanted to sign him on a youth contract. They were offering him a modest monthly stipend of 50 euros, along with bonuses for matches. Not much by professional standards, but still a start.
Even more enticing, Gorba had promised him a spot training with the first team and the chance to play in actual matches.
Su Dong knew his current level wasn't far off from the first team of Clube Atlético de Portugal, but he also understood that this club wasn't exactly prestigious. They were a mid-tier side in the third division—solid, but unremarkable.
Unlike the scam agencies he had encountered before, Gorba was honest with Su Dong. He didn't hide the club's intention: they were looking to develop him, give him experience, and eventually sell him for profit once he performed well.
It might sound harsh, but this was the reality of professional football. Especially for lower-tier clubs like Clube Atlético de Portugal, selling their best players was their way of staying afloat.
"It doesn't sound too bad," Cristiano commented after hearing Su Dong's dilemma. "The salary and bonuses are pretty standard. When I was in the youth team, I also got 50 euros, plus another 5 euros for being a ball boy at home games."
"But what's really worth it is the chance to train and play with the first team. That's where you'll prove yourself. Only by performing well can you move on to better, higher-level teams. Sure, you could try your luck at another club right now, but even if you make it, chances are slim that you'd get much playing time right away."
Cristiano had a point. As much as Clube Atlético de Portugal wasn't a top club, for a 16-year-old like Su Dong, getting regular minutes in a third-division league was still invaluable experience.
"Yeah, I'm leaning towards staying for now," Su Dong admitted.
"Don't worry too much," Cristiano encouraged him. "I've seen your progress lately. If you keep this up, they won't be able to hold onto you for long. You'll go pro soon enough. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll even be teammates."
"Teammates? You think so?" Su Dong looked at him in disbelief.
"Why not? My team's been rebuilding recently. We just finished constructing a new stadium and training base on the outskirts of the city. The club's been struggling with its attack, so they had to sell off a few key players this summer just to gather enough funds. But that also means they're investing heavily in youth development now. And let me tell you, our academy only brings in the best young players from all over Portugal."
Cristiano spoke with evident pride.
Su Dong was stunned. He had guessed that Cristiano played for a decent team, but hearing this, he realized just how big it really was.
"Benfica? Sporting Lisbon? Or maybe Belenenses?" Su Dong asked, his curiosity piqued.
Cristiano smiled slyly and said, "Take a guess."
...
...
The two continued their friendly duels on the indoor football field, pushing each other to the limit.
At noon, Su Dong decided to treat Cristiano. He discreetly used some of his Glory Tokens from the system, exchanging them in the marketplace for two Western meals. Then, pretending it was just a regular takeaway order he had placed, he invited Cristiano to eat with him. Unsurprisingly, the Portuguese star ate heartily and, between bites, praised the food with genuine satisfaction.
They spent the entire day at the park, working on their game and enjoying each other's company, only parting ways when the sky turned a deep shade of orange as nightfall crept in.
Before they left, Cristiano mentioned that he would talk to Pontes and another coach named Naray about Su Dong's training. He promised to continue helping Su Dong with specialized training whenever possible. However, with the new season just around the corner, the two knew they wouldn't have the same amount of free time to train together like they had during the off-season.
That night, after returning to his dormitory, Su Dong received a call from Gorba.
It was clear that Gorba was keen on getting Su Dong to sign with Clube Atlético de Portugal. He stressed the benefits the club was offering, emphasizing that once the contract was signed, Su Dong would immediately join the first team for training and be given chances to compete in matches.
"We'll make sure you play in every game," Gorba assured him. "You'll get plenty of opportunities to develop and improve."
Su Dong had already made up his mind. He agreed on the spot, not hesitating to seize the chance.
The last time Su Dong had dealt with Clube Atlético de Portugal, he had been represented by an agent who turned out to be a scammer. This time, he made it clear to Gorba that he didn't have an agent and would be signing the contract in person.
Gorba didn't seem to mind at all. For him, the most important thing was that Su Dong was willing to sign. Whether or not he had representation wasn't a concern.
After the contract was finalized, Su Dong received a signing fee of 100 euros—a small but welcome windfall, especially for a young player like him.
It felt like his journey was finally starting to take shape.
...
...
Duke Lore Street, Don Jose Apartment
Cristiano returned to his apartment and took a long, soothing bath, letting the warm water rejuvenate him. He felt fully recharged by the time he stepped out, wrapped in a towel, and glanced around. His roommate, Semedo, had gone out again.
In Lisbon, simply being associated with Sporting Lisbon made life easy for young footballers. Flash the club's badge, and there would always be plenty of girls willing to line up, hoping to catch their big break by dating a player.
For some of these girls, it was seen as an opportunity—an easy way to step into a world of fame and fortune. Every year, countless young women made headlines for becoming the girlfriends of professional players, gracing the front pages of Portugal's major newspapers. But what came next depended on their ability to navigate that world.
