I changed football.

"Yuan, do you think it's okay for me to go abroad to study now?"

"Why not? Didn't you say a team had contacted you?"

"I'm afraid I won't be able to handle it after I go out."

"Why wouldn't it work? Lei, you made 30 league appearances last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists. With those double-double stats, everyone would want you. The fact that they're even in contact with you means they're willing to take you on. Plus, you also had 7 goals and 4 assists in the AFC Champions League."

The Chinese Super League (CSL) now is completely different from the one after 2020 in my previous life.

During the era of "money-driven football," the Chinese Super League was broadcast by European television stations. If you say that money-driven football has been destructive to Chinese football, and very destructive at that, then yes.

You're right to say that the number of people attending matches during the era of big-spending football was far less than the attendance at the Chinese Super League between 2024 and 2026.

However, the intensity of matches in the Chinese Super League during the era of big-spending football was definitely much higher than that in the Chinese Super League after 2020.

After all, there are big names here.

Therefore, many European teams really want a 25-year-old domestic Golden Boot winner like Wu Lei, who can still provide so many assists.

In fact, in his previous life, there were always news reports about Wu Lei playing abroad, but at that time Wu Lei was single-mindedly focused on helping the Port team win the championship.

Furthermore, there were some unknowns about studying abroad, so I didn't go as soon as possible.

However, in this life, because of Li Yuan's existence, studying abroad no longer seems so daunting.

Wu Lei was clearly prepared for the shift from a high salary to a low salary.

"You even know my stats?" Wu Lei's eyes widened.

Li Yuan said with a smile, "Brother Lei, why don't you tell me which clubs are interested in you?"

"Sigh, they're all Chinese-funded clubs."

"What's wrong with Chinese investment? Didn't Japanese players initially go to Japanese-owned clubs when they went abroad? And didn't South Korean players go abroad because their national football association had cooperation with the Japanese clubs?"

That's actually true. Japan and South Korea both went through this process. Once they established their brands in Europe, it became much easier for their players to go abroad.

"What exactly are they?" Li Yuan asked curiously.

"There's Copenhagen from the Danish Superliga, Auxerre from Ligue 2, Nice from Ligue 1, ADO Den Haag from the Eredivisie, and Espanyol from La Liga."

Li Yuan raised an eyebrow and then asked, "Has any team given you a specific promise?"

This is a crucial point. In his previous life, when Wang Yudong had to make a promise before he could go abroad to play football, he was heavily criticized by a bunch of so-called football commentators. They called him a complete idiot.

Choice is a two-way street. If you want to sign me, I'll ask you if you have any promises for me. Isn't that normal?

The same questions are asked about transfers in Europe, the Americas, Africa, and other Asian countries, but not in China. Many people think it's already good enough that Chinese players can go abroad, so they bow their heads very low. This kind of behavior is simply treating themselves as slaves.

Li Yuan has always disliked many domestic football bloggers for this reason; they're just too stupid.

After Li Yuan asked this question, Wu Lei counted on his fingers: "Actually, only Copenhagen from the Danish Superliga and Auxerre from Ligue 2 made promises."

"What are the specific promises? For example, what kind of training or development are involved?"

"Copenhagen said I would be the first substitute for left winger and the second substitute for center forward."

"What about Auxerre?"

"Auxerre is willing to give me a starting position on the left wing. Their current left wing is a 33-year-old veteran, and their substitute is an 18-year-old youngster."

"You're clearly more interested in Auxerre?"

"Yes, you noticed that too?"

"Haha, of course! Auxerre is willing to give you the opportunity to compete for a starting position. Although it may seem like just competition, having this opportunity is good enough. It's also right that you're more interested in Auxerre."

"But, alas—"

Seeing Wu Lei's conflicted expression, Li Yuan could roughly guess what Wu Lei was struggling with.

It's nothing more than the dilemma of going from a Chinese Super League title contender to a French Ligue 2 team.

But he really wanted to go.

"Other teams just wanted to sign me as a mascot, and I could tell right away. Only Copenhagen and Auxerre were serious about discussing my future with me."

"Wait a minute, Lei-ge, I have a question for you. You said you want to study abroad, but here in the harbor—does the harbor agree to that?"

"My contract expires at the end of this year, and I haven't renewed it yet."

"I see!"

"Doesn't that mean you can talk to these teams about transfers during the summer transfer window, and then just sign them for free during the winter transfer window?"

"I still don't want to leave for free; I have to leave something for the harbor."

"But if you leave during the summer transfer window, there probably won't be much transfer fee."

"I see. But if we don't leave now, and we've renewed our contract with the port, when will we be able to go abroad to study?"

Li Yuan fell silent. He had to admit that Wu Lei was right. Perhaps the fans of the Port team thought that if Wu Lei left before his contract expired, the transfer fee he could leave for the team would be pitifully small. But for Wu Lei himself, he would certainly like to leave normally, but he couldn't.

The domestic football transfer market is still not standardized enough, which is a helpless situation.

Seeing Li Yuan's expression, Wu Lei knew that Li Yuan understood his situation, and then began to sigh: "You really have it easy. I know that the Football Association and Ligue 1 have a cooperation. At that time, the port city sent a few players, but one of the kids got into a car accident and couldn't go. In the end, you were added. It's all about timing and fate."

Wu Lei was expressing his feelings, and so was Li Yuan.

When he participated in this collaboration, his contract had already expired. At that time, the Wuhan team was not planning to recommend him, which is normal. If you have a contract with someone, of course they will recommend you. If you don't have a contract, it's normal not to recommend you.

But then Li Yuan was suddenly recruited into this collaborative project again.

In his previous life, Li Yuan never knew exactly what had happened.

Unexpectedly, I got the answer today; it was such a coincidence.

Life is truly unpredictable.

After a moment of reflection, Li Yuan resumed training in the afternoon.

The morning is for physical training, and the afternoon is for regular technical training.

In terms of technical training, Li Yuan also surprised Gao Hongbo.

"Wow, Li's technique is amazing! His skills are like a Spanish player's!"

Anson, standing to the side, wasn't surprised at all: "Li Yuan's skills were already outstanding when he was in the Monaco youth team. Back then, many of his fans uploaded his youth team videos, and they're still available online."

"Where can I watch it?" Gao Hongbo asked immediately.

"Um, it seems to be a website with English letters—yes, it's called Bilibili."

"Bilibili? That's strange?"

"Yes, it's a video website where you can watch all kinds of videos. Some of Li Yuan's fans have uploaded videos of him during his time with the Monaco youth team."

Under Ansen's guidance, Gao Hongbo finally found the website.

"Is this the account that's associated with 'The Source God Arrives'?"

"right."

"Hey—there's even a video of Li Yuan getting off the plane and landing this morning."

"Yes, didn't I tell you before? Li Yuan is definitely the player with the most fans in the domestic football circle right now, just like those idol stars."

"That's right, Li Yuan is handsome, much more handsome than that Lu guy."

"She's even more handsome and stronger than him!"

"Ha ha--"