Especially Clara.
This girl really... speaks up for me way too much.
It got to the point where Su Hang had to ask Clara out to dinner just to gently nudge her in the right direction.
Su Hang: "Actually, I really enjoy training. It's okay if I don't play."
Clara: "Did Queiroz make you say that?"
Su Hang: "I'm doing this voluntarily, really. I still have a lot to learn, and this isn't the best time for me to contribute to Real Madrid."
Clara: "At a time like this, you're still thinking about Real Madrid? You need to think about yourself!"
Su Hang: "I know it's hard to understand, and there are things I can't tell you directly. But as long as you understand that it's better for everyone if I don't play right now, that's all that matters."
Clara said she understood Su Hang's meaning.
The next day...
Clara's column in *Marca*:
"I met with Su Hang, and he's in a terrible state. I seriously suspect Queiroz is mentally controlling him!"
"I even heard him say, 'It's better for everyone if I don't play.'"
"Su Hang is too naive."
"This is workplace bullying!"
"I, Clara Cecilia, a media professional, hereby warn Queiroz: stop your mental control over Su Hang immediately!"
"I've contacted a doctor at Madrid Mental Hospital. If Real Madrid agrees to let Su Hang undergo an evaluation, we can get evidence right away."
???
Honestly, Su Hang was stunned when he saw the article.
Clara's got the looks—curves and all—but where's her common sense?
Are you trying to corner Queiroz, or... are you pressuring me?
Is it really that hard not to want to play soccer?
Plenty of players spend their whole careers on the bench and seem just fine with it, right, Azar?
Clara's column caused a huge stir across Spain.
Real Madrid officially rejected the request from Madrid Mental Hospital to evaluate Su Hang.
And they had good reason: without the club's approval, players aren't even allowed to access their own medical records.
But Clara then teamed up with the Real Madrid Fan Association and reignited calls for a mental evaluation.
They claimed Su Hang was under mental control—which they saw as something downright sinister.
Before long, the phrase "workplace PUA" started circulating more widely.
In Europe, human rights are taken very seriously.
The case caught the attention of the European Human Rights Organization.
They warned that if Su Hang didn't undergo a mental evaluation by May—or publicly declare in an interview that he wasn't under mental control—they would take legal action against Real Madrid and Queiroz.
At that point, things would get serious.
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez was speechless.
Mental control? Seriously?
The last time Su Hang spoke in the locker room, he nearly got into a fistfight with Queiroz—how could he be controlled?
And Queiroz hadn't spoken to him in over two weeks. What kind of control was that supposed to be? Ridiculous!
Still, Florentino wasn't in a rush to intervene.
The controversy was drawing massive public attention—good PR, if handled right.
As long as things got clarified in the end, the club's reputation would stay intact.
Florentino was a sharp businessman. He understood the wisdom of letting the drama play out a bit.
At the same time, he started thinking about Su Hang's motives.
To Florentino, Clara was clearly just Su Hang's mouthpiece.
But what was Su Hang really trying to accomplish?
According to internal reports, Su Hang hadn't tried to become a starter. He didn't even want to be in the matchday squad.
On one hand, he was using public pressure to push for a starting spot. On the other, he was sincerely telling the team he didn't want it—and helping Ronaldo recover.
What exactly was this kid playing at?
If Su Hang were just stirring up chaos, Florentino would've dealt with him already.
He wouldn't tolerate drama-stirrers at Real Madrid.
But… was he trying to push for tactical change? Forcing Queiroz to ditch the lone-striker system and adopt a two- or three-striker setup?
In short: Florentino was intrigued—and keeping a close eye on Su Hang.
...
April 18, Round 33 of La Liga.
Queiroz, convinced Su Hang was deliberately manipulating the media, dropped him from the 18-man squad.
Portillo finally got the call-up.
But Real Madrid lost 1–2 away to city rivals Atlético Madrid—their third straight defeat!
They fell from the top of the table to second place.
And who took first? Their archrival, Barcelona.
To make matters worse, Ronaldo—their biggest star—was injured again during the match.
Real Madrid's luck couldn't have been worse.
After the match, fans gathered in protest outside the club and burned Real Madrid scarves.
"Unity, not infighting!"
"We want Su Hang, not Queiroz!"
"Let Su Hang play!"
"We want to see Su Hang on the pitch!"
They had reached their limit with Queiroz's terrible lineup choices.
The next day, Florentino summoned the team's head doctor to inquire about Ronaldo's condition.
The sporting director, Queiroz, Zidane, and others were also present.
And this explained why Queiroz treated Zidane so politely—Zidane wasn't just a player. He was someone who could speak to Florentino as an equal.
Even Ronaldo, as beloved as he was, didn't enjoy that kind of standing.
The doctor said, "It's not a serious injury—Ronaldo should be ready for the match after next."
Bang!
Florentino slammed his glass down, shattering it.
"'After next'? What about the next match? That's against Barcelona—the match we need him most!" Florentino exploded.
"You incompetent fools!
Did you even listen to Su Hang's theory on injury recovery? If you'd followed his advice and let Ronaldo ease back into training, would he be missing this match?
You're all completely useless! We have the most professional footballers in the world but not a single doctor who's good enough!
Find me the best sports doctor on the planet!
Next season, I don't want to see a single key Real Madrid player sidelined with a serious injury—especially not due to poor recovery!"
After throwing the doctors out, Florentino turned to Queiroz.
"Queiroz, if Barcelona walks out of the Bernabéu with their heads held high, you'll be walking out of Madrid with your head down.
Understand me?"
"Now—I want to hear the starting lineup for the next game."
There were still five days left until kickoff—and the lineup hadn't even been decided yet.
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