Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!-Chapter 218 - 217 - End

Brighton FC's victory over Bayern Munich had repercussions throughout Europe. Not only because Brighton was considered a small, underdog team at the start of the season, but also because of all the history involved in a game like this.

Brighton had obviously already attracted a lot of attention because of the team's achievements at the start of the season, the controversies with the complete swap of A Team players for B Team players. However, a news item posted on social media minutes before the ball rolled in the final made this game famous.

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[ALERT! Childhood best friends face off in a Champions League title match!]

Even though it wasn't the professional Champions League, this news had a headline that would catch the eye of any soccer fan. As a result, fans found out during the match who Tsuyoshi Nishida and Lucas Tanaka were. And when they turned on the television out of curiosity about the story, they kept watching because of the level of the match. This made the number of viewers increase more and more, consequently increasing the number of people commenting about it on the internet.

[@Sub0: I'd never watched a U-20 game before. What was I doing with my life?

@SleepyDog: What a huge match between Brighton and Bayern! Both teams have so much talent!

@FabianRuiz: Okay, okay! Two goals for Tanaka and two for Nishida! It's going to be exciting all the way!

@WaterSoccer: I can't tell if these goalkeepers are very good or terrible! What a match!

@Onistak: That article made me curious, so I went to see the Brighton-Bayern match and... wow! Those teams would beat my team, I think.

@LexPix: GOOOAAALL! I can't believe he actually scored a hat-trick! That Lucas Tanaka is superb.]

The teams, the final, the context, the goals and the story made this non-professional match the most watched and commented on that week. Everyone was hooked by some factor that distinguished this game from most of the boring games that took place in the leagues.

The attention was even greater when Brighton FC, a week later, was crowned Premier Youth League Champions with two rounds to spare, achieving a score that equaled Liverpool's all-time record.

If anyone was going to say that it was a stroke of luck that Brighton won the Champions League, they couldn't argue against a Premier League.

Obviously, this generated a lot of attention for Brighton and a lot of sponsorship. On the internet, most Brighton fans were fanatical about seeing these players who had shone so brightly at U20 level play for the professional team, but internally, the question wasn't whether the manager of the professional team would like to move these players up a category, but whether they would stay at Brighton.

For all the players' agents and for Brighton itself, offers from dozens of teams all over Europe and the world arrived for literally every player in the U-20 team, even those who were reserves.

The management immediately knew that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to keep hold of all these players with so many tempting opportunities from teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Milan, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Corinthians, Flamengo, Bayern Munich and many others.

They were astronomical offers for young players who earned little, and the names of the teams would make anyone's heart flutter.

A number of soccer profiles on social media suddenly started mobilizing for Nishida and Tanaka, the best friends who had become famous after that final, to play together at Bayern Munich.

Nishida had a long contract with a high fine, so obviously he wouldn't be leaving Bayern Munich for several years. However, Tanaka certainly had an offer from Bayern Munich on the table after destroying them in the final and having a similar style of play to what Bayern Munich usually look for in midfielders - aggressive and calm.

Brighton FC, seeing this mobilization of international fans and having many offers for Lucas Tanaka on the table, knew that what they could offer Lucas wouldn't be enough to convince him to stay. So they left the decision up to Lucas.

For weeks, theories and more theories swirled around the internet about where he would go, until one morning, the news finally came out.

[Lucas Tanaka, the young Japanese prodigy, is yet another young talent to join PSG!]

At the press conference after the million-dollar signing, the first question put to Lucas was:

"Tanaka, why did you choose PSG out of so many opportunities on your table?"

It was a natural question, considering Real Madrid had crushed that PSG in the round of 16 in the last Champions League and there had already been many controversies involving the egos of the big players and how the atmosphere in the dressing room was troubled.

Before answering, Lucas Tanaka smiled. "It's obvious, isn't it? Any player wants to play with the best. Liverpool has a great team, Real Madrid too, Juventus, but here I'd have the chance to play with Neymar, Cavani, Mbappe, Thiago Silva and many more. To wear the shirt with this shield that has already been defended by many other great players like Ronaldinho, Ibrahimovic and Beckham is a great honor."

"We know about the Japanese personality and upbringing. Do you think that could be a problem with so many South American players on the team?" Another asked.

"My first name is Lucas for a reason, you know? My father has always been a big fan of South American soccer, especially Brazilian soccer. It won't be a problem for me, and I'm sure it will for them, too."

"Is your goal to win the Champions League with PSG?"

"Yes, that's why I'm here. I think I'm strong enough to cover the gaps that can be left at certain points on the pitch. After all, nobody would have the courage to ask Cavani and Neymar to mark the opposition in midfield."

The interviews continued with many more questions, and Lucas Tanaka naturally answered them all.

Between PSG, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the player with Nishida really tempted Tanaka. However, he chose what was best for his career and also for his soccer.

Copying the daily skills of Neymar, Mbappe, Cavani and many other players, whether in defense, attack or midfield, would be better for him than having several Champions Leagues in the future.

Besides, what he said in the interview was true. He wanted to win the Champions League, and he knew he could do it, if not now with Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani, then in the future with Neymar, Mbappe and Messi.

Also, Tanaka and Nishida could always play together for the Japan national soccer team, just as they had already been called up after that last match.

Tanaka then had to leave the small town of Brighton and move to the French capital, where he would study online. Saying goodbye to his Brighton teammates wasn't easy, but they knew that Lucas Tanaka was following his destiny.

"Don't forget us." Arthur said as he ruffled Lucas' hair.

"Sniff... Sniff... You're a bum for making me cry." Raphael wiped away the tears.

"I'm sure you'll do just fine." Eddie said, tidying up his thick moustache.

"We'll definitely meet again when I'm a physiotherapist!" Kader declared.

"You won't let us down, kid." Coach Jimenez said.

For their part, John, Ayumi and little Hana also had to move to Paris, otherwise Lucas Tanaka would never have really focused without his family around, even after making so many changes compared to his previous life.

Lucas' loves, Lucy and Kate, needed to continue with their lives in Brighton and at the Seyek Institute, but they promised that when they graduated, Lucas would have to marry one of them. Left with no choice, Lucas agreed because he loved them both so much and couldn't imagine just staying with a bunch of women.

And so Lucas Tanaka's life in professional soccer began, bringing to an end a long journey because Lucas' first big dream had finally come true.

[Champion System activated!]

[Congratulations, you've completed the tutorial!]

[Unlocking new resources, skills and missions...]