The road to godhood starting from Ligue 1

Chapter 38: Young Man Xu Lingyun

Zidane smiled gently, nodded to Gaio, and then continued to sign autographs and take photos with Clairefontaine's youth players.

Gaio waited.

Mbappe, on the other hand, was between the two men's sight and instinctively felt that this guy who wanted to teach him how to dribble past opponents might not be that simple.

But Mbappé couldn't remember when he met a guy called Loup Diwang Gaio when he was still playing football around Paris.

After waiting for almost half an hour, Gaio finally had the opportunity to meet Zidane.

Zidane exchanged a few words with Chatham and Ilion.

He looked towards Gaio and held out his hand.

"Hello, Gaio, Ilion showed me your game video. You played very well."

Gaio shook hands with Zidane, "Thank you."

After Zidane briefly inquired about Gaio's daily training, he said softly: "There are many talented players in France, but they have not been able to play successfully for various reasons. I don't want you to be one of them.

Ilion told me about your time at Chelsea, and how I felt when I was young and frivolous. I was also a bit reckless, but I don't recommend that you dwell on that emotion all the time. It will ruin your talent."

After Zidane finished speaking, Chatham added, "Yes, Gourcuff is a traitor. We don't want you to become another one."

Gaio didn't mind Zidane's slightly preachy talk. After all, he was just a 17-year-old player with a criminal record.

The fact that Zidane was willing to tell him this showed that he really wanted the best for him.

Zidane has always been kind to young French players and is willing to support them.

Gourcuff, whom Chatham mentioned, has completely disappeared from the public eye after the World Cup in South Africa.

Even entering the World Cup in South Africa has made Henry and other veterans feel dissatisfied.

Thinks Gourcuff is unworthy.

Gourcuff was once a talented player. When he first debuted, he was called "Zidane's successor" and most of the European giants were scrambling to buy him.

Zidane himself said, "Gourcuff is a great talent. I feel the excitement I haven't felt in a long time from him. I am sure he will be one of the most important players of the French team."

Unfortunately, he is just a genius who carries the burden of the title.

Introverted personality, fragile body, and conceited mood
From his performance after transferring to AC Milan, it was destined that his career would not meet people's expectations of him.

Gaio nodded and said, "I will never be the same again."

Zidane and others smiled and nodded. They naturally didn't know what Gaio meant.

But they also saw the changes in Gaio.

Chatham knows this best.

Zidane continued, "I am happy to see your changes. The French team needs more championships. Two European Cups and one World Cup are not enough for us. I hope you will become an important member of the national team in the future. I believe you can."

Without waiting for Gaio's reply, Zidane continued, "Perform well. I occasionally follow your news in Madrid. I see a bright future in you, but as I said before, control your emotions and handle him well. When the time is right, I will recommend you to Blanco. Of course, if you are willing and your ability is really good, maybe I will also recommend you to Madrid."

Blanc, current head coach of the French national team.

Gaio looked up at Zidane.

The latter's eyes were filled with appreciation and expectation. "Come on, kid. Although I have retired, I still want to do more for French football."

Chatham looked at the two people talking, and his heart was as happy as if he had eaten honey. This was the reason why he brought Gaio here.

There will always be someone willing to support a genius.

The premise is that you are indeed a genius.

Zidane is under a lot of pressure on schedule as he has to rush back to Madrid today and only has twenty minutes to talk to Gaio.

But it's enough.

At least, Gaio has shown his face in front of Zidane, and now it depends on himself.

If his performance gets better and better, then Zidane naturally wouldn't mind giving him a hand. If he doesn't perform well, then there will be no more.

Zidane left. Ilion exchanged a few words with Gaio and then left as well.

Chatham and Gaio stood together. He patted Gaio's shoulder and said, "Train well. I believe in your talent. You will definitely be able to join the national team in the future."

Gaio looked at the iconic building of Clairefontaine - the Hercules Trophy.

Today's trip made him even more eager for victory and the championship.

Young people should have lofty ambitions and strive to be the best in the world.

Gaio kept staring at the World Cup trophy, a little absent-minded.

Chatham said, "We will definitely win our second World Cup title!"

Gaio came back to his senses and nodded, "Let's go back and get some rest. We have to train tomorrow."

"Haha, let's go!"

Just as the two of them were walking towards the parking lot, a childish voice suddenly rang out.

"Hey! Wait!"

Gaio turned his head to look at the source of the sound, and Mbappé ran over quickly.

"What's your name?" Mbappé's breath was a little unstable due to the sprint. He took a moment to calm down and asked, "Where do you play football?"

Gaio did not hide it, "I play for Bastia in French Ligue 2. My name is Yann Gaio."

After hearing this, Mbappé repeated it in a low voice, and then said, "I'll remember you, Gaio, I will watch your game. Wait until I play professionally, and I will prove to you that speed is the best way to get past opponents! I want to play in Ligue 1 and also go to the best club in the world!"

"You should work on your physical fitness first. You're already out of breath after running for so long."

Mbappé was a little anxious, "I saw Zidane was excited!"

"Okay, I got it. Bye Killian."

Mbappe knew he was being underestimated, but Gaio didn't give him a chance to continue speaking.

"Geo, Geo," Mbappé muttered silently as he watched Geo and Chatham gradually walk away, "I will definitely be stronger than you!"

On the way back.

Chatham didn't ask Gaio much about the conversation with Mbappé, as he thought it was just a play between children.

What he cares more about is whether Gaio can show better talent and strength and leave a deeper impression in Zidane's heart.

This is about Bastia's earnings.

So Chatham kept talking about Zidane, and what they talked about most was Zidane's last game before retirement in 2006.

The red card that changed the World Cup final.

What on earth did Materazzi say that made Zidane behave so irrationally?

The media have different opinions. The mainstream one is the analysis of a lip-reading expert invited by Brazil's Globo TV, who said that Materazzi "greeted" Zidane's sister three times. There are also English experts who said that Materazzi used words such as "son of a terrorist organization's journalist."

Materazzi himself denied these claims. In an interview, he publicly said, "I just grabbed his jersey and let go in a few seconds. He turned around, looked me up and down, and mocked me very arrogantly, 'You want my jersey, right? I will give it to you after the game.' Yes, I did curse him, this is true, but it was an ordinary swear word, the kind you often hear on the court."

Zidane also publicly responded to this matter on French Canal TV:

"He brought up some very personal things, about my mother and my sister, and they were some really hard things to hear, and when you hear that, you want to run away. That's how I reacted, and you all saw it, I turned and walked away, but he said it again, and then a third time."

Zidane did not say what was going on. He apologized to the fans, "I am a father. Countless children will see this. I am sorry. What I did was unforgivable. That kind of behavior is not worth learning. But I don't regret it. My regret means that Materazzi did not make a mistake. The fact is obviously not the case. I don't regret it at all."

Almost six years have passed.

French fans still feel regretful when talking about this incident.

That's what happened in Chatham.

When talking about this with Gaio, he said again and again, "If it hadn't happened, we would probably have won our second World Cup title."

After saying this, Chatham would still say to Gaio with hope, "I hope that one day you can lead France to lift that damn Hercules Cup again!"

(End of this chapter)