"Welcome back, brother!"
"Let me see, how's your leg?"
"It feels pretty healthy, let me test its strength with a couple of kicks."
After being away from the field for half a year, Marco Reus felt as if an eternity had passed. Ever since his cast was removed and he was fully discharged from the hospital, Reus couldn't wait to spend every day in the gym and rush back to the pitch at the first opportunity.
At that time, the team was still preparing for the Champions League Round of 16 match against Arsenal. When Jürgen Klopp saw Reus, he almost kicked him out. His leg injury had just healed, and his muscles hadn't fully recovered, yet he was already on the training ground. Was he not taking his career seriously?
Reus was anxious—there was no other way. Especially when he saw 16-year-old Mario Götze enduring pain he shouldn't have at his age, forced to play frequently in a packed schedule. Because of his own situation, he had caused so much trouble for everyone. Reus truly felt terrible.
After the coaching and medical teams formulated a recovery plan for Reus, he came to the training base almost every day without fail for extra training, striving for a quick recovery. Jin Hayes could attest to this. Every day, Reus arrived at the base even earlier than Jin Hayes, and they often trained together in the evenings. Marco Reus secretly shed no less sweat than he did.
Especially during the initial rehabilitation, the area around his right ankle throbbed with pain. Jin Hayes saw Reus's face turn crimson and his forehead veins bulge as he gritted his teeth through the pain. He still didn't utter a sound, completing his exercises to the maximum extent. Because his injury was more severe than expected, doctors estimated his return to be around 6 months after surgery.
This meant he couldn't return to the field until at least mid-May, by which time the Champions League semi-finals would be over, and all teams would be preparing for the final. If Borussia Dortmund couldn't reach the final, it meant Reus would completely miss this season's Champions League. This seemingly frail, slender blonde young man, with immense willpower, managed to return a month early.
After some simple ball training with the team, Reus was already eligible to play. Upon entering the training ground today, his teammates cheered enthusiastically, making the introverted Reus feel a bit overwhelmed.
"You guys!"
"Don't run, let me see your leg." Mats Hummels went over and jokingly teased him, keeping the atmosphere on the field quite relaxed. Reus, an introvert, was truly a target for the extroverts.
"Alright, you guys! The match is right after this, let's see who's still goofing around here!" Only when head coach Klopp intervened did the playful antics on the training ground cease.
"How does it feel to be back on the field?" Jin Hayes looked at Reus beside him and suddenly felt a sense of reassurance. It wasn't that Götze wasn't good; it was just that the current Götze still needed to grow and gain experience. He wouldn't unleash his true strength until he was 18.
For immediate, plug-and-play combat power, it still had to be Reus.
Especially against strong teams, his speed and dribbling would definitely create a significant threat. With his help to draw attention, Jin Hayes was confident facing any opponent, including the upcoming home game against Manchester United, and the semi-final opponent, Barcelona.
"Let me say this upfront: your main task these two days is to regain your form. We'll rotate the squad for the league match the day after tomorrow. We're aiming to bring our full strength to Old Trafford, understand?"
Regarding recent tactical arrangements, Klopp was completely transparent. He openly disclosed the plan so that all players could be prepared. With the first leg on April 8th and the second leg on April 16th, there was also a league match squeezed into those 8 days. Klopp decided to take a risk and temporarily sacrifice league points to fight for a Champions League semi-final spot. For the substitute and rotated players, the league was also an opportunity for them to shine.
"Whether the team can maintain its points depends on you all. Let's strive to hear two pieces of good news this week!" Klopp had high hopes for the reserve lineup, even omitting Jin Hayes from the main squad. That day, Jin Hayes had completely exhausted himself, sleeping for ove r12 hours after returning to the hotel post-match, which had genuinely scared Klopp.
...
Bundesliga Round 27: Borussia Dortmund vs. Cologne.
Jin Hayes could only watch this important match from the stands.
