Try Out

Mainz is located in western Germany and is the capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate state, which borders Belgium, France, and Luxembourg. Although it's not a big state like the one where Frankfurt is located, Mainz is not far from Frankfurt, being only fifty or sixty kilometers away.

One of the highlights of the journey from Frankfurt to Mainz is the Rhine River. The Rhine, the largest river in Western Europe, originates from the Alps in Switzerland and passes through several countries before flowing into the North Sea at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Mainz sits right on the edge of the Rhine in Germany. Wu Jiawen mentioned that if you have time, you should visit Bingen, a small county west of Mainz. From there, the Rhine Valley begins, known for its beautiful scenery.

Qi Ce looked out of the car window. The car was speeding down the highway, a stark contrast to the traffic jams common in China. The road seemed almost empty.

Outside, the view was wide and open, with grasslands and woods everywhere. After leaving the airport, there was a large open space, and only after driving a bit further did buildings start to appear.

The view remained impressive. There were no high-rise buildings, just low-rise European-style villas. The only tall structure was a pointed bell tower, standing guard over the village from amidst the green leaves.

Behind the bell tower was a low hillside dotted with buildings. They seemed irregularly placed but didn't feel chaotic. Zhou Feng noted that these houses were centuries old and had blended seamlessly with the landscape.

Most European countries value traditional culture. Even in developed nations, high-rise buildings are typically found only in major cities, while other areas preserve their traditions.

This respect for tradition may also explain why European football culture is so beloved. Besides the charm of football itself, clubs can develop and preserve their identities as local cultural symbols, rarely relocating or renaming.

The forty to fifty kilometers journey took about half an hour without traffic. The Mainz training base is located behind its home stadium, Bruchwegstadion. It took only ten minutes to drive through Mainz. After passing through the city center, the car drove along a tree-lined path for a few minutes before stopping at an inconspicuous door.

"Clang... clang... clang..."

As they got out of the car, they heard a distant bell tower. The sound was clear, and birds flew up from the woods, hovered briefly, and then returned. It was three o'clock in the afternoon.

Zhou Feng put the information in his briefcase, glanced at Qi Ce, and asked, "Do you need to rest? We can go to the hotel first and come back tomorrow."

"No, I'm fine, thank you, Uncle Zhou."

"Alright, very energetic."

The team was in the pre-season training period. Although the first team hadn't started training yet, the youth training venue was busy. Wu Jiawen mentioned that while European first teams often have many foreigners, the youth training camps mostly consist of local children who take advantage of the holidays to train.

"Hey, Zhou, I heard you were coming over last week. Good to see you."

"Hello, Mr. Smith."

"Likewise."

"Please, sit down. "

"This is Qi Ce?"

The man who greeted them was an older gentleman with a yellow beard. Zhou Feng introduced him as Gross Smitz, the Mainz youth training supervisor who had the authority to sign new players.

"Welcome. Please forgive any lack of hospitality." Smith adjusted his glasses and pulled out a document. "Ah, Qi Ce... a difficult name to pronounce. Oh! I remember you, the boy named Q Icecube!"(T/N:What's that? a kind of drink)

Qi Ce realized that his name, written as QICE, could be interpreted as "Q" and "ice cube."

"You just got off the plane?" Smith asked incredulously in English, which Qi Ce understood.

"Yes, but I'm fine."

"Good boy. We have a week for the trial. If it goes well, it may be extended. Also, your English is very good."

"I'm trying to learn German."(T/N: German numba one)

"That's great. Most of our children can speak English, but learning German will help you integrate faster."

Qi Ce nodded, deciding it was time to get a German skills book.

At the training ground, Qi Ce's unusual Asian appearance caught the attention of some young players. They shouted something in German, and Qi Ce, not understanding, just nodded politely.(T/N: Ngl I'll probably do the same too)

Since it was a trial, there were no complicated physical exams. A youth training coach supervised Qi Ce's first football session in Europe under Smith's watchful eye.

The trial training began with ball handling. In the past six months, Qi Ce's basic skills had improved rapidly. He often practiced ball handling, both virtually and in real life.

Qi Ce felt the eyes of the other young players on him, especially because he stood out as the only Asian. The ball he was given looked old but was still functional. He started juggling it easily but made a mistake on the seventeenth touch.

He knew he could usually handle this task perfectly, but the pressure got to him this time. As the ball dropped, there was laughter from the other players. Qi Ce curled his lips but focused again.

"Don't be nervous, kid. It's okay, try again," Smith encouraged.

"Yes, don't be nervous. Come on," echoed the youth coach. Qi Ce steadied the ball and started juggling again.

This time, he concentrated and performed steadily under Smith's supervision. For the next hour, he completed various basic skill tests without any major errors.

"He did well. His foundation is solid. We'll need more time to observe other aspects," the youth coach reported to Smith after the trial. He didn't mention the initial mistake.

However, that mistake became a topic among the young players. It's not uncommon for trial players to make errors, but seeing an Asian player was unusual for them. They joked that the newcomer might disappear in a few days.