Why didn't Chen Anno live at home, but instead stayed at the club?
It wasn't because he was afraid of being reminded of the past by returning home, but for safety.
That's right, it was for safety!
Although São Paulo is the largest city in South America and the heart of Brazil, Chen Anno, who grew up here, knew the public security environment all too well.
To be honest, after living in China for two years, Chen Anno truly felt what safety meant.
Even in the early hours of the morning, no matter what time he went out, he never had to worry about someone suddenly popping up and saying: 'Robbery!'
Yes, the football here is pure, and the criminal activity is just as pure.
So pure that as long as someone isn't killed in broad daylight, the police are too lazy to care.
There was no other way; to pursue his dream, he could only return here, hoping to use São Paulo as a springboard to reach Europe or even the five major leagues as soon as possible.
Vizzoli drove all the way to the Morumbi District, the wealthy area of São Paulo, where São Paulo FC is located.
São Paulo FC is different from those European or even Chinese clubs; from the outside, it doesn't look like a football club's base at all, but more like a resort.
Yes, especially after walking inside, the environment and architecture feel like a country resort in every way.
São Paulo was founded in 1930 and has won the Copa Libertadores three times, the Club World Cup once, the Brazilian Serie A six times, and the São Paulo State Championship 21 times, among others.
The team has cultivated many world-renowned football stars, such as Cafu, Denílson, and Kaka.
"Anno, if you hadn't left back then, I'm certain you wouldn't be any worse than Neymar. Even though you're four years younger than him, you'd probably be playing in the five major leagues by now."
Along the way, Vizzoli kept chattering incessantly, while Chen Anno listened quietly. Chen Anno's departure two years ago had always been a weight on Vizzoli's heart.
"Anno... I'm currently working as an assistant coach for the U20s. Your inclusion in the U17 list back then was sent back to me by a friend of mine in China."
"By the way, Anno, since they've completely given up on you over there, you should switch back to Brazilian nationality... That's great. Give me the paperwork later, and I'll find someone to handle it for you."
A few minutes after entering the club's training base, they reached a cluster of buildings and the car stopped.
"Come on, Anno, I picked your dormitory specifically for you; I guarantee you'll like it... Hey, guys, give me a hand, there's quite a bit of luggage." Vizzoli said, calling out to some staff members nearby.
Once inside, Chen Anno discovered that this was actually the first-team dormitory. Since most first-team players didn't live in the club dorms, it was very quiet, with one person per room.
"Uncle Vizzoli, me living here... isn't that a bit inappropriate?" Chen Anno didn't want any special treatment; it wouldn't be good for team unity.
Vizzoli patted Chen Anno on the shoulder: "Anno, don't worry. This isn't special treatment for you; it's because now that you're back, you'll be training directly with the first team."
Seeing the young man's surprised expression, the corners of Vizzoli's mouth curled up slightly: "Actually, two years ago, if you hadn't left, they would have probably had you start training with the first team the following year. Anno... you have to perform well. I put my reputation on the line and gave Mr. Ramalho my word. Uh... Ramalho is the current Head Coach of the first team."
Vizzoli's words immediately made Chen Anno feel the pressure, but he soon straightened his back. With his mentor's trust, he believed he could establish himself in the first team through his own strength.
Vizzoli held Chen Anno's shoulders with both hands: "The São Paulo state regional tournament has already started, so you've missed that, but the Brazilian Serie A hasn't begun yet. You still have a month to try and leave a good impression on Coach Ramalho..."
...In Brazil, football is indeed a shortcut to achieving social mobility.
However, this shortcut is so difficult—like ten thousand people crossing a single-log bridge—that the probability of success is no higher than passing the civil service exam back in China.
The next day, having slightly recovered from jet lag, Chen Anno began a series of physical examinations and tests with the club staff.
Along the way, he noticed that many of the familiar faces from two years ago were gone, showing just how high the elimination rate is on the path of football in Brazil.
Especially in the youth tiers, most talented young players are usually snatched up by major European Leagues by the age of twenty. The highly gifted ones might even be taken by top clubs for personal development in their teens.
Most of the rest are directly eliminated, scattered to various corners of the city, struggling to make a living.
A few lucky ones stay on as reserve personnel for the club; that's how the U20 tier, unique to the campeonato brasileiro série a, came to be.
Consequently, this leads to the first-team players in Brazilian Serie A clubs generally being older.
First, there's the premature outflow of young players, and second, there are the players who return at the end of their professional careers to retire after spending their youth and talent abroad.
This situation is most evident in the Argentine and Brazilian Leagues across South America.
Just as they were passing the training ground, an older teammate saw Chen Anno and asked, "Who is that handsome young fellow?"
His name was Lúcio, Brazil's famous goal-scoring center-back and former national team captain, who had played for Bayern in the Bundesliga and Inter Milan and Juventus in Serie A.
He was one of the key members of the Brazil team that won the World Cup in '02, and he also won the first treble in club history with Inter Milan in the 09-10 season.
The person he asked, Wellington Martins, was a veteran of São Paulo FC, having been there since the youth team.
Wellington looked in the direction Lúcio was pointing and could hardly believe his eyes, even rubbing them hard with his hand: "That's Anno... Anno Chen! He's actually back?"
"Oh?" A hint of interest flashed in Lúcio's eyes. "The one who was as famous as Neymar back then?"
"That's right, it's him. I saw him play when I was at Grêmio; he's very good." At that moment, Aloísio walked over.
"Very good?" Lúcio raised an eyebrow, flicked the ball out with his foot, and then swung his right leg... Bang... Chen Anno, with his hands in his pockets, was following the staff to another field for an on-ball test, when he suddenly seemed to sense something... Thwack... he lifted his right foot and effortlessly trapped the incoming ball. Then, with a flick of the outside of his right foot, the ball, still lightly bouncing on the ground, zipped back with a whoosh.
Clap clap clap... Lúcio clapped his hands, his gaze toward Chen Anno turning into one of approval.
Meanwhile, Chen Anno had already disappeared around the corner with the staff; from start to finish, he hadn't even taken his hands out of his pockets.
"Heh..." Lúcio laughed, finding the kid quite interesting. He looked at Aloísio: "Alo... you're right, he really is quite good."
Aloísio raised an eyebrow, feeling that this Anno was even better than he was two years ago. He thought to himself: Could it be that during the two years he disappeared, he went somewhere for secret training?
With such a question in mind, this honest Brazilian man would follow in Chen Anno's footsteps a year later and go to the place where he had secretly trained.
That's right, this Aloísio is the future Luo Guofu, though he doesn't yet know that he will have such a magical name in the near future.
Ãdvåñçé çhàptêr àvàilàble óñ pàtreøn luffy1898