"Jin, any inside scoop? What do you think about today?" In the South Stand, Uncle Hans curiously asked Jin Hayes, who stood in the front row of the stands, wearing a Borussia Dortmund fan jersey and holding a Borussia Dortmund yellow and black scarf, looking just like an ordinary high school fan.
"With İlkay Gündoğan anchoring the midfield, there shouldn't be much of a problem. And in the second half, Marco might get a chance to come on as a substitute to get a feel for the game."
"What? Marco Reus is back? That can't be true, don't lie to me." Before Uncle Hans could speak, a fan behind him couldn't help but interject. The club had not yet publicly announced Reus's condition, always using the phrase 'training with the team' without mentioning specific return dates. And in previous interviews, it was repeatedly stated that Reus was expected to return in mid-May.
By then, the Bundesliga would almost be over, essentially a season-ending injury. Dortmund fans had long given up hope, and they thought Jin Hayes was spreading rumors.
Jin Hayes turned his head and looked at the middle-aged fan wearing glasses behind him: "It's true, brother, it's true."
"Alter?! (Holy crap!)" The middle-aged fan was stunned. The person in front of him was none other than the King of Westfalen, the saviour who had just scored the winning goal against Manchester United, the true core of the entire team, Jin Hayes.
"Jin!! Hey!! Jin is here!!" The middle-aged fan shouted excitedly. Just then, the players from both teams came out, and the intense cheers drowned out his shouts. After calming down, the middle-aged fan quickly pulled out a jersey and a marker from his bag. "Excuse me, Jin, I'm your fan, could you please sign this?"
"Of course."
In the Bundesliga circle, Jin Hayes was widely recognised as one of the most fan-friendly stars. He himself had experienced similar feelings, having admired Thierry Henry and Kaká, and he understood the fans' mentality well. So, as long as the fans' requests weren't excessive, Jin Hayes would usually fulfil them. With a flourish, he signed his name, and the middle-aged German man with glasses almost cried with excitement like a child.
But the commotion here also attracted attention from those around, and others finally noticed.
"Holy crap!! That's Jin Hayes!"
"It's true! It's really Jin!"
"Quick, quick, quick! He's here in person!"
Soon, fans swarmed towards Jin Hayes's area in the stands, and the already crowded section almost became a beehive. Jin Hayes somewhat regretted causing a stir. He couldn't stop, continuously signing autographs and taking selfies with the frenzied fans behind him. This made Anna next to him pout, full of jealousy.
Jin Hayes's most fervent fan base, of course, consisted of young female fans. In random interviews with local female university and high school students on the streets of Germany, Jin Hayes was the most supported star. This young man from Asia ranked first with an overwhelming advantage, completely outperforming Reus.
Even female fans of rival Bayern and Schalke 04 couldn't resist wanting a signed Borussia Dortmund jersey from Jin Hayes. Jin Hayes's popularity among young girls even surpassed some entertainment idols. One can imagine how crazy it was when Jin Hayes himself appeared in the stands.
"You're too close, hey!!" A female fan almost pressed against Jin Hayes, tightly hugging him for a selfie. Jin Hayes, with no escape in the narrow stands, passively experienced many such encounters. There was even a petite, cute girl wearing glasses, who looked like she was just a German high school student. After getting an autograph and a photo with Jin Hayes, she unexpectedly leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.
Huh? A sneak attack?
Jin Hayes didn't react in time, and the girl had already shyly left with her signed jersey. The commotion in the stands even attracted the attention of the live director.
23 minutes into the match, Borussia Dortmund 0-0 Cologne. On the Sport1 broadcast from ARD, commentator Berenberg quipped: "Oh! Look who it is! Jin, who's resting today, is in the stands supporting the team."
"However, the game is a bit dull, and Jin Hayes has once again become the main character of the entire venue. He's even attracting close-up shots from the stands. It just goes to show, isn't this boy the soul of Borussia Dortmund?"
