Chapter 67: Farewell to the Celestial River Once More

Before parting ways with Jin Longgao, Dai Zhiwei had not offered any promises, only replying that he would carefully consider the suggestions, even after being told that Villarreal’s transfer manager, Roig-Negueroles, would personally come the following evening.

However, through the conversation with Jin Longgao, Dai Zhiwei became more certain about one thing: his transfer demands should not revolve around a high salary or personal perks, but rather focus on his future prospects at a new club. For instance, whether the club could offer him the chance to play at a higher level in European competitions, whether he could quickly secure a starting position or even become the focal point of the attack. Of course, it would be ideal if the club also had the strength to compete for major titles.

With this new understanding, Dai Zhiwei sat down that evening with his agent, Jin Chang, to further discuss his transfer targets. Jin Chang agreed wholeheartedly with Dai Zhiwei’s viewpoint, but also offered a piece of advice: Dai Zhiwei should quickly decide which country’s league he wanted to join and begin learning the local language, as language barriers could become a significant obstacle.

“Maybe I should find a Spanish tutor? I’ll ask Tsubasa for advice first!”

...

“Fabio, I’m sorry.” This was the first time Dai Zhiwei called Cannavaro since the transfer rumors had erupted during the off-season.

“Dai, have you made up your mind?” After a long pause, Cannavaro responded on the other end.

“Yes.” Dai Zhiwei pressed his lips together. Although he was deeply grateful to Cannavaro—after all, it was the coach’s support that secured his starting spot so quickly—he now had no choice but to say these heartless words.

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Dai.” Sensing his protégé’s remorse, Cannavaro instead began to console him: “I was a player myself and played for six different clubs. Transfers are perfectly normal for footballers, and you’re doing this to improve yourself. I fully support your decision!”

“Thank you!” Dai Zhiwei smiled silently at his words. He knew that if he hadn’t burst onto the scene this season, Cannavaro’s first tenure at Evergrande would not have been counted as a success—he was replaced by Scolari halfway through the season. In a way, they had both helped each other achieve something.

“By the way, have you decided where you’re going?” Cannavaro asked with concern.

“Unless something unexpected happens, it should be La Liga.” Dai Zhiwei did not hide much, since Cannavaro was, in a sense, “one of his own.”

Having once played for Real Madrid, Cannavaro went on to share with Dai Zhiwei some things to be mindful of when playing in La Liga, and offered his final blessings.

When Dai Zhiwei ended the call with Cannavaro, he let out a deep sigh. Although Cannavaro was still somewhat inexperienced as a manager and far from the abilities of world-class coaches like Mourinho or Guardiola, he was, up to this point, the most important benefactor in Dai Zhiwei’s career. Without Cannavaro’s unwavering trust in that 21-year-old youngster, there might not have been the brilliant Dai Zhiwei of today.

Yet, the stage at Evergrande was ultimately too small for Dai Zhiwei’s dreams. His difficult experience against Club América at the Club World Cup had made it painfully clear to him just how wide the gulf was between Chinese football and the world’s elite. Therefore, for the sake of his ambitions, and to pursue his dream of being not just the best footballer of his era, but the greatest in history, Dai Zhiwei had no choice but to bid farewell to the club where his career began.

...

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The repeated knocks startled Su Qingshan from a deep sleep. Glancing at the clock by his bed, he saw that it was still well before the time he usually exchanged the car with Xu Weixiang. That old rascal, who drove Didi’s morning shift, never returned the car before noon—why so early today?

“Get up, Su Qingshan! Something big has happened!” Xu Weixiang shouted from outside.

Su Qingshan, irritated, climbed out of bed, rubbing the fat at his waist. “What is it?”

“It’s a big deal!” Xu Weixiang kept shouting, evidently in a hurry.

“Did he crash the car?” Su Qingshan, alarmed by his own guess, rushed to open the door. There stood Xu Weixiang.

“What’s going on?” Su Qingshan frowned. “Did you hit someone?”

“What are you talking about?” Xu Weixiang looked puzzled, then shoved a newspaper into Su Qingshan’s hands. “See for yourself!”