Some would never shake off the title of "player's girlfriend," content to accompany their boyfriends or husbands to events, basking in reflected glory. Others, however, quickly used the platform to make a name for themselves, often outshining the very players they had initially pursued.
Cristiano had seen it all and long since become jaded. He knew he could easily attract attention—his status as a rising star and his looks were more than enough—but he had no interest in chasing after fleeting pleasures. If he wanted, the line of girls waiting for him could stretch from Marquis de Pombal Square all the way to Estádio José Alvalade.
But now, football was his priority.
Especially after two of his main rivals in the team had been promoted to the first team, Cristiano's sense of urgency had intensified. He had to make up for lost time. Missing the pre-season preparations due to personal reasons had been a setback, and he knew it. If it hadn't been for that, he would likely have joined the first team already.
But that's life—things don't always go according to plan.
With a sigh, Cristiano pushed those thoughts aside. He wasn't one to dwell on things he couldn't change. Instead, he picked up his phone and called Lionel Pontes. The conversation quickly turned to Su Dong.
Cristiano hadn't seen Su Dong for a week and had been surprised by how much he'd progressed in that short time.
"Is this really the level of our U16s?" Pontes asked, clearly taken aback.
Cristiano hummed in agreement. "He's not quite there yet, but I think he's getting close to breaking through."
Pontes was silent for a moment, absorbing the information. "He's improving fast."
Who would have thought? A little over a month ago, Su Dong was just a kid who could barely hold his own on an amateur team.
"I think it's all down to how hard he's been working lately," Cristiano said, his voice filled with admiration.
Pontes agreed. He had been keeping a close eye on Su Dong as well. "Hard work can do wonders. Remember when you first joined us?"
Cristiano smiled, recalling those early days. When he first arrived at Sporting, his performances were far from impressive. Yet he boldly declared that he would surpass the two super talents in the team, Ricardo Quaresma and Edgar Marcelino. His confidence had been the talk of the club, with many laughing at his audacity.
But time had passed, and now, Cristiano, Quaresma, and Marcelino were hailed as the three brightest talents in Sporting's youth academy. Those same people who laughed back then now admired Cristiano's words. Behind his rise had been relentless, almost obsessive training.
Pontes, being a fellow Madeira native, had witnessed it all firsthand.
Now, the question was whether Su Dong could be the next success story.
"I'm not sure yet," Pontes mused, "but it's possible that Su Dong was simply held back by poor youth coaching. He's showing signs of something special."
After discussing Su Dong's progress, Cristiano shared his own ideas about how to help his friend improve, but Pontes had reservations.
"To be honest, I wouldn't recommend doing heavy gym work at sixteen. It's too risky."
"But that's how I did it," Cristiano replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Pontes laughed on the other end. "You're a monster, Cristiano. That doesn't mean everyone else can do the same."
Pontes had always been concerned about Cristiano's overtraining in the gym. There were stories about how Cristiano would stay at the gym until 2 a.m., only leaving when the security guards forced him out. His determination to surpass players like Quaresma and Marcelino had bordered on obsession.
"I mean, look at you," Pontes continued. "You've got fast-twitch muscle fibers that are rare, probably a genetic gift, but Su Dong doesn't have that. If he follows your lead, he could risk serious, long-term injuries. He's not built the same way."
"So what do you suggest?" Cristiano asked, more serious now.
"Start with the basics. Bodyweight exercises—sit-ups, push-ups, squats. Then gradually add weight training. Have him carry small weights while running and during shooting drills. It's a step-by-step process."
Pontes' approach was more scientific and conservative, but Cristiano respected it. He cared deeply about Su Dong's progress and didn't want to see him suffer any injuries that could derail his career before it even started. He had been reckless with his own training, but he wasn't willing to take that risk with his friend.
"Alright, I'll follow your plan. At least this way, we can save on gym expenses," Cristiano joked, lightening the mood.
...
After hanging up Pontes' call, Ronnie received a call from Su Dong.
This is what he told Su Dong before, the purpose is to facilitate contact.
The purpose of Su Dong's call is to invite him to dinner with Jose Semedo.
"What? Signed the contract, developed?" Ronnie smiled and teased on the phone.
Su Dong laughed, "I got 100 euros for signing."
When he got the money, the first thing he thought of was to invite Ronnie to dinner, and by the way Jose Semedo.
Ronnie certainly wouldn't refuse, he smiled and agreed, and at the same time spoke out Pontes' suggestion.
The two have made an appointment. After dinner tomorrow night, they will go to the mall and get these equipment ready.
He believe that by then, 100 Euros will be almost spent.
...
...
Although the new season had already begun, Su Dong and Cristiano still made it a point to meet at Edward VII Park for their early morning training sessions. Every day, at 5 a.m., they pushed themselves to the limit before the rest of the city had even woken up.
