I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

"This is the starting lineup for the next match."

"Van Nistelrooy, Robben, Raul, Higuain, Guti, Diara, Drenthe, Heinze, Pepe, Ramos, Casillas."

"Substitutes: Torres, Marcelo, Gago, De La Red, Dudek, Metzelder, Cannavaro."

Francisco read out the team roster in the locker room. After reading all the names, there was a slight commotion in the locker room. Both new and old players couldn't help but turn their eyes towards that man.

The 17-year-old prodigy, the future flag bearer of Real Madrid, Bernabeu's new favorite, Chen Zhong.

In the opening match of the new La Liga season, Chen Zhong wasn't even on the team list!

It simply didn't make sense!

Negredo, Granero, Callejon, Parejo, these Castilla rookies all looked toward Chen Zhong. Just the other day, Chen Zhong was holding a small meeting with them, encouraging them to do their best, and they all readily accepted it.

But now...

What does Schuster mean by this?

Is he playing favorites?

Why target him?

Not only these Castilla rookies but also the Spanish and Dutch players looked over. Although there was some friction between the two camps, because of Van Nistelrooy and Raul, Sneijder and Guti having good relations, everything was within an acceptable range. What was called a contradiction was really just a competition.

And Chen Zhong, who was valued by Raul and Guti as a "successor," was naturally known to both sides.

Moreover, Robben from the Dutch camp and Chen Zhong had a good relationship; at least they always ate together, and in usual times, he would speak well of Chen Zhong. In an opening match like this, where Schuster suddenly excluded Chen Zhong and chose Diara instead, everyone sensed something fishy.

So, how did Chen Zhong offend Schuster?

Francisco observed the exchange of glances among the players in the locker room, feeling the undercurrents flowing within, and sighed inwardly.

Schuster originally intended for Chen Zhong to start.

Chen Zhong was considered his protégé.

He discovered him from Castilla, then promoted him to the first team, offering many opportunities, and he often praised Chen Zhong in the media for being like himself.

Lately, Schuster had been favoring the Dutch camp, while also fostering a "competitive" or oppositional feeling between the Dutch and Spanish camps.

In simple terms, Schuster didn't want the Spanish local forces in the locker room to grow too large, which would make Raul, Spain's leader, look down on him.

Indeed, from Schuster's perspective, Raul not supporting the players he wanted in the special committee meant Raul was disregarding him.

Without considering that Raul's close relationship with Calderon meant the meeting was "internal" from the start, Raul's choice and vote were insignificant. Even if he didn't support Schuster, it was merely part of the predetermined script.

Schuster wasn't very skilled at "internal struggles," and his temperament was like a powder keg ready to explode, capable of flipping the table at any moment and saying, "Then nobody eats!"

The relationship between Raul and Schuster had turned somewhat delicate; Schuster couldn't stand Raul but couldn't say it outright. After hearing that Chen Zhong, whom he handpicked and who resembled him, had held a late-night meeting with Castilla players, and then Raul entered his room to "plot" for some time,

Schuster decided to show Chen Zhong who's boss and let him know who's in charge of this team.

He wouldn't believe Raul merely went to "have a heart-to-heart" and discuss the future.

He believed more that Raul was trying to win Chen Zhong over.

And was Raul really just going to talk? No one knew for sure.

This La Liga opening match was meticulously strategized by Schuster. Van Nistelrooy, Drenthe, and Robben were Dutch players; Raul, Guti, Ramos, and Casillas were Spanish; Higuain, Diara, and Heinze were Argentine, with Pepe left as the sole Brazilian/Portuguese representative.

Schuster initially considered supporting the Argentine camp,

but Argentina lacked a leading figure.

Although "Rabbit" Saviola had some fame, his performance at Real Madrid was disappointing and unable to integrate like his predecessors. Frequent injuries led to his exclusion.

As for Gago...

Best not to mention him!

While others had Van Nistelrooy and Raul carrying their flags, putting forth Gago was clearly underwhelming by title alone.

After Francisco left the locker room, the players gathered around Chen Zhong. They didn't directly criticize Schuster but tried to divert Chen Zhong's attention by discussing other matters.

"It's a normal tactical adjustment."

"Don't worry," Chen Zhong said with a smile, looking at the surrounding players. "We must win tomorrow! It's the opening match!"

Outside the locker room, Schuster, who wanted to see Chen Zhong's reaction, saw Chen Zhong's smile and chatter at the door. Although he couldn't quite hear what Chen Zhong was saying, he still felt uncomfortable inside.