Chapter 50: The Value Manifested
"Hmm, maybe I should do like Xiao Ming and intercept Figo midway? For Barcelona, Figo coming to Mallorca would be way better than going to Real Madrid... but I don't know if Figo would even want to," José mused, rubbing his chin. For him, it wasn't hard to come up with a plan. All he needed was to use a few parties' thoughts and conflicts, creating space where he could work his magic. But...
"Dammit, over thirty million dollars in compensation, over fifty million dollars in transfer fees... half of my fortune's going into one person... Forget it. With that damn restriction, how could I even dare spend money..." José sighed inwardly, dropping the unrealistic thoughts and focusing on the match unfolding before him.
Earlier, Ibagasa's attack had caused a stir among the Barcelona fans in the stands, who immediately began chanting for their team to attack and give the opposition a lesson!
Barcelona launched an attack, but it wasn't quite the same as usual. With Cruyff as the "best center forward for a 4-3-3" and Rivaldo and Figo as powerful wingers, Barcelona's offense had once been unparalleled in Europe. At least, no team could rival them. Their weak spot was always defense, not attack. But without Figo, their attack felt incomplete. Dani was trying hard to prove himself in front of his old team, but his best position was as a forward or second forward. Playing on the wing wasn't his strength. Throughout the game, he unconsciously drifted into the middle, crowding Cruyff's space and disrupting Rivaldo's frequent moves into the center.
With Ronald de Boer organizing in the middle, Barcelona fans helplessly watched as four players crowded the center. Barcelona's attack grew more and more chaotic...
Taking advantage of the confusion in Barcelona's offense, Mallorca launched a counterattack!
Barcelona's defense was pushed high up the pitch, and in this situation, it was Samuel Eto'o's time to shine!
A mispass from Ronald de Boer sent the ball straight to N'Gonga. N'Gonga looked up and saw Tristan moving into the center, while Eto'o was already sprinting down the left wing. This was Mallorca's most effective counterattack method...
Without hesitation, N'Gonga swung his right leg and sent a long pass!
The ball flew perfectly towards the center circle. Tristan, keeping an eye on the ball's trajectory, used his body to shield off the incoming Avellado. Avellado had also anticipated the ball's landing spot, but in terms of strength, he couldn't compete with Tristan!
Easily holding off Avellado, Tristan leapt into the air, meeting the ball with his head and sending it flying towards Barcelona's penalty area!