Nuri Şahin also wasn't in the main squad. He wanted to rest at home, so he didn't go to watch the match live. He had spent quite a bit of energy with his Italian girlfriend Monica last night, so he slept until he woke up naturally in the daytime. In the afternoon, he was just wearing a bathrobe, cuddling with his girlfriend Monica in their luxurious apartment, watching the game on the sofa.
However, when he saw Jin Hayes, Şahin's mouth twitched slightly, almost subconsciously.
"What's wrong, dear?"
"Nothing."
The Italian girlfriend Monica glanced at Şahin, then at Jin Hayes on the TV, and understood immediately. To easily hook up with a young, wealthy football star in a nightclub, she was definitely not naive. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly changed the subject.
"By the way, are you signing the contract tomorrow?"
"Hmm—that's right."
"That's great, then we can live in Madrid. I hear Spanish food is quite good too."
"Nothing's certain until the contract is signed."
Şahin's expression was clearly fluctuating, filled with an internal struggle. Even though he had already communicated thoroughly with his agent and Real Madrid, and all contract details were settled. Borussia Dortmund had even accepted Real Madrid's transfer fee request. Everything was ready, just waiting for the final push. Şahin, at the critical moment of signing, hesitated.
To be honest, putting aside the salary Real Madrid offered, staying at Borussia Dortmund was also quite good. The team atmosphere here was probably the most harmonious; everyone in the dressing room was truly like brothers, without the infighting typical of a big club. On the field, a group of young players dared to fight and play hard, celebrating together when they won, and bearing the burden together when they lost. They had successively overturned Real Madrid, Juventus, Arsenal, and defeated Manchester United, who were the biggest favourites to win.
The future was promising.
As long as they strengthened the squad this summer, Borussia Dortmund would be even more formidable next season. Staying for another year, who knows, they might create a miracle and touch that unattainable championship.
It's just… Jin Hayes on the TV constantly reminded Şahin. He was just a supporting character, not the protagonist of this football club. Şahin had no personal issues with Jin Hayes; in fact, he admired him from the bottom of his heart. At 16, the young player bore too many burdens, single-handedly carrying the team to a comeback and a last-minute victory. But Şahin found it hard to refuse Real Madrid's call.
The best club of the 20th century, a world-class powerhouse, the ultimate temple for professional footballers. As soon as you put on that white jersey, you automatically gained the label of a superstar. Florentino Pérez was assembling a Galácticos team for the new season, and by then, Şahin would be able to stand alongside superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Xabi Alonso. In contrast, no matter how strong Borussia Dortmund's young players were, they still carried a 'grassroots' label.
Seeing Şahin's eyes flickering with indecision, Monica coiled around him like a snake, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Honey, go write your own legend. In my eyes, you are the world's number one superstar, and Real Madrid's aura suits you better."
"Imagine us standing on the Bernabéu stage, lifting the Champions League trophy next season. It's like saving a few years of struggle…"
"Then we'll buy a luxurious mansion in Madrid, and we'll—hehehe—in every corner of that mansion—"
"Stop talking."
Şahin's breathing had already grown heavy. "Later, remember to help me pick out a nice suit. I'm going out to discuss something tonight."
"Okay."
Monica stopped there, sweetly hooked her arm around Şahin's neck, and straddled him, completely blocking the Borussia Dortmund vs. Cologne match on the TV. What was so good about a 0-0 game? Nothing was as important as immediate pleasure.
"Hmm—no way."
"Oh, how could this happen?"
"Hold on, baby. Marco is coming on."
In the stands, the surrounding Borussia Dortmund fans were a bit downcast. The rotated Borussia Dortmund squad was currently tied 1-1 with Cologne. If they only got 1 point at home, title rivals Wolfsburg would overtake them by 2 points to claim the top spot in the Bundesliga.
Jin Hayes sat in the stands, helpless. He could only pin his hopes on the returning Marco Reus, who was recovering from injury. The blonde young man stood on the sidelines, about to step onto the long-awaited field.
"It's up to you, Marco."