章 200: Chapter 200 The Big Three Of Sumero Meet For The First Time!
During his time at Union Berlin, Su Luo was known for throwing parties at mansions. They were lively affairs with plenty of beer, barbecue, and banter about the next match. However, this time, there was no party.
It wasn't because Su Luo wasn't popular at Chelsea. On the contrary, after his first day of preseason training, he invited the entire team to Fabric, London's most iconic nightclub. They all had a great time, dancing and bonding late into the night. Although Fabric no longer held the title of the world's best nightclub, it was still one of the top spots in London and remained a legendary venue.
Su Luo quickly built rapport with his teammates. Between his status as the record transfer fee holder and his Golden Boot from Europe, the Chelsea squad saw him as a key player. There were no issues of him being unpopular at the club.
The real reason for skipping the party was that both Su Luo and coach Conte needed to travel to Monte Carlo, in the Principality of Monaco, for the UEFA Champions League group stage draw and a small awards ceremony. This would be Su Luo's first time attending the draw in person.
After arriving in Monte Carlo in the morning, with plenty of time before the evening ceremony, Su Luo met Josephine at the airport. They hadn't seen each other in a long time, and their reunion was filled with affection.
Knowing they were young and in love, Conte made an excuse to leave, giving the couple some time alone. With the coach out of the way, Josephine became even more affectionate, practically leaping into Su Luo's arms in the car.
As they sat together, Josephine looked into Su Luo's eyes and asked softly, "Did you miss me?"
Josephine had been traveling between Milan, Paris, New York, and Berlin, without a chance to visit Su Luo in London. They hadn't seen each other for at least two months. When she heard about his itinerary, she made sure to come early to surprise him.
"What do you think?" Su Luo replied with a playful grin.
"You probably didn't miss me at all. I saw you in the papers, dancing with those young girls at the club a few days ago," Josephine pouted, sounding a bit hurt.
It was true that after a victory over Burnley, Su Luo had taken some Chelsea teammates to celebrate at a nightclub. With his female friends far away, Su Luo inevitably found himself surrounded by attractive women on the dance floor. The closer they danced, the more physical contact occurred. By the end of the night, he wasn't alone when he returned home.
But of course, he wasn't about to admit that.
"Come on, you know how those British tabloids are. They exaggerate everything. The Sun, right? Don't believe a word they print," Su Luo said, trying to reassure her. "I was just meditating on the dance floor."
Josephine, knowing Su Luo's odd habits, couldn't help but laugh at his excuse. "Alright, I believe you," she said, trusting him.
Su Luo breathed a sigh of relief. If Josephine had been around, he wouldn't have needed to go out and party. But, alas, his friends were far away.
In a rented convertible Bentley, Su Luo and Josephine cruised along the Monte Carlo waterfront, enjoyed local delicacies, and then returned to their hotel to "burn off some calories." By the time they were ready to leave for the evening event, it was dark.
Su Luo, dressed in a sharp suit, and Josephine, in an elegant evening gown, arrived at the Grimaldi Conference Center. Flashbulbs popped as they stepped out of their luxury car, capturing every moment. Though this was just the UEFA Champions League draw ceremony, Su Luo was still the center of attention.
Su Luo wasn't in the mood for interviews, so after a few poses for the cameras, he and Josephine made their way inside. As they walked, they bumped into two other figures—one tall, one short. Their eyes met, and there was a moment of recognition.
The tall figure smiled and extended his hand. "Su, we meet again. I hope we face each other this year."
Not backing down, Su Luo shook his hand. "I look forward to it."
The tall man was none other than Cristiano Ronaldo, Su Luo's old rival. The shorter man beside him also offered a friendly smile.
"Su, it's great to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you," said Lionel Messi, who would go on to become a world champion.
"It's an honor," Su Luo replied, exchanging pleasantries with Messi.
This first in-person meeting of the world's top three footballers was a historic moment, captured by every camera in the room. The three stood together, their eyes filled with mutual respect and a fierce competitive spirit.
A reporter nearby remarked to a colleague, "It'd be something if all three ended up in the same group."
"The thought's nice, but it won't happen unless Ronaldo or Messi transfer teams," the colleague replied. "Meeting in the knockout rounds, though—that'd be something special."
Inside the venue, the seats were filling up, and the event began as scheduled. After the host's lengthy introduction, they played a highlight reel from the last Champions League. As the thrilling music played, iconic moments flashed on the screen, including Su Luo's unforgettable scissor-kick assist to Quining against Manchester City and his 1v5 winner against Real Madrid.
