Madrid Ski Festival Wraps Up Successfully!
The Sun Exclusive: Leo Lin and Maria Spotted Having Dinner After the Madrid Ski Festival!
Pep Guardiola Posts Late at Night, Falls Into Emo at 3 A.M.!
On February 21st, the front pages were flooded with coverage of the Madrid Ski Festival.
But among the trending topics, one stood out—The Sun had captured paparazzi photos of Leo Lin and Maria dining together.
Time rewinds to 8 p.m. on the 20th.
The skiing had just ended. Leo Lin had planned to return to the hotel, but then hesitated, wondering if he should stop by backstage to say hello to Maria.
After all, she had expressed her support for him more than once. It felt only right to respond—it would be the gentlemanly thing to do.
Barnett thought it was a good idea. He tactfully excused himself to enjoy the charm of the Spanish night, leaving the two alone.
"Maria!" Leo Lin called out when he spotted her.
Maria was chatting and laughing with two friends. The moment she saw Leo Lin, her eyes lit up with unmistakable surprise.
"Leo!"
"You came to see me?"
She could hardly believe it.
Leo Lin smiled and nodded.
"Are you busy later? Want to grab something to eat?"
Maria nodded immediately, almost as if afraid he might change his mind.
Her two friends burst into laughter, their voices bright and teasing.
"Go on, Maria! Didn't you say you really wanted to be friends with Leo Lin?"
"Congratulations, Maria—your dream's finally come true!"
Maria shot them a playful glare, said goodbye, and followed Leo Lin out.
For their first dinner together, they chose a local Spanish restaurant.
Barnett drove them there and left, agreeing to return in two hours.
They didn't order anything extravagant. After securing a private room and putting on some light disguises, they went inside. They ordered a few simple dishes. Leo Lin took a photo with the owner and his son, and once that was done, the world seemed to quiet down as they began to talk.
"So you're heading back tomorrow to prepare for the Champions League quarterfinals?"
Maria asked, her starry eyes fixed on him.
Leo Lin nodded. It was his first time sitting this close to Maria for a proper conversation. They weren't particularly familiar with each other, so there was a hint of stiffness.
Still, he made an effort to relax. If he could loosen up, the atmosphere would naturally follow.
"What kind of person is Guardiola? I always feel like he's very serious."
After thinking it over, Leo Lin decided to ask about Guardiola. He was genuinely curious. The coaching genius of the football world had always intrigued him.
"My dad does look serious on camera," Maria said with a smile, "but in private he's actually quite funny. It's only when he's working that he becomes incredibly focused."
"Whenever he's thinking about tactics, none of us dare disturb him. We try to keep everything as quiet as possible so we don't interrupt his train of thought."
Whenever she spoke about Guardiola, her face carried a warm smile.
"He's always been a workaholic. From managing Barcelona to later Bayern Munich, our whole family moved around with him. But no matter where we went, he made sure we were well settled and happy. That's all thanks to him."
"So to me, he's an incredibly great person."
Maria was genuinely happy. She had finally become friends with Leo Lin—just ordinary friends, at least for now.
After getting to know him, she felt he would be a wonderful friend. She loved making friends, but only with people she truly respected.
Ever since watching Leo Lin play for the Spanish national team, Maria, as a Spaniard, had deeply admired—almost idolized—his football ability.
Growing up in a football-obsessed household under Guardiola's influence had shaped her as well.
That was precisely why she had wanted to become friends with him.
When Leo Lin had publicly praised Maria's sweet appearance in front of reporters, it had actually been more of a tactical move—an attempt to influence Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola psychologically before that decisive showdown.
And the direct clash in that titanic battle had proven his pre-match mind games were effective.
But after speaking with her face-to-face tonight, Leo Lin found himself genuinely appreciating Maria—not because of her looks, but because despite growing up in Guardiola's household, she had developed a strong sense of independence and self-awareness.
Over a delicious meal, they talked for a long time, sharing their hobbies and laughing about amusing stories from their school days.
Before leaving, Maria waved at him.
"So… are we officially friends now?"
She was smiling brightly.
"Of course," Leo Lin replied with a grin.
The ski festival concluded successfully, and Barnett soon escorted Leo Lin back to Liverpool.
Back in Liverpool, the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals would kick off on February 23rd. Liverpool would travel to Juventus' Allianz Stadium in Turin to take on the Old Lady.
Klopp had made thorough preparations. But Juventus' squad was immensely strong.
The formidable Argentine duo—Dybala partnering Higuaín.
In midfield, the season's interception leader, Khedira.
Out wide, the Black Wind duo of Sandro and Douglas Costa.
And behind them all, the legendary Italian goalkeeper Buffon.
A clash of titans.
A true heavyweight showdown was about to unfold.