Capítulo 88: Invitation from FIFA
As Wang Feng was actively preparing for the upcoming events, his agent, Balmond, called him with excitement: "Wang, FIFA has officially sent an invitation, hoping you can attend the FIFA Awards Ceremony in Zurich, Switzerland, in December."
This year, Wang Feng received significant honors, leading Genk to win the Belgian Pro League title, clinching the league's Golden Boot, and securing the Europa League championship and Europa League Player of the Tournament. These achievements were enough to establish his presence in European football.
Balmond continued, "Moreover, you've been shortlisted for the FIFA Ballon d'Or, although the likelihood of winning is slim, but you'll be the first Asian player in history to be nominated for this prestigious award."
"Wang, you must attend the ceremony. Not only does it mean further increasing your fame, but it also signifies building a good relationship with FIFA. Let me think about what else needs to be done. Firstly, we need to communicate with the club to arrange your schedule, and secondly, we need to find a good styling team for you. Your debut appearance in world football is important, and image matters."
Listening to Balmond's rambling and disorganized speech on the phone, Wang Feng found it amusing and quickly said, "Balmond, calm down. Don't you have friends in the industry? Ask them how they handle such situations, and jot down the tasks in chronological order to complete them one by one."
Hearing Wang Feng's advice, Balmond finally felt a bit calmer. This was his first time dealing with such a situation, so he felt a bit lost initially. But since Wang Feng trusted him so much, he felt grateful and determined to handle this matter brilliantly.
Soon, news of Wang Feng's nomination for the FIFA Ballon d'Or was reported by the Italian media. Teammates congratulated him, and the club immediately expressed that a small team led by the technical director, Horacio Bohm, would accompany him to Zurich.
"Wang, your nomination is not only your personal honor but also the glory of Inter Milan. You should know that it symbolizes being one of the top 30 players in the world. In Inter Milan, only you and Ronaldo have been selected."
"If you can help Inter Milan achieve good results, we will mobilize all our efforts to help you compete for the highest honors of professional clubs, the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Ballon d'Or. You know, the club and the players always complement each other," Bohm said.
Why do many football superstars flock to top clubs? It's not just because they provide excellent environments and lucrative rewards but also because they offer sufficient exposure and connections. In Europe's second-tier clubs, even if you win the Champions League with the team, the club may not have the operational capacity to help you stand out in award competitions.
Ronaldo was absent for most of last season and was definitely out of contention for this year's FIFA Ballon d'Or. Initially, he didn't plan to go, but after seeing Wang Feng also being nominated, he changed his mind.
"Wang, I'll go with you this time and introduce you to some officials from FIFA and some famous players. I believe they'll be very interested in meeting you," Ronaldo said.
Wang Feng nodded. With Ronaldo's guidance, he believed he wouldn't make any mistakes or create any embarrassing situations at the awards ceremony.
This matter sparked widespread discussion once again in China after it was reported domestically. After winning the Asian Footballer of the Year, Wang Feng had once again made history for Chinese football, boldly challenging for the FIFA Ballon d'Or.
Of course, domestic fans and media were quite rational. Many believed that Wang Feng would just be there for the experience, but who could deny that in the near future, Wang Feng might lift that trophy?
"Wang Feng's development has far exceeded our expectations," a veteran fan lamented on the forum. "When our 18-year-old youth academy players are still struggling in the second-tier league, Wang Feng of the same age is already among the best players in the world."
"This makes us have to reflect. Has there been a problem with our youth training? How many talented football youths have been buried in China?"
This article sparked a huge debate and controversy on the forum. Many people believed that local youth training was the right path, but it needed to be combined with advanced foreign methods. Some believed that talented children should be sent directly abroad to receive systematic football training.
Neither side conceded, sparking a war of words on the internet. The popularity of Wang Feng and football far exceeded that of other topics.
At the Marc'Antonio Bentegodi Stadium in Verona, Inter Milan played against Verona in the 6th round of Serie A.
Under the coach's urging, Inter Milan played with great determination, firmly controlling the situation on the field. In the 17th minute, after Wang Feng broke through on the right flank and crossed, Vieri seized the opportunity to open the scoring for the team.
After that, Inter Milan continued to dominate the game. In the 27th minute, Zanetti lofted the ball into the penalty area from the front, and Wang Feng quickly followed up. The Verona defenders raised their hands to signal offside, but the referee saw clearly that Wang Feng was not in an offside position when the ball was played.
So, he received the ball near the edge of the small penalty area, with no one around him. Wang Feng decisively volleyed the ball into the net, adding another goal for Inter Milan.
In the 41st minute, Inter Milan struck again. Wang Feng received the ball with his back to the goal on the right side of the penalty area. He resisted the defense and forcibly turned around, surprising the Verona defender with his strength. The Verona #21 defender, unable to react in time, was brought down.
With the defense shaken off, Wang Feng cut into the penalty area, where a Verona center-back tried to tackle him by sliding, but Wang Feng pushed the ball forward, creating space between himself and the sliding defender.
Catching up to the ball, Wang Feng struck with his left foot directly, sending the ball into the net, brushing against the post.
3-0! Before the end of the first half, Inter Milan took a commanding lead, securing the victory!
In the second half, the score remained unchanged. In the 57th minute, Wang Feng was substituted off, and Coach Cooper made several more substitutions, resting key players.
Thanks to Wang Feng's two goals and one assist, Inter Milan secured a resounding victory, and the players could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
After this match, the draw for the Europa League group stage was announced. The four opponents were Odense from the Danish Superliga, PSV Eindhoven from the Eredivisie, Stade Reims from Ligue 1, and Osasuna from La Liga.
The draw wasn't particularly favorable, except for Odense, the other teams were all capable of giving Inter Milan a tough challenge. However, it wasn't too bad either, as Inter Milan was the strongest team overall in this group.
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