The crowd erupted in applause, though Ronaldo's expression was noticeably strained.
As the draw ceremony began, the focus shifted to awarding the Best Player in Europe, recognizing the top performer in last season's UEFA Champions League.
"And the Best Player in Europe is..." the announcer paused, building anticipation.
"Su Luo!"
The spotlight immediately fell on Su Luo, who was visibly surprised. Even though he hadn't reached the final, he still won the prestigious award.
Su Luo embraced Josephine, who was by his side, before making his way to the podium to accept the heavy trophy.
"Last season, I fell in the semi-finals and haven't experienced the final yet. This time, I will make it to the final," he declared in a short but powerful speech that left all the coaches and players in attendance stunned.
The draw results hadn't even been announced, yet Su Luo was already confident about reaching the final. But considering it was Su Luo speaking—the man who led Union Berlin to the semi-finals—perhaps his boldness wasn't misplaced. Now, with Chelsea's momentum and a strong lineup, many thought his prediction might just come true.
Amid applause, the UEFA Champions League group draw ceremony officially began. Football legends like Seedorf, Henry, and Roberto Carlos took turns drawing the lots.
The defending champions and the champions of the major leagues were placed in the first pot, while the remaining teams were ranked based on their European competition points.
Interestingly, last season's Premier League champion, Leicester City, was placed in the first pot.
The guests began by drawing teams into the eight groups:
Group A: Paris Saint-Germain
Group B: Benfica
Group C: Barcelona
Group D: Union Berlin
Group E: Spartak Moscow
Group F: Atletico Madrid
Group G: Leicester City
Group H: Juventus
Seeing the groups, many spectators' eyes lit up. With Leicester City and Union Berlin both being odd-numbered teams, heavyweights like Real Madrid, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Bayern were all placed in the second pot. This meant the potential for some interesting "Groups of Death."
For Su Luo, there was a desire to compete with La Liga's big three. Since Chelsea and Real Madrid were both in the second pot, they wouldn't face each other in the group stage. However, there was still a chance to encounter Barcelona or Atletico Madrid. But Su Luo was more interested in meeting them in the knockout stages.
As the draw continued, the remaining groups gradually took shape:
Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Basel, Ludogorets
Group B: Benfica, Napoli, Dynamo Kiev, Besiktas
Group C: Barcelona, Manchester City, Dortmund, Celtic
When Henry revealed Manchester City's group, the audience burst into applause and laughter—this year's "Group of Death" had been born. A close-up shot captured Manchester City coach Guardiola, who smiled politely despite looking a bit tense.
The draw continued:
Group D: Union Berlin, Real Madrid, PSV, Rostov
Union Berlin was reunited with their previous opponents, Real Madrid, in the group stage, but this time, a key player—Su Luo—was missing from Berlin's ranks.
The camera subtly focused on Su Luo as the draw continued:
Group E: Spartak Moscow, Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen, Monaco
Chelsea's group was revealed, and for Su Luo and his team, it seemed like a favorable draw. There were no teams in the group that could match Chelsea's strength, making them the clear favorites to top the group. For those watching, the real drama would likely come in the knockout rounds.
The remaining groups were quickly drawn:
Group F: Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Sporting Lisbon, Legia Warsaw
Group G: Leicester City, Porto, Club Brugge, Copenhagen
Group H: Juventus, Sevilla, Lyon, Dinamo Zagreb
Leicester City, despite being the first seed, was in a relatively easy group. It seemed likely they could progress to the knockout stages.
With the Champions League draw concluded, the focus shifted to the upcoming matches, set to begin in just over two weeks.
After the ceremony, Su Luo had a chance to chat with Union Berlin's coach, Neuhaus. Historically, Neuhaus would have left Union Berlin by now, but thanks to the two consecutive championships Su Luo helped secure, the club had kept him on.
However, in a private conversation, Neuhaus confided in Su Luo, "I can't do this much longer. I'm planning to take a break."
Union Berlin's new season had started shakily. With many core players gone, their record after four Bundesliga matches stood at 1 win, 2 draws, and 1 loss—far from the invincible form they had shown before. Neuhaus looked noticeably older and more worn out.
After exchanging pleasantries, the former coach patted Su Luo on the shoulder.
"Young man, remember to come back often when you have time. East Berlin will always be your home, and the fans still miss you."
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