"And as time passed, I… we… all of us witnessed his leadership qualities!"
"He always rose to the occasion at critical moments."
"He was willing to sacrifice his own place in the lineup to preserve harmony within the team."
"When everyone else fell silent, he stepped forward to make the right decision—even if it meant confronting the coaching staff or management."
"He stood tall in the middle of thousands of clashing fans, stopped the conflict, and fulfilled his promise by bringing us the championship!"
"That's right! I'm talking about you… Su!"
Raúl said this as he pulled Su Hang to the very front of the parade float.
Zidane stood nearby, smiling quietly.
This moment… had finally come.
Raúl showed even greater resolve than Zidane had imagined.
Perhaps this was the change Su Hang had brought out in him.
In the past, even if Raúl had wanted to step down, he would never have chosen a public moment like this.
He would have spoken privately with Florentino instead.
But now… Raúl's inner strength had grown.
That was the mark of a true leader.
Raúl placed the captain's armband in Su Hang's hand and declared loudly:
"Now, I formally announce that I, Raúl González… will no longer serve as captain of Real Madrid!"
"At the same time, as tradition dictates, I will recommend a successor as the outgoing captain."
"I believe Real Madrid will shine under Su Hang's leadership!"
"I hope Su Hang will become the next captain of Real Madrid!"
"If you share this hope, join me in chanting his name…"
Raúl raised the microphone toward the crowd while lifting Su Hang's hand.
The next moment, Madrid erupted like a volcano:
"Su Hang!"
"Su Hang!"
Dozens of broadcasting crews were stunned.
This was the story of the year.
The outlets that skipped the parade would regret it.
Raúl had voluntarily given up the captaincy.
Such a move was almost unheard of.
What courage.
What a statement.
Raúl had finally shown real backbone.
Not that Raúl was unworthy—rather, Su Hang was simply too extraordinary.
His performances had been explosive.
Amid the thunderous cheers, Su Hang took the microphone.
Clutching the armband, he felt a rush of emotion, but he knew what he needed to say.
He had been preparing these words in his heart for a long time.
"Thank you, thank you all." Su Hang quieted the crowd. "First, I want to share a belief of mine."
"I think everything in this world rises and falls in cycles."
"As a leader, no matter how strong you are, sometimes you must wait for the right moment."
"So whether a team succeeds or fails, whether it reaches its peak or not—that alone doesn't define a great leader."
"A leader's greatest success isn't in taking the team to the top, but in ensuring the team finds its next qualified successor."
"And by that measure, I believe Raúl is absolutely one of the most outstanding and successful captains in Real Madrid's history!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
Raúl's eyes filled with tears.
Su Hang had spoken straight to his heart.
By trophies alone, Raúl's captaincy seemed disappointing, even frustrating.
But Su Hang's words gave his dedication the recognition it deserved.
His efforts were finally seen by everyone.
The two embraced.
Then Raúl helped Su Hang put on the captain's armband.
Afterward, he stepped back, leaving the stage to Su Hang alone.
Facing the sea of fans, Su Hang spoke again:
"I have no grand speech to give, and no promises to make.
Anyone in this position will give everything they have.
I'll just say one thing—next season, our target is the Champions League!"
"Siuuuuu!"
Su Hang roared with all his strength.
In an instant, one hundred thousand Madrid fans erupted in unison:
"Siuuuuuu!"
The chant echoed endlessly, as if it spread across Europe—across the entire footballing world.
After three long years, Real Madrid had once again sent out the strongest signal of their ambition.
Their target: the Champions League.
...
Breaking! Raúl Announces He Will Step Down as Real Madrid Captain Next Season!
Sensational! During the Victory Parade, Raúl Nominates Su Hang as Team Captain—100,000 Fans Cheer in Approval!
After Atlético Madrid's Torres, La Liga Welcomes Another Teenage Captain—This Time, Real Madrid's Su Hang!
Real Madrid Issues Champions League Declaration! New Captain Boldly Proclaims: "Next Season, I'll Lead the Team to the Summit of World Football!"
Real Madrid Fan Association: "We Thank Raúl for His Dedication and Look Forward to Su Hang's Contributions!"
At just 19 years old, with fewer than 20 appearances, Real Madrid's new captain commands universal respect—for he evokes the spirit of Ronaldo, Zidane, and Makélélé combined!
Raúl endorses him! Real Madrid's first Asian captain—Su Hang!
Football's strongest Chinese player! Su Hang's leadership wins over Raúl, becoming Real Madrid's 20th captain!
!!!
The news of Real Madrid's captaincy change spread overnight across the globe.
It was even more shocking than Su Hang's vow to chase the Champions League next season.
After all, for the Galácticos, targeting trophies was expected.
But Raúl stepping down and Su Hang succeeding him? That was almost unbelievable.
Not even a TV drama could script something this dramatic.
At twenty-eight, Raúl was at the very peak of a footballer's career.
Ability, experience, fame, ambition—everything was in perfect balance.
It was the ideal age to be captain.
And yet he stepped aside.
On the surface, it made no sense.
What kind of sacrifice must that have taken?
But those who truly knew Raúl understood just how free and joyful he felt after making this decision.
His wife and family said they hadn't seen such a relaxed, genuine smile on his face in years.
It felt like the old Raúl was back.
As for benefits—within the team, freed from the moral weight of captaincy, Raúl stood to gain.
Take his position, for example—now he could compete for it openly.
Forget Owen, forget Totti—Raúl wasn't giving up his place anymore.
From now on, it would be down to merit.
(Of course, Totti likely wasn't coming anyway.)
In no time, the name "Su Hang" was blazing across Europe.
Media outlets reported the story while simultaneously seeking confirmation from Real Madrid.
But complications arose.
Real Madrid Sports Director: "We were unaware of this. Neither Raúl nor anyone else informed us beforehand."
Real Madrid Executive: "Raúl does not have the authority to decide who becomes the team's next captain."
AS Newspaper: "If Su Hang is made Real Madrid's captain, the club's existing system for captaincy succession becomes meaningless—this is extremely dangerous."