Sports Medicine Master System-Chapter 170 - 121: Baggio Arrives

「Phoenix International Airport」

Chen Yu reluctantly dealt with the reporters swarming around him.

Some were asking about Carl’s condition.

Chen Yu had been keeping an eye on Carl’s condition. He was undergoing drug therapy for a neurological issue.

But it wouldn’t show any results in the short term.

However, the fact that he had woken up was already the best possible outcome for Jennifer.

Others asked about Olajuwon.

Chen Yu glanced at the reporter who had asked the question.

With the NBA season officially over and the Lakers crowned champions, the media’s focus had shifted to offseason moves.

There were quite a few big fish in the free agency pool this offseason.

The biggest prize, for instance, was Weber of the Kings, and the team was actively pursuing a contract extension with him.

Then there were others like Mutombo, Antonio Davis, Michael Finley, and Alan Houston.

And, of course, there was Olajuwon, who had already made it clear he wanted to leave the Rockets.

"You shouldn’t be asking me that question," Chen Yu said, revealing nothing. "I’m only responsible for his treatment. Which team he goes to isn’t my concern."

In any case, as far as Chen Yu knew, Brian had been planning to contact Olajuwon and bring the Rockets legend to Phoenix.

Chen Yu didn’t think it would be a problem. The Suns’ roster was strong on paper, which aligned with Olajuwon’s desire to join a championship contender.

Especially with Hardaway.

The two of them were living together, so Olajuwon knew exactly what state Hardaway’s recovery was in.

Just as he was speaking, a familiar figure appeared at the arrivals gate in the distance.

"Excuse me."

Chen Yu immediately squeezed through the reporters and walked over.

"Chen!"

The man in the distance was already waving a greeting.

"Josep," Chen Yu said, stepping forward to embrace Guardiola.

Although they had only met once in France, the two had always gotten along quite well.

Guardiola glanced at the pack of reporters that had followed them, snapping photos of the two. He chuckled and teased, "You ’Miracle Doctor’ fellows get quite a bit of attention here in the United States, don’t you?"

’There’s no way these American reporters are here for us,’ he thought.

Chen Yu paused. "You know about that?"

’It’s a big deal in the United States, but it’s just a human-interest story. Do they really report on this in Europe?’

"Of course," Guardiola said with a wide grin. "I’ve been keeping a close eye on you."

With that, he stepped aside and gestured to the man behind him.

"Roberto Baggio."

Chen Yu smiled and stepped forward, extending his hand, then took a moment to study Baggio.

’He’s quite handsome,’ Chen Yu thought, ’with thick, curly hair tied back in a simple ponytail and his signature goatee. While I was talking with Guardiola, he just stood quietly to the side with a faint smile on his face.’

Ronaldo had told Chen Yu that Baggio was a very low-key, easygoing person in his daily life.

"Chen, it’s a pleasure to meet you," Baggio said, stepping forward to shake his hand.

Chen Yu said, "There are too many reporters here. We should get in the car."

The group got into the car.

Baggio’s agent, Petrone, had something come up at the last minute and hadn’t come with him.

As for Guardiola, he had already announced back in April that he would be leaving Barça. Now that the La Liga season had ended with a perfect send-off, he had eagerly contacted Baggio to express his desire to play on the same team.

When he heard Baggio was coming to the United States, he decided to come along to meet up with his friend Chen Yu and visit Ronaldo.

As they were getting into the vehicle, Chen Yu noticed Baggio struggled to lift his right leg, and his heart sank a little.

’And he’s a professional athlete!’

For a professional athlete, the true measure of health is whether or not they can play.

Given their superior physical condition, even a severe injury shouldn’t normally impede their daily life.

For Baggio to still be playing in his condition was simply mind-boggling.

The van set off for the clinic.

The three of them chatted in the back seat.

"Ronnie? He’s recovering well. His movement is back to normal, and he’s already started more advanced rehabilitation training." Ronaldo had his surgery in February, four months ago now. Thanks to an intensive and costly rehabilitation regimen, his recovery had been very fast.

"That’s good," Guardiola said, nodding repeatedly. He turned to Baggio. "See, Robert? That’s why I said choosing Chen was the right move. He really is an excellent doctor."

Baggio had been listening intently as Chen Yu spoke. Hearing Guardiola’s words, he couldn’t help but glance down at his knee and say with a hint of melancholy, "To be honest, my only wish is to make the National Team and play in next year’s World Cup."

The whole world knew that in ’94, his missed penalty had cost Italy the World Cup.

Although in the ’98 quarter-finals he was the first to step up to the spot and successfully converted his penalty—atoning for his miss in ’94—Italy was ultimately eliminated.

The regret still lingered, and Baggio could never forget the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy he longed to hold.

In the upcoming World Cup, Italy was a strong contender with a real shot at the title. If he missed this chance, he would never have another opportunity to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy.

"Don’t worry. I can’t guarantee you’ll make the National Team, but I can at least guarantee I’ll get you back to full health."

’Baggio’s right leg is a huge problem,’ Chen Yu thought. ’A very, very huge problem.’

’But I have time. The World Cup isn’t until next summer, which is a full year away.’

’With that much time, I can definitely fix him.’

Baggio nodded emphatically.

Soon, the car arrived at the clinic.

Ronaldo and Redondo, having heard the news, were already there to greet them.

