Lu Chuan, carrying his training bag, arrived at the Leganés club's training base according to the address Instructor Wang had given him.
It was much more modest than he had imagined, without the magnificent buildings of the Evergrande Football School, nor the grand iconic structures of Real Madrid or Barça.
But it was this unpretentious feeling that inexplicably made Lu Chuan feel at ease.
"You are Lu Chuan?" A familiar voice came from behind him. Lu Chuan turned around and saw that it was indeed the middle-aged white man he had met yesterday at the pickup game.
"It's you!" Lu Chuan was a little excited, "You are Leganés's..."
"Chema Rico, head coach of the Leganés B Team." The middle-aged man extended his hand. "I watched your training yesterday; I was impressed." Lu Chuan quickly shook his hand, his palms slightly sweaty.
"Come with me, I'll show you around the club."
Chema Rico led Lu Chuan through the training ground, introducing as they walked: "The Leganés club was founded in 1928. Although it's not a giant, it has a place in Spanish football history."
"Our most glorious period was from the late 70s to the 80s,"
"Back then, we played several seasons in La Liga and even reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey." Chema Rico's tone carried pride. "We are very proud to be established in La Liga now, but the competition in La Liga is extremely fierce. We work hard every day to gain a firm foothold here and continuously climb higher."
Lu Chuan listened attentively; he could feel Chema Rico's deep affection for this club.
"The role of the B Team is to send talent to the first team and also to be a stage for young players to prove themselves." Chema Rico stopped and looked at Lu Chuan.
"Your long shot yesterday was beautiful, but football isn't just about technique."
"I understand, Coach."
"Before officially starting on-field training, we have already arranged for you to complete a preliminary physical assessment and sign the relevant trial documents."
"Your physical fitness data is outstanding, far exceeding your peers, especially your amazing 30-meter sprint in 3.95 seconds, 40-meter sprint in 4.70 seconds, as well as a vertical jump of 70cm and a standing long jump of 2.65 meters. You are simply a born footballer."
"Also, your body fat percentage is only 9.5%, which shows an extremely high level of professional physical fitness, fully capable of adapting to the intensity requirements of our B Team in the Tercera Federación League, and even higher."
Lu Chuan's heart stirred; this was precisely the result of the system's enhancement.
Chema Rico continued, "Today's trial is mainly to assess your football ability. If you can show enough potential, we will have further arrangements, including a more comprehensive physical assessment and contract negotiations."
Chema Rico pointed to the training ground, "Those are your teammates over there." Lu Chuan quickly changed into his gear and joined the warm-up group.
His 185cm height and lean physique were quite conspicuous in the crowd, and the light footwork and quick starts he displayed during warm-up clearly made the other players curious about his Asian face, though they didn't show obvious hostility.
"Are you the Chinese guy?" A tall Spanish player asked in English.
"Yes, I'm Lu Chuan."
"I'm Alex Segura, a forward." The tall player smiled, "I heard your long shot is good?"
"It's alright," Lu Chuan replied modestly.
Alex Segura laughed heartily: "Let us see it during training later."
After the warm-up, Chema Rico gathered the players around him.
"Today, a new friend joins our training. He is Lu Chuan from China." Chema Rico patted Lu Chuan's shoulder. "I hope everyone can give their all and let him experience the level of the Leganés B Team."
Training began with basic passing and receiving.
Lu Chuan quickly discovered that the intensity and precision of the training here were considerably higher than at the Evergrande Football School.
With his 74 Ball Control and 76 Dribbling attributes, he could keep the ball firmly at his feet, whether it was high-speed passing and running or stopping the ball in tight spaces, he seemed to do it with ease.
However, the power, angle, and timing of each pass were subject to strict requirements.
"Lu Chuan, your ball control is good, but your passing rhythm still needs adjustment."
Chema Rico instructed from the side, "European football places more emphasis on choosing the right moment for a pass; it's not just about having good technique." Lu Chuan nodded, trying to adjust his rhythm. The system's physical enhancement had solidified his fundamentals, but tactical awareness and game rhythm indeed needed adaptation. He knew his 72 Passing attribute still had room for improvement.
Next was shooting practice.
Chema Rico specifically arranged several shooting drills from different angles and distances.
When it was Lu Chuan's turn, he stood on the edge of the penalty area, facing the goalkeeper.
He took a deep breath, took a run-up, and shot!
The ball flew straight into the top left corner of the goal. His 78 Shooting attribute gave the shot both precision and power, and his 71 Explosiveness made the ball speed like lightning. Although the goalkeeper made a diving save, he was half a beat too slow, only able to watch the ball hit the net.
"Good!" Chema Rico praised.
But the real test was yet to come. "Now we'll have a practice match. Lu Chuan, you're with Alex Segura." Chema Rico arranged.
The practice match began, and Lu Chuan quickly felt the physical intensity of European football.
Although the system had enhanced his physical qualities, facing these European players who had grown up in high-intensity environments since childhood, he still felt considerable pressure.
His 62 Strength attribute wasn't the most outstanding, but in confrontations, he relied on his excellent core strength and balance. Even when facing physical challenges, he could maintain his center of gravity and was less likely to lose possession.
Ten minutes into the match, Lu Chuan received the ball near midfield, facing a double-team from two opposing players.
He used his unparalleled quick change of direction, evident from his speed and agility test results, to easily shake off the first defender, but the second defender quickly covered.
Lu Chuan didn't force a breakthrough but chose to pass back to a teammate. This decision showcased his passing vision and tactical awareness as an attacker, earning a nod of approval from Chema Rico.
The match continued, and Lu Chuan gradually found his rhythm.
He began to participate more in the team's play. He could sustain high-intensity running and repeated sprints, staying active within a wide attacking range, no longer solely focused on individual performance.
The opportunity finally came.
Twenty-five minutes into the match, Alex Segura crossed from the wing, and the ball was headed out of the box by an opposing defender.
Lu Chuan controlled the ball twenty meters outside the penalty area, facing three converging defenders.
At that very moment, Lu Chuan felt his system talent activate.
That feeling of "being in the zone" instantly surged through him, as if he could clearly see the ball's trajectory towards the goal.
Without hesitation, Lu Chuan lifted his foot and shot!
The ball flew like a cannonball towards the top right corner of the goal. The Guaranteed Long Shot card activated at this moment. The ball speed was terrifying, and the angle was tricky. Although the goalkeeper reacted quickly, facing such a tricky angle and terrifying speed, he could only watch the ball go into the net.
The training ground instantly fell silent. Everyone was stunned by this long-range shot.
"Oh my god, this guy..." Alex Segura's mouth hung open. A flicker of surprise flashed in Chema Rico's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Continue the match!"