"Nice name. I hear you're a youth player too. You play for Barcelona?"
Yamal nodded. He was very shy.
"I play as a winger at La Masia. A right winger. My dream is to make the national team one day and become your trusted helper. My dad says I'll become your strongest right hand man!"
As soon as Yamal finished speaking, all the guests around them laughed.
Leo Lin burst out laughing too and ruffled Yamal's cute little head. Then the blessing ceremony began.
Leo Lin placed a ring around Yamal's neck. It looked a little like a birthday crown, but was not actually one. Then, with a serious expression, he followed the priest and recited a few lines of blessing.
Applause immediately rang out from the guests. Yamal touched the necklace around his neck, his face filled with excitement.
"Could I trouble you to give him one piece of advice?"
"Just one is enough. At least something that can help him understand how to become a true professional athlete."
Yamal's father hoped Leo Lin could offer him some advice.
"If I had to give advice, it would be persistence."
"I don't know exactly how talented Yamal is, but being able to play at La Masia means he must have some talent."
"So what you need to do is keep going. Never think you've already fulfilled your talent. Keep pushing yourself to improve, until one day, maybe you really will stand beside me."
After Leo Lin finished speaking, Yamal nodded firmly. From that moment on, becoming Leo Lin's right hand man became the first goal of Yamal's career.
It was a cheerful birthday party. Although the guests all liked Leo Lin, they did not bother him too much.
One after another, fans came up carefully without disturbing him too much, asking whether they could take a photo or get an autograph.
Leo Lin granted their requests, and because of his arrival, the birthday party became even more lively.
Barnett was smiling happily too, until his old pocket watch was taken away by Leo Lin, who waved it in front of him like a hypnotist showing off.
Leo Lin had liked Barnett's old pocket watch for a very long time.
"My dear pocket watch, even after leaving me, you have to live well!"
"Promise me, even without me, you'll take good care of yourself!"
Barnett reluctantly said goodbye to his treasured old pocket watch.
He looked heartbroken, but in truth, Barnett did not really think it was a big deal. In his heart, Leo Lin's place was far higher than that old pocket watch.
After defeating Manchester City, Liverpool reclaimed first place in the Premier League. For the time being, their league duties could be considered settled.
Next, Liverpool's focus would return to the Champions League. Beat Paris, secure a place in the Champions League round of 16 early. That was the new objective.
Although Leo Lin had repeatedly emphasized that Liverpool were not currently a depleted side, Klopp still named a heavily rotated lineup.
Robertson and Arnold were both on the bench. This was the recommendation of Liverpool's new fitness analyst.
Liverpool had successfully poached Barcelona's chief fitness analyst, paying a price of more than five million euros to do so.
But the more professional physical maintenance system and more comprehensive analysis of potential injuries were a huge help to Liverpool's first team.
...
November 29, Anfield.
The fourth round of the UEFA Champions League Group A fixtures. Liverpool versus Paris Saint-Germain.
After the first three group matches, Liverpool were first with two wins and one draw, while Paris Saint-Germain were second with two wins and one loss.
So in this round, as long as Liverpool beat Paris, they would not only qualify early, but also more or less lock down top spot in the group.
In the official broadcast booth, Scholes once again sat in front of the camera.
"Hello, fans. Good to see you again. Today's match will once again be brought to you by me, midfield master Scholes, with professional commentary!"
Ashley Cole immediately spoke up beside him.
"And me, defensive master Ashley Cole, bringing you commentary as well!"
Henry, sitting beside them, stayed silent until the other two stared straight at him.
This was the opening line the three of them had agreed on beforehand. Or rather, the one the other two had agreed on, because Henry had no desire to take part in this shameless self introduction routine.
But the looks from the two men beside him were far too intense. After a long pause, Henry finally spoke helplessly.
"And… and me."
"Forward m-master Henry."
"Here to commentate for you."
Only then did the two men beside him nod in satisfaction.
"As for Paris Saint-Germain, their starting lineup has changed compared with the previous match. Right back Correa starts, while Buffon, back from injury, is in goal."
"Liverpool, meanwhile, have made much bigger rotations."
"Goalkeeper: Mignolet!"
"Defenders: Moreno, Van Dijk, Ocho, Joe Gomez."
"Joe Gomez, who joined Liverpool's youth academy in the transfer window for more than four million euros, has been promoted to the first team by Klopp!"
"Midfielders: Rodri, Wijnaldum, Leo Lin."
"Forwards: Mané, Firmino, Shaqiri."
"Although Ocho performed well in the previous match, this round his partner on the right has been changed to the equally young Joe Gomez."
"No one knows what kind of defensive chemistry these two young players will produce, so we don't know whether it will be fright or delight!"
In the dressing room, Leo Lin was still wearing the Captain's armband. The starting players followed behind him into the tunnel.
Neymar, standing nearby, saw Leo Lin and gave him a handsome wink. This was Neymar's unique way of saying hello.
Leo Lin smiled and patted him, then shook hands and hugged Cavani.
At the back of the Paris squad, Mbappe covered his mouth as he looked at Leo Lin, no one knew what he was thinking.
Perhaps without Leo Lin, those top titles and top awards for young players should all have belonged to him.
Mbappe had already performed well enough. Whether in Ligue 1, the Champions League, or the World Cup, Mbappe was absolutely one of the best young players around.
But what Leo Lin had shown no longer belonged within the category of a young player at all.
The referee led both teams onto the pitch, and the match officially began.
After kickoff, Paris Saint-Germain took the initiative in attack, while Liverpool played on the counter.
Neither Joe Gomez nor Moreno pushed forward to attack. Both played as defensive full backs, so Liverpool's attacking approach had to change again.
In the 18th minute.
"Paris Saint-Germain have more of the ball. Neymar is playing as an attacking midfielder today."
"He dribbles past Wijnaldum and passes to the right. Mbappe faces Moreno!"
"He breaks forward."
"He's past him!"
"He keeps going down the right!"
"He shoots directly!"
"No real threat."
"Mbappe chose to shoot straight away, and Cavani in the middle looks a little unhappy."
"But right now, Paris's front line really doesn't look united enough. In their previous Ligue 1 match, Neymar and Cavani even had that penalty taking farce on the pitch!"
"That may be Liverpool's advantage in this match."
"Because they are united. Every one of them is united around Leo Lin!"
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
p-@-treon/GhostParser (65 Chapters Ahead)
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.