As Baggio and Guardiola got out of the car, Ronaldo was the first to rush up and embrace them.

"Fernando." Guardiola then embraced Redondo.

The Prince of Real Madrid and the King of Barça. They had clashed on the pitch countless times over the years.

Ronaldo was ecstatic. After some brief pleasantries, he insisted on dragging the two of them to see the clinic’s rehabilitation center.

"Have you heard of an Ultra-Low Temperature Freezing Chamber? They put you in an environment that’s minus 170 degrees Celsius. Incredible, right?" Ronaldo explained excitedly.

The Ultra-Low Temperature Freezing Chamber was indeed a remarkable piece of equipment.

With more and more athletes coming to the clinic, plus Summer Hill and Tracy McGrady on their way, Chen Yu had simply bought one.

It only cost a few hundred thousand US dollars, which was a drop in the bucket compared to large machines like an MRI.

"Minus 170 degrees? Wouldn’t that freeze someone to death?" Guardiola asked, looking at Chen Yu in disbelief.

It wasn’t just the Ultra-Low Temperature Freezing Chamber; there was also an Anti-gravity Treadmill, which was supposedly used exclusively by NASA astronauts.

Guardiola knew that medical technology in the United States was advanced, but he had never imagined it was *this* advanced.

They had never even heard of such equipment back in Europe.

Chen Yu explained the principles behind the machines as he led the group to the massive rehabilitation center.

Aside from the medical center, it was the largest building at the clinic.

It had three floors, each with nearly 3,000 square meters of space, divided into several zones and filled with a vast array of rehabilitation equipment.

After all, rehabilitation was the most crucial part of the process.

In addition to the equipment Ronaldo had mentioned, Chen Yu was also collaborating with the Johnson & Johnson research institute in Phoenix to design custom equipment for specific rehabilitation programs.

It was all custom-made and very expensive.

As a result, the investment in this rehabilitation center had been substantial.

Chen Yu dared to claim that with his expertise and this facility, it was the most professional sports rehabilitation center in the entire United States, perhaps even the world.

The last time Carter visited, he couldn’t hide his envy, remarking that the equipment here was even more comprehensive and professional than what they had at NASA.

Baggio followed behind, watching in silence, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

He had always heard his agent and Ronaldo talk about how professional Chen Yu was, but only now did he truly grasp it firsthand.

While Guardiola was trying out the Anti-gravity Treadmill, Baggio asked, "Chen, when can I start my treatment?"

He was getting impatient.

Chen Yu replied, "We’ll get you admitted today. As for the surgery, we’ll have to wait for word from the organ transplant department."

"Organ transplant?"

Baggio was taken aback. ’I thought this was for a ligament repair?’

Chen Yu nodded. "The meniscus in your right knee was removed. I’m planning to perform a meniscus transplant. Otherwise, even if we repair your worn cartilage now, the problem will just come back later. Don’t worry, I’ve already performed a successful meniscus transplant, so I’m very confident."

"At the same time, I also plan to repair your vastus medialis tendon—the one you injured when you were seventeen. To do that, I’ll take a section of tendon from your arm and graft it onto your knee."

Chen Yu lifted Baggio’s right arm and indicated a spot on his forearm.

’If we’re going to do surgery, we might as well fix everything.’

Tendon grafting was already an established surgical procedure.

Gugliotta, for example, had undergone an autograft reconstruction.

This type of procedure could be used to reconstruct not only ligaments but also tendons.

’Of course, I only dare to do this because I have the System,’ Chen Yu thought. ’Otherwise, who would dare attempt to repair and then reconstruct a muscle that had been sutured with wire?’

Next was the choice of which autograft tendon to use.

An allograft—a graft from a donor—would carry the risk of rejection, which would be a complication.

Fortunately, Baggio was a soccer player, so his arms weren’t as critical to his sport.

He wasn’t like a basketball player, for whom both their hands and feet are crucial.

Taking a tendon from his forearm wouldn’t affect his ability to play soccer, and he wouldn’t suffer any significant loss of arm function.

Baggio’s jaw dropped in shock. He looked from Chen Yu back to his own arm.

’A meniscus transplant *and* a tendon graft from my forearm... just how massive of a surgery is this going to be?’

The crucial thing was, he had consulted so many doctors in Europe, and not a single one had ever suggested such a surgical option.

Compared to all this, his torn ligament seemed like a trivial issue.

He glanced over at Ronaldo, who was jogging on the Anti-gravity Treadmill in the distance, and his expression grew resolute.

’My right leg is already this bad anyway,’ he thought. ’I have nothing left to lose.’

’The worst that can happen is the surgery fails, and I’ll just retire on the spot.’

At this late stage of his career, the only thing Baggio cared about was playing in one more World Cup, fighting for his country one last time, and chasing the FIFA World Cup trophy he dreamed of lifting.

For that, he was willing to undergo any surgery, no matter how major.

And when it came to major surgeries, he had been through worse. After his operation in ’84, he’d received over two hundred stitches. Due to an allergic reaction, he couldn’t even take painkillers. At just seventeen years old, he had lain in his hospital bed day after day, tormented by excruciating pain.

’I survived that, which was so much harder. What’s there to be afraid of with this surgery?’

"Chen, let’s do what you said," Baggio said, looking at Chen Yu with unwavering eyes. "I came all this way because I trust you completely." He knew he had no other choice.