Cristiano, as arrogant as ever, never outright told Su Dong which team he played for. However, it wasn't hard to figure out. The clues were all there: a youth academy leading Portugal in development, a stadium currently undergoing renovations, and the only major club in Lisbon with such a profile—Sporting Lisbon.
It couldn't be Benfica or Belenenses. Sporting Lisbon was the club that had recently built a state-of-the-art training facility in Alcochete, rumored to officially open in 2002. Everything pointed to the green and white giants.
Like many aspiring professional players, Cristiano hadn't excelled in school. Once he had completed the compulsory education required by UEFA and the Portuguese Football Federation, he left school behind. His focus was football, nothing else. But despite his immense talent, Cristiano had faced a setback earlier in the season. He had missed a week of valuable pre-season training, which cost him a potential promotion to the first team. As a result, he remained with the youth squad, limited to one afternoon training session per day.
Su Dong, on the other hand, was with Clube Atlético de Portugal, a semi-professional team. The setup was entirely different. Most of the players had jobs outside of football, balancing their work commitments with training. The club only held one training session each day in the afternoon, leaving the players responsible for their own fitness outside those hours.
This unique arrangement allowed Su Dong and Cristiano to train together in Edward VII Park, sometimes for hours on end, honing their skills throughout the morning and well into the afternoon.
By 3 p.m., the two friends would part ways. Cristiano would head north, taking the subway back to Estádio José Alvalade, located near Marquis de Pombal Square, while Su Dong would jog the two kilometers back to his team to participate in the afternoon training session.
...
Despite the presence of many part-time players at Clube Atlético de Portugal, they weren't amateurs by any means. In fact, most of the players came from professional youth academies, with several even having developed at renowned setups like Benfica and Belenenses. The basic technical skills and physical strength of these players were solid, making the level of play higher than it might appear from the outside.
When Su Dong arrived for the first time, he knew he couldn't take things lightly. Club President Gorba led him to the simple dressing room where the first team gathered. Clube Atlético de Portugal, like many teams at this level, regularly saw player turnover during transfer windows, and this year was no different. Players came and went, and the team had grown accustomed to new faces.
However, Su Dong was different. At just sixteen, his presence in the first team sparked curiosity among the players. Joining the first team at such a young age was impressive, even if it was for a third-division club like Clube Atlético de Portugal.
Marco Matello, the team captain, introduced Su Dong to his new teammates. It was clear that Matello held considerable influence in the locker room. At 33, the veteran goalkeeper had started his career at Belenenses' youth academy. At 23, he had played nine games in the Primeira Liga for the senior team, stepping in due to an injury to the first-choice keeper. Over time, he moved through several lower-league clubs before settling at Clube Atlético de Portugal.
For a semi-professional team, Matello's résumé was quite impressive. In addition to captaining the side, he was also involved in the team's management and was working towards earning his coaching license. As one of the few full-time players on the squad, Matello earned the club's highest salary—400 euros per week.
While the salary wasn't everything, it highlighted the financial limitations of Clube Atlético de Portugal. For comparison, Cristiano earned 300 euros per week at Sporting Lisbon, plus appearance fees and bonuses. But as Cristiano had often told Su Dong, once he broke into the first team, his salary could increase tenfold with a new contract.
"Su performed really well during the pre-season assessment, and he's a player the team wants to focus on developing. Let's all try to support him so we can perform better this season," Matello said, his words carrying weight in the room.
The other players nodded in agreement, showing their support.
Still new and unfamiliar with the group, Su Dong introduced himself briefly before choosing a locker in the corner. He quietly unpacked his things while listening to the conversations swirling around the room. The new season was fast approaching, and the topic on everyone's mind was the upcoming Primeira Liga opener: Sporting Lisbon versus Porto.
Neither Sporting nor Porto had impressed the previous season, both being overshadowed by Boavista, who shocked everyone by winning their first-ever Primeira Liga title. It was a result that left the traditional top three clubs of Portuguese football—Sporting, Porto, and Benfica—feeling ashamed.
"Benfica still looks unconvincing," one of the players commented. "They don't seem ambitious enough this year. Porto, on the other hand, has Pena, last season's top scorer. They'll be pushing hard. And Sporting's been active in the market. Boloni signed Niculae from Romania, and there's talk they're still trying to bring in Jardel. This opener's going to be something special."
Jardel, a prolific striker in Europe, was currently at Galatasaray in Turkey, but rumors had been swirling that Sporting Lisbon wanted to bring him in. Inter Milan was also interested, but Sporting had reportedly offered a deal that included Belgian winger Mbo Mpenza, Croatian striker Spehar, and Czech midfielder Pavel Horváth to make it happen.
Cristiano had mentioned this to Su Dong before, hyping up the potential impact of Jardel joining the club.
For Su Dong, the names being tossed around—Pena, Jardel, Mpenza—felt like legends from another world. These were stars who seemed so far beyond his reach, players who dominated the headlines and commanded respect across Europe.