Eighteen years old, of Chinese descent, and the last-choice defensive midfielder on Heerenveen's first team.
In the ninetieth minute, coming off the bench, he scored a free kick from thirty meters out, and with it unlocked his System: the God-Tier Player Template. The first template it drew was for a left back: Roberto Carlos.
“The template provides physical and technical modules. The Host chooses the position.”
And so Carlos's legs ended up on a defensive midfielder: tireless coverage, ruthless and precise tackles, and a long-range shot he rarely used, but which was deadly when he did.
But this is the Eredivisie. Play well in just one match, and the next day someone will write up nine ways to stop you and stick them on their locker-room wall. First: always turn right before receiving the ball. Second: pass back to the goalkeeper when pressed. The ninth is the shortest and harshest: he won't say a word to the referee all game.
There was no overnight sensation, only taking himself apart piece by piece: 7:20 every morning, two hundred repetitions. Fix the first weakness, then the second.
He was born in the Netherlands, but holds a Chinese passport. One place doesn't accept him, while the other is waiting for him.
