This epic showdown directly attracted over 200 media outlets worldwide for live coverage.
Among these was hanger TV Station from Asia.
However, unlike in other football novels where reporters from hanger TV Station could easily interview the protagonist, Fly is not a traditional Chinese person, nor is he Chinese.
This made it difficult for hanger TV Station to directly approach him.
Thus, Peter, the football poet broadcasting live from Emirates Stadium for hanger TV Station, and his staff could only try to find connections to reach out to people close to Fly.
But since Fly's close associates were personally arranged by Annie and Dad Li, and not public figures like Mendes or Raiola, hanger TV Station truly couldn't establish contact.
Ultimately, left with no other choice, Peter could only approach Arsenal Football Club, hoping to conduct a simple exclusive interview with Fly.
Regarding hanger TV Station's request, Arsenal staff merely stated they could help relay the message, but couldn't assist further...
Peter nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, saying it was already enough.
Returning to hanger TV Station's temporary base, han, a well-known commentator for hanger TV Station who famously declared "Long live Italy" during the 2006 World Cup, expressed his dissatisfaction to Peter:
"To be honest, in all my years as a commentator, I've never met anyone as arrogant as Fly... Even other stars, whether it's LeBron James or Kobe from the NBA, or Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo from football, it's not this difficult to contact them..."
"Yet with Fly, this guy with Chinese blood, it's become so troublesome, it's truly infuriating."
"Isn't it just having a super-rich father? What's so great about that..."
han stated that as a staff member of hanger TV Station, he had never encountered such a troublesome situation.
Normally, getting an exclusive interview or making contact with an athlete was basically just a matter of a word.
Putting in such tremendous effort just to get in touch with Fly this time was truly a first.
Peter, however, disagreed with han's view, because in his understanding, given Fly's special status, it was quite normal for him to be difficult to contact.
"Actually, it's alright... After all, Fly is no ordinary rich second generation. Both his father and mother are prominent figures in the top circles of the United States. I heard through unofficial channels that when Fly's father visited China in the past, he was personally hosted by high-ranking leaders at the State Guesthouse; he wasn't just an ordinary wealthy person."
"To put it bluntly, let alone us, even the direct superiors of hanger TV Station might not be able to get in touch with Fly's father."
"Like father, like son; even if the son isn't as great as the father, it won't be much simpler..."
Hearing this, although han felt a bit awkward, he still nodded helplessly, essentially agreeing with Peter's remarks.
He knew very well how Fly himself was viewed within the domestic circles.
Those leaders basically preferred not to discuss him at all, acting very reserved, as if afraid of others knowing they were talking about Fly in private.
Although han didn't understand why a fourth-generation Chinese descendant could have such great deterrent power in China, even making those high-ranking leaders keep silent.
But he wasn't an idiot...
Since those leaders were so reserved, there must be reasons unknown to others.
It's just that with his status, he couldn't access them...
"Ah, alright then, let's hope for some good news..."
Peter said with a smile:
"At least coming to London this time to witness an epic showdown live is not in vain..."
han nodded upon hearing this. Anyone who follows football would be very excited about the Arsenal vs. Barcelona match.
After all, this is a clash between Dream Three Barça, widely recognized as the strongest team in the world today, and the super Arsenal that has been undefeated this season.
It is also a direct confrontation between Messi, a two-time Ballon dOr winner, and Fly, the super goal machine who has scored a total of 72 goals this season.
One could say this match is packed with highlights...
Their journey here from distant Asia says it all.
...
April 7th.
The first leg of the Arsenal vs. Barcelona clash arrived...
Fly had already learned about hanger TV Station's interview request from the club staff before the match.
Unlike protagonists in other football novels who eagerly agree, Fly chose to keep them waiting for a while, temporarily 'read but not replied'.
This wasn't because Fly didn't want to accept hanger TV Station's exclusive interview, but because he wanted to play hard to get and maintain his high status.
In many novels from his previous life, the protagonist would immediately lose all their mystique upon encountering hanger TV Station, eagerly accepting interviews. Those who didn't know would think the protagonist was some unknown player who needed hanger TV Station to boost his profile.
As a world-class superstar, one should not easily agree to exclusive interviews with just any media outlet, this is Fly's understanding.
Because if you easily agree today, it will make other media outlets think you are cheap, which will directly lead to a continuous stream of interview invitations.
At that point, wouldn't it be very awkward for the person involved?
Neither accepting nor refusing is ideal...
If the protagonist were Chinese or even from Asia, accepting hanger TV Station's exclusive interview easily wouldn't be a problem, and other media could understand...
But for someone like Fly, who has no connection with Asia other than a certain blood relationship, what's the deal with easily accepting hanger TV Station's interview while refusing others?
Are you, Fly, practicing discrimination?
Or do you, a member of the Adams Family, have a favorable impression of Asia, which has fundamental conflicts of interest and ideology with the West?
Could it be that you, Fly Adams, have communist leanings?
If you continue to associate these things, it will inevitably drag in a lot of unnecessary issues, and these unnecessary issues are trouble for Fly...
This is also why, in the 18 years since Fly was reborn into this world and learned about his background, he has never expressed any stance or emotional inclination towards Asia.
