Chapter Sixty-Two: An Awkward Reversal

This situation had become incredibly awkward.

The entire scene seemed to freeze. What was going on? Could someone please repeat that? Recalling Lehmann’s previous remarks and how he had incited the fans, he now felt his face burning with shame. Everything Lehmann had said before was essentially meaningless—as unbelievable as claiming the three-eyed Erlang Shen had only two eyes, the Four Heavenly Kings were four sisters, or that the Celestial Hound was a cat.

He had talked about Mo Mo’s attitude toward Germany and Borussia Dortmund, yet Mo Mo had admitted in his own words that he was a Dortmund fan. Furthermore, Mo Mo had rejected a 36-million-euro transfer offer from Chelsea, turning down a massive payday. All of this served as a perfect assist for Mo Mo’s image. As for Mo Mo’s claim that he wouldn't stay in the Bundesliga, the media conveniently ignored it—after all, plenty of people had said such things before, but what was the result?

Lehmann’s position was now precarious. He was never known for his restraint, and his on-field behavior had always been somewhat excessive. Previously, out of loyalty to the team and because Mo Mo had thrown the first punch, everyone had supported Lehmann. Some of the more volatile Dortmund fans had even been itching to start a fight with Mo Mo. But now, everything was different. Mo Mo was a Dortmund fan! He had turned down a massive transfer fee and a higher salary—at least according to the media’s speculation—to stay. More importantly, Mo Mo had already scored ten Bundesliga goals, and he was young and efficient.

Was it important that Mo Mo was a Dortmund fan? It was crucial! It was a stroke of genius. Under the influence of the media, the lovable Dortmund fans began to imagine a narrative: "I am a Dortmund fan and a player. I finally got a chance to play and wanted to perform well, hoping my efforts would convince Dortmund to sign me, only to be constantly attacked and insulted." This was a perfect recipe for inciting the fans' collective indignation. Even those who hadn't been keen on him before had changed their minds, labeling Mo Mo as "one of our own." He was Chinese? What did that matter? He brought the team victories and goals.

Under these circumstances, even the Dortmund board began to calculate. Arsenal had been pursuing the 33-year-old Lehmann; why not consider selling him? (In the 2003-04 season, Lehmann would indeed move to Arsenal.) The rumors that had been unfavorable to Mo Mo in the newspapers suddenly shifted direction.

However, it wasn't over yet. The German Football Association handed down its latest punishment: Lehmann, Mo Mo, and Kohler were all suspended for three plus two games, totaling five matches. No penalties were issued to the others. Both 1860 Munich and Dortmund filed appeals, with 1860 Munich specifically accusing Kohler and Lehmann of racism. The German FA rejected the appeals, but regarding the racism charge, they fined Kohler and Lehmann 50,000 euros each. Lehmann roared in court, refusing to accept the ruling, and was subsequently fined an additional 20,000 euros.

As if it weren't bad enough, it began to pour. Dortmund officially announced a 20-million-euro bid for Mo Mo. The entire German football world was in turmoil, and even Lehmann was left in shock. But the madness didn't stop there. Afterward, Lehmann’s car tires were slashed by Dortmund fans, and his home was littered with debris. The cause of all this was Mo Mo’s rejection of Dortmund’s offer, stating that the club was no longer the Dortmund he had once idolized. This caused some fans to lose their minds, though others suspected Mo Mo was merely making excuses and doubted he had ever been a true Dortmund fan.

At this juncture, the *Munich Evening News* published an article by Wattley, which was reprinted by numerous websites and newspapers: "Mo Mo? A Chinese Con Artist."

"Mo Mo is a very cunning person. I knew that from the moment I met him. He claims to be a loyal Dortmund fan, but I’d sooner believe him if he said he was a Real Madrid fan. After all, he came from the Real Madrid youth academy—though perhaps because he was kicked out, he decided to 'love' Dortmund instead? Regardless of whether he developed an affection for Dortmund during this time, it is questionable whether he could even be considered a veteran fan."

It was also rumored that Porto's current manager, Mourinho, had met with Mo Mo privately. It seemed Mo Mo had some unclear ties to the "black shop" that was Porto. Either way, if anyone claimed Mo Mo was a fan of a Chinese club, I wouldn't believe it. Besides, is Mo Mo really a genius? Everyone knows the state of football in China. Mo Mo is only 170cm tall; at his age, his heading ability is a major defect. It is also well-known that his shooting isn't great—he often has to break into the penalty area before he dares to shoot! Why? Because he clearly lacks confidence in his finishing. His height and lack of physical strength make his dribbling style one-dimensional. Why is a player with mediocre technical skills, average physicality, and unremarkable speed—only slightly decent acceleration—so highly sought after?

In this report, Wattley masterfully manipulated the narrative to paint Mo Mo as a player devoid of any merit. While this might have deceived some ignorant readers, the eyes of the major clubs were sharp. Mo Mo’s ability to seize opportunities, create chances, his composure, and his finishing were all qualities valued by top clubs; he could well be called a clinical striker. More importantly, Mo Mo’s rate of improvement was staggering—scoring in the World Cup at seventeen years old had also added to his stock.

When it comes to a "potential stock," clubs care about the endless possibilities. The clubs determined to sign Mo Mo wouldn't take such reports seriously. However, it did give some people ideas. For instance, Abramovich hinted at making contact with Mourinho—it seemed he was willing to change his manager just to buy a player! Those in the know could only remark that the world of the ultra-wealthy was beyond their understanding.

Meanwhile, Mino called Mo Mo to offer comfort, but Mo Mo didn't show the dejection Mino expected. Fights had been fought, kicks delivered, suspensions served, and fines paid—that was just how the world was; what else could one do?

Back in China, Mo Mo’s fame skyrocketed. Although such behavior wasn't encouraged, his performance was praised by some as "gutsy" and "manly." Regarding these events, the domestic *Titan Sports* planned to conduct an interview with Mo Mo.