Su Qingshan shot him an annoyed look, thinking to himself that if this wasn’t truly important, Xu Weixiang would regret waking him. But as soon as he glanced at the paper, even before opening it, he saw the headline on the front page of the Yangcheng Morning Post.

The moment he saw Dai Zhiwei’s photo on the cover, Su Qingshan sensed what was coming.

Dai Zhiwei had always been the subject of Xu Weixiang’s brags with friends, especially since, before Dai Zhiwei signed his new contract last season, he would always take Xu Weixiang’s Didi ride to Evergrande’s training ground and to Tianhe Stadium. That was something Xu Weixiang’s friends always envied.

Ever since Dai Zhiwei’s name began circulating in transfer rumors, Xu Weixiang had been on edge, terrified that he would wake up one morning to find the young footballer he so admired had left Evergrande.

But Su Qingshan knew the club probably wouldn’t be able to keep Dai Zhiwei much longer. When rumors surfaced that Evergrande was in contact with Atlético Madrid’s striker Martínez, Su Qingshan had already braced himself for Dai Zhiwei’s departure—he just hadn’t expected it to come so soon, and so suddenly.

Unlike Su Qingshan, who was prepared for the news, Xu Weixiang was stunned and dazed as he read the headline about Dai Zhiwei leaving Evergrande.

He still hoped it was fake news, but the Yangcheng Morning Post was far from the kind of shameless online media known for rumors. He searched on his phone, and every major outlet was reporting that Dai Zhiwei’s transfer was settled. There was no denying it now—Dai Zhiwei had truly left, and Xu Weixiang was devastated.

After Evergrande’s official website confirmed the transfer earlier that morning, the entire Chinese sports world was shaken. The 21-year-old superstar, whose future seemed limitless, was about to embark on his journey abroad.

Su Qingshan now pored over the various newspapers’ coverage—

“Just now, Evergrande Football Club President Liu Yongzhuo held a press conference to confirm Dai Zhiwei’s transfer. He stated that Dai Zhiwei would always be the pride of the Evergrande Academy and wished him success in La Liga!”

“That same day, on the club’s official website, Dai Zhiwei left a heartfelt farewell message, expressing that he would forever remember everything that happened at Evergrande, and wished everyone there all the best.”

“With Dai Zhiwei’s departure, Liu Yongzhuo also confirmed at the press conference that the club would be signing Atlético Madrid striker Jackson Martínez to fill the void up front.”

“After weeks of speculation, the transfer saga of China’s brightest new star has finally ended. Yet to everyone’s surprise, Dai Zhiwei chose not the Premier League giants Arsenal, nor the Bundesliga powerhouse Dortmund, but Villarreal, known as the ‘Yellow Submarine’ of La Liga.”

“It is said that Dai Zhiwei’s decision to join Villarreal was partly due to the intervention of sponsor Xtep, and partly because Villarreal’s transfer manager, Roig-Negueroles, traveled personally to Evergrande for face-to-face talks, ultimately convincing Dai Zhiwei to make the move.”

“According to the latest reports, Villarreal’s final transfer offer for Dai Zhiwei was 10 million euros. If no higher bid appears within the next month, Dai Zhiwei will become the most expensive winter signing in La Liga this season.”

“Insiders reveal a special clause in the deal: should Dai Zhiwei ever leave Villarreal to return to the Chinese Super League, Evergrande has the right of first refusal…”

Ten million euros? Su Qingshan knew this was over a million less than Dai Zhiwei’s release clause, showing that Evergrande was truly committed to supporting Chinese players’ dreams of playing abroad.

Su Qingshan felt conflicted. On the one hand, he wished he could keep watching Dai Zhiwei play nearby, but on the other, he supported the young man’s move to Europe’s top leagues, to further hone his skills and show the world that Chinese football was not a barren desert—that it, too, could produce top-class stars.

Looking at Xu Weixiang’s dejected face, the slightly older Su Qingshan felt a tinge of sadness as well, but reminded himself that this was football, this was life. Even though he and Xu Weixiang would still love the game and support Evergrande, the magical boy who had brought them so much joy would never again don the number 24 jersey and run across the pitch at Tianhe Stadium.

Farewell, Dai Zhiwei!

(End of Volume One: The Chinese Super League Arc.)