When accepting media interviews, he would never say things like "As an ancient Chinese saying goes," avoiding any connection with Asia as much as possible.
Only Fly's girlfriend, Taylor, knows that her man has a special filter for the country of Asia and often tells her stories about Asia's history in private.
But Taylor knowing is one thing; she won't talk about it outside.
In front of the media, it's another matter; his own stance must be upheld, which is the "stance of a major capitalist and an American political family."
If a person holds both these stances simultaneously, then even if he talks about topics related to China, it should be to criticize, slander, or promote the Asia threat theory, packaging Asia as a terrorist state like Iran.
Fly believes that if he didn't have the memories from his previous life, the experience of growing up and living in Asia for over twenty years, he would also become such a person, a 'heinous' bad guy in the eyes of ordinary people in Asia.
But he is a transmigrator; he has those memories, so he can only choose a compromise, which is to "try not to discuss any topic related to Asia."
This is also why Fly chose to keep them waiting when he heard that hanger TV Station wanted to conduct an exclusive interview with him.
His own status is one reason, but more importantly, it's a matter of stance.
Fly doesn't want to create trouble for himself, nor does he want to be bothered by these matters that can be completely avoided, so he chose to postpone it for now.
"Hani, what are you thinking about? Were you listening to what I said?"
Suddenly, Taylor's sweet voice reached Fly's ears.
Looking at Taylor beside him, who was watching him with a slight frown, Fly quickly chuckled:
"Haha, elder sister, I was just thinking about something, sorry..."
"Really... Can you not zone out when I'm talking to you!"
Taylor complained softly, then repeated what she had just said.
"Hani, what I just told you was not to push yourself too hard. I know many people are watching this game, even media from the United States are paying attention, but I want to say, it's just a game... It's not worth risking everything for. Your career has just begun; you need to think about your future."
Hearing this, Fly couldn't help but sigh.
Taylor was still Taylor; she hadn't changed at all.
She always cared about her man's health and long-term development, not the outcome of the game.
To put it bluntly, Taylor didn't care whether Arsenal won or lost the match.
She only cared if her man was happy playing on the field.
If he played happily, even if they lost the game, Taylor would be happy too.
If he felt uncomfortable playing, then even if Arsenal won the game or even lifted the championship trophy, Taylor's mood wouldn't be good.
For an American girl like Taylor, who had never even heard of English football since childhood, expecting her to have deep feelings for it was nothing but a pipe dream.
Taylor was only paying attention to English football news now because of her man...
"I know, elder sister, don't worry, we will win this game. I will give my all, but I will absolutely not risk ending my career to fight desperately. It's not worth it."
Fly gave a positive response to Taylor's concern.
Although he knew that with the [Iron Man] cheat that immunized him from injuries, he couldn't actually get injured no matter how hard he pushed himself.
But Taylor didn't know that...
As long as Taylor didn't know, he could only pretend that he could also get injured and had to show a public attitude of "worry and vigilance" towards injuries.
"Okay, good that you know. I'll bring a few friends to the stadium to cheer you on for this game. We'll see how you perform then."
Fly chuckled upon hearing this: "Haha... Don't worry, elder sister, you are my lucky star. In the games you've watched live, my win rate has reached 100%, not even a draw."
Taylor giggled at this, poked Fly's forehead with her finger, and feigned tenderness:
"Then it is truly this humble girl's honor, my King, go for it~~~"
Hearing Taylor joke with him , Fly leaned in and held her tightly in his arms, his left hand constantly stroking up and down.
Feeling Fly's mischievous hand, Taylor slapped him and said crossly:
"Let go of me quickly, there's an important match today, no fooling around... After the match, elder sister will give you a good reward tonight..."
Fly, drawn in by Taylor's promise, lightly bit her earlobe, exhaling warm air into her ear, and slowly said:
"Alright, my dear, then I will look forward to enjoying elder sister's service."
After clinging to Taylor like glue for a while, Fly finally bid her farewell and went to Kearney Training Base in advance to meet up with the team. The Arsenal players would then travel to Emirates Stadium together by bus.
Taylor, on the other hand, would take her friends directly to the exclusive VIP box first.
...
6:30 PM, half an hour before the match officially starts.
Arsenal fans and Barcelona fans who traveled from England have already entered the stadium and taken their seats in their designated stands.
Arsenal players and Barcelona players have also arrived at the stadium by team bus and are currently doing their final warm-ups on the field.
As the live commentators for hanger TV Station, Peter and han were doing their final adjustments in the media area.
Looking at the scene of a packed stadium and thunderous shouts, both of their eyes couldn't help but show a hint of envy.
This is the football atmosphere in England...
How wonderful would it be if China had such a football atmosphere someday!
Shaking his head, Peter said to han beside him:
"Are we almost ready...? The studio is telling us to be prepared, the camera is about to switch to us."
han nodded and replied:
"No problem, everything is ready, just waiting for the match to start."
Peter nodded upon hearing this, took a deep breath, and after receiving the instruction through his earpiece that the camera had switched to them, immediately started speaking fluently into the camera...
"Hello, viewers in front of your television sets, I am your live commentator Peter, and behind me is the famous Arsenal home ground, Emirates Stadium."
"In another half an hour, the match between Arsenal and Barcelona will kick off in this stadium..."
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