Chapter 3: Just an Ordinary Defensive Midfielder
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Li Ang received what was possibly the worst news for him at the moment.
Lassana Diarra was confirmed to be out for at least two months with a thigh injury. Whether he would return fully fit after that remained uncertain.
That meant Li Ang could no longer report to Real Betis before the start of the La Liga season.
He felt incredibly frustrated, but his old friend and roommate Nacho, who was assigned to the same room, looked at him with nothing but envy.
Currently, there were five players in the Real Madrid squad who could play center-back.
First-choice pair Ricardo Carvalho and Pepe had nailed down their starting spots.
Raúl Albiol, the third-choice center-back, wasn't being favored by Mourinho at the moment, though he was still a strong player—certainly far more reliable than Nacho at this stage.
Sergio Ramos, while mainly playing right-back, would still be prioritized as a backup center-back before Nacho if an emergency arose.
Then there was Ezequiel Garay—sitting on the bench, waiting for chances, with more experience and ability than Nacho.
For Nacho, the prospect of getting first-team minutes this season looked dim.
Most likely, once the preseason ended, he'd be sent back to Castilla as a training partner and continue playing in the new Segunda División B season.
"With Diarra injured, your chances just shot up, Little Lion. I heard Mr. Mourinho isn't a big fan of Mohammed and Gago. Until Khedira reports in, it's basically just you and Alonso to cover the midfield. Why not go for it?" Nacho said.
"Little Lion" was the nickname Li Ang had earned shortly after joining Real Madrid's youth team.
The Spanish word for lion, león, sounded similar to his Chinese name, so as their friendship grew, Nacho started calling him that.
Now Nacho was trying to convince him to stay with the first team and fight for minutes. He made a decent case too.
But Li Ang, with the soul of a mature thirty-something, always looked at things from a long-term perspective. He wasn't about to change a well-thought-out plan so easily.
"Don't test me. I still plan to go out on loan. If not during the summer window, then the winter one. What I need is a stable professional environment and consistent playing time. And you know it, Nacho—this is Real Madrid. This is a playground for superstars and the media. We don't get second chances here. If you play well, that's expected—it's Real Madrid. But if you mess up... there may never be a next time."
Li Ang spoke with calm clarity, exposing the harsh truth behind the glittering dream of playing for Real Madrid as a youth product.
Either you beat the odds and break through spectacularly—consistently dazzling the club, the fans, and the entire European media.
Or you face reality early and make the smartest move for your career—leaving to grow somewhere that fits you better.
The number of players who become regulars at Real Madrid before turning twenty is extremely small.
The legend of Raúl had inspired generations of youth players fighting their way up from Real Madrid C to Castilla.
But the truth was—there was only one Raúl.
Even someone as gifted as Guti had to suffer through constant positional changes and rotational purgatory, which ultimately wore down what should've been a far more brilliant career.
Li Ang was grateful to Real Madrid for giving him such a high-level platform to develop on.
But he had no intention of becoming another Guti. Nor was he a "Real Madrid loyalist" like Nacho.
Even with his "system cheat," he still needed regular matches and a team that trusted him in order to grow.
"Tch, you're still as boring as ever. But I respect your decision. I believe in you too, Little Lion. I just hope that when I finally break into the first team, I'll get to play alongside you."
Nacho smiled and punched Li Ang lightly on the shoulder, then looked a bit downcast.
He had known Li Ang since he was fourteen and Li Ang was thirteen.
They'd trained and lived together for six years in the academy.
They moved up together—Real Madrid U19, the C team, then Castilla.
Aside from his younger brother Álex, Li Ang was his closest friend and brother.
He'd always dreamed of playing side-by-side with Li Ang in the first team.
But he knew Li Ang too well to have much hope in that dream. His friend always stuck to what he believed was right.
Just like Nacho had always committed himself fully to Real Madrid, Li Ang was equally committed to finding the team that suited his growth best.
It wasn't about loyalty—it was about choosing different career paths.
"Maybe… one day," Li Ang murmured.
"What was that?" Nacho asked, raising his head curiously.
Li Ang paused for a second, then smiled and changed the subject.
"Training starts tomorrow in the U.S. Get ready to give it your all."
"Yeah, you too. Let's make these last few weeks count—let's both do our best!"
Their mutual encouragement brought a smile to both of their faces, breaking the previously somber mood. Soon, they were chatting casually again.
But no matter how relaxed they tried to be, the next day's training would shock them both.
When the team bus arrived at the training facility—rented from the University of California, Los Angeles—they were met by an overwhelming crowd of fans.
Fans from all over the world packed the perimeter, eager for a glimpse of their idols.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema merely waved from inside the bus, but that alone triggered deafening cheers.
Li Ang managed to stay composed—he had, after all, played professionally last season.
But Nacho? He was visibly stunned.
Even knowing these fans weren't here for him, as a "temporary member" of the Real Madrid first team, he was overcome with pride and excitement.
That excitement didn't last long, though.
That afternoon, after enduring Mourinho's ruthlessly intense training session, Nacho was no longer so enthusiastic.
Exhausted. Utterly exhausted.
After the first session ended, Nacho's training kit was so drenched it could be wrung out like a sponge.
Li Ang, by contrast, completed every drill with precision and without complaint. Even afterward, he showed no signs of fatigue.
All Nacho could do was give him a thumbs-up.
Li Ang's stamina was famous in the Real Madrid youth system.
Even though he wasn't a traditional destroyer-type defensive midfielder—he relied more on anticipation and positioning—he always ran the most kilometers in a match.
Still, his personal stats didn't look all that impressive.
Even his strongest skill, defensive interceptions, didn't stand out statistically compared to other big, powerful holding midfielders.
He was composed in possession, rarely joined attacks, had excellent positioning, and was diligent in covering defensively.
But aside from those defensive traits, the rest of his skill set seemed… pretty ordinary.
Even many Real Betis fans who had come to support him still didn't fully understand his value.
Last season, his performances were "unremarkable."
Fans would often say they could always see him in the backline during matches, but his presence never stood out—he didn't shine, nor did he make glaring errors.
He was the textbook definition of a "safe, average" midfielder.
Positioning, interceptions, restricting the opponent's space to advance—wasn't that just what a holding midfielder was supposed to do?
Nothing to talk about.
But then, during Betis' final push for promotion, Li Ang was rested for a match.
The result? Their midfield collapsed, organization fell apart, and they suffered a brutal 1–3 defeat.
After that, no one questioned Li Ang's importance again.
In the final four matches, he delivered four "ordinary" performances that helped Betis secure eight points—enough to clinch third place and earn direct promotion to La Liga.
His current training sessions with Real Madrid were no different.
Steady, methodical, disciplined. He fulfilled every task, then stayed an extra half hour to practice five-meter short passes. Rested. Took supplements.
That evening, during the closed training session, Li Ang trained alongside the attacking trio featuring Ángel Di María and Cristiano Ronaldo.
His performance? As always—consistent and quiet.
Cristiano Ronaldo's evaluation of him matched what Betis fans and longtime Castilla watchers had said.
"He's average. Even looks a bit ordinary."
Ronaldo stroked his chin as he spoke to Karim Benzema and Marcelo.
Then he looked over at Li Ang, who was sipping water at the sideline between drills.
A satisfied smile crept onto Ronaldo's face.
"But I like him."
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