The year Chen Tao turned thirty-nine, he spent New Year’s Eve alone.
A retrospective of twenty years of Chinese soccer was playing on TV. He switched it off and opened an old photo album. At the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, he and Messi had stood together on the awards podium. That day, he thought his life was just beginning.
Only later did he realize it had actually ended.
When he opened his eyes again, he was back in 2004. Nineteen years old, with the World Youth Championship yet to begin.
Feng Xiaoting was still there. Hao Junmin was still there. Zhao Xuri was still there. Dong Fangzhuo was still there. There was still time to change everything.
This time, he would help every one of them make it abroad.
Not to change their fate, but to give them back what he owed them.
