He would definitely go to a team that promised him a starting position.
"Youâve come back at the perfect time. Soon, the Germany National Team will be coming to China for a match, and Iâve already contacted the president of the German Football Association, Zwanziger, through my connections."
"Adidas has decided to sponsor a summer training camp in Germany for our team. I hope more players will be able to stay in Germany afterward, and youâre the perfect person to share your experience with everyone."
"And while youâre at it, you can train with these guys. Let them see your progress and understand the gap between them and Bundesliga players!"
Wang Shuo understood what Gao Huairen meant, and he knew his teammates well, so he agreed on the spot.
...
That evening, after dinner, Wang Shuo went to Gao Huairenâs office and had a brief chat with Gao Huairen and Ma Yongcheng.
Wang Shuo, for his part, had also made preparations.
For instance, he had already taken out a long-term lease on his house in Mainz.
SchĂŒrrle and Zhao Yifan were living there now.
SchĂŒrrle, Kirschhoff, Bungert, and Neustadter were now all key prospects being cultivated by Mainz.
Thanks to Wang Shuo, Zhao Yifan was on good terms with all of them.
The current head coach of the second team was Neustadterâs father, a Mainz club legend whom Wang Shuo also knew.
As for the first-team head coach, that went without sayingâit was Tuchel.
Kramny wouldnât be leaving with Klopp; he would choose to stay at Mainz.
Having won the first championship trophy in the clubâs history, it was now time to reward those who had contributed.
Klopp was set to leave, and it was likely his staff, including Buvac, would go with him.
As a result, Kramny stood to become the biggest beneficiary.
Wang Shuo felt that after the training camp, as long as their visas permitted, the players could remain in Germany to trial with a few teams and wait for an opportunity.
Things were different now.
Now that Wang Shuo had made a name for himself in the Bundesliga and had a stable base in Mainz, the situation was completely different than before.
At the very least, Wang Shuo could guarantee that his teammates who stayed in Germany would have a place to live and train, and the expenses wouldnât be too high.
Besides, Wang Shuo was earning good money now.
This situation was a vast improvement compared to when Wang Shuo had first arrived in the Bundesliga early last year.
Gao Huairen and Ma Yongcheng exchanged a look, both sensing the otherâs keen interest in the idea.
With Wang Shuo having paved the way, and Thomas Essien gradually building a network in the German football scene, Wang Shuoâs suggestion was indeed feasible.
Besides, they didnât have to aim exclusively for the Bundesliga.
Having played in Germany for over a year, Wang Shuo had noticed that players from Japan and South Korea could be found throughout the Bundesliga and 2nd Bundesliga, with younger players concentrated mostly in the latter.
Leagues in neighboring countries like Austria, the Netherlandsâ Eredivisie, Belgium, and Switzerland were also viable options.
Gao Huairen had played for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga, and his head coach at the time was Heynckes.
"My old coach is going to manage Bayer Leverkusen. He even called me a few days ago specifically to ask about you."
Gao Huairen was clearly delighted as well.
With Wang Shuo providing an opening, many relationships and connections that had long been dormant were now gradually being revived.
Bayer Leverkusen was a good club, but they already had Kiesling and Helmes.
Gao Huairen was largely in agreement with Wang Shuoâs thinking.
"At this stage in your career, getting regular playing time is more important than anything else."
As long as he could maintain his current momentum, Wang Shuo would have no need to worry about his future.
Joining a top club was only a matter of time.
Besides, he wouldnât even turn nineteen until September.
Wang Shuo hadnât told anyone about the Ball God System. It was his most closely guarded secret.
While Wang Shuo was playing in Germany, Gao Huairen hadnât been idle back in China.
He wasnât just busy with matters at the Huairun Football School; he had also been orchestrating a plan to reform Chinese football.
He had tried once before, pushing for the professionalization of Chinese football, but his efforts came to a premature end in 2002 with the failure of their World Cup campaign.
Gao Huairen became a pariah in Chinese football, scorned and reviled by the public.
But his fighting spirit never died.
His years of laying low had, on the contrary, given him time to think and explore more deeply, and in the process, he had united a group of like-minded individuals in the football world.
Even during the lowest point of his life, this group had stood by him, sharing his same beliefs and ideals.
He was waiting for a chance to make a comeback!
As Wang Shuo began to make a name for himself in Germany, and as Gao Huairen and the Huairun Football School started appearing more frequently in the press, Gao Huairen could feel that day drawing ever closer.
...
After leaving Gao Huairenâs office, Wang Shuo was immediately swarmed by his old teammates.
Everyone was pestering him with questions about the European football scene.
Wang Shuo held nothing back, answering every question they had.
For his teammates, who were about to try and make their way onto the European football scene, this was undoubtedly invaluable experience.
The next day, when the schoolâs players had a special training session, Wang Shuo voluntarily joined in.
The result left everyone stunned.
He had just finished a grueling season, had just played in the DFB-Pokal final, and had only completed the long journey home yesterday. He hadnât even adjusted to the jet lag yet.
And yet, during the fitness training, Wang Shuo left everyone else in the dust.
In the drills that followed, Wang Shuoâs performance continued to leave his teammates dumbfounded.
They had thought the Wang Shuo they saw on live television was already incredibly strong.
But the reality?
"That was my performance under high-intensity pressure. I was up against top-tier European defenders like LĂșcio and Demichelis."