A private jet clearly wasn’t sothing you could get just by asking.
It took until the third day for Gary Neville to finally arrive at the clinic.
Not only did he not get a private jet, but his reception was a step down too.
Ferguson didn’t co. Neither did the National Team’s head coach, Eriksson, as he had to prepare for a friendly match.
His agent, Sarin, ca with him. Unsurprisingly, Sarin was also from the SPX Sports Company.
He was in a wheelchair, a predicant he shared with Beckham.
The mont he saw him, Beckham tossed his crutches aside and pulled him into a hug.
The two were the closest of friends. They had joined the Manchester United reserve team on the sa day, and back then, Xiaobei was always over at Neville’s house. They were like brothers.
"Gary, I’m so sorry," Victoria said, stepping forward and leaning down to hug Neville.
Two good friends, injured one after the other in the exact sa place. It felt like a cruel twist of fate.
Xiaobei leaned on his crutches again and said, "Gary, don’t worry. Chen is the best doctor in this world. He can definitely fix you up and get you back on the field before the World Cup."
Standing to the side, Chen Yu silently rolled his eyes. ’Who gave you the right to make promises like that? Your injuries might be in the sa area, but your conditions are completely different.’
"Let’s get you checked out first."
Chen Yu sighed as Neville looked toward him.
While they were waiting for the exam results, as if on cue, Eriksson made a special international call to inquire about Neville’s condition.
After a few brief pleasantries, he cut to the chase: could Neville, like Beckham, be back in ti for the World Cup?
Xiaobei and the others were with Neville for his exam, so with no one else around, Chen Yu decided to be blunt. "I’m sorry, but I’m afraid he’s not going to make it."
Eriksson was stunned on the other end. "Dr. Chen," he said urgently, "I don’t quite understand. David is recovering in ti, so why can’t Neville?"
Beckham was injured on April 11th and Neville on April 24th. That’s only a 13-day difference.
If Beckham can return by May 20th, then even pushing it back a few days, how could Neville not make it for the World Cup?
Chen Yu’s voice was grave. "First, their injuries are not the sa. David fractured the second tatarsal in his left foot. Neville, on the other hand, fractured the fifth tatarsal in his left foot."
"A second tatarsal fracture and a fifth tatarsal fracture are not at all the sa thing. Neville’s is a fracture at the base of the fifth tatarsal, which is the most troubleso kind. It affects the arch’s mobility and requires surgery to be reset."
"Today is April 24th. The World Cup starts in five weeks. Even if I were to operate on him today, there is absolutely no way he would make it in ti."
Beckham was lucky. The location of his injury was such that Chen Yu could perform a manual reduction.
But for Neville’s injury, neither surgery nor conservative treatnt would allow for a five-week recovery.
It was a fracture, after all.
Chen Yu’s system possessed an uncanny power, but it wasn’t like casting Magic in a fairy tale to make soone instantly jump up, good as new.
On the other end of the line, Eriksson was silent for a full thirty seconds before sighing deeply. "I understand. Thank you."
And with that, he hung up.
Chen Yu shook his head slightly. ’Neville is England’s starting defender, isn’t he? Getting injured right before the World Cup... you could just imagine how crushed Eriksson must be.’
But there was nothing Chen Yu could do.
’If I had another two or three weeks,’ Chen Yu thought, ’if he could aim for a coback after the group stage, for the knockout rounds, then maybe I could really push for it and give it a shot.’
’But that was obviously impossible. Eriksson would never let an injured player take up a slot on the National Team roster.’
He had just put his phone down when it rang again.
He glanced at the screen. It was another international call, but this ti from Italy.
Trapattoni!
’What a coincidence.’ Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. ’Did all these National Team head coaches coordinate this? Why are they all calling one after another?’
"Hello, Mr. Trapattoni," Chen Yu said, answering the call.
Trapattoni’s voice ca through the phone, tinged with a wry laugh. "Chen, I need your help again."
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow, asking tentatively, "Don’t tell another player on your National Team got injured."
’Nesta, Maldini, and Big Inzaghi... if you include Baggio, just how many of Italy’s players have gotten injured?’
"That’s right. Soone else got injured," Trapattoni sighed, his voice heavy.
Even through the phone, Chen Yu could hear the profound sense of helplessness in his tone.
This was the very definition of being star-crossed.
"Last week, our National Team captain, Albertini, tore his left Achilles tendon. I just finished discussions with AC Milan, and they’ve agreed to let him co to the United States for treatnt."
"And then there’s the National Team’s left-back, Gianluca Pessotto. During last week’s World Cup warm-up match against Uruguay, he was injured in a tackle and tore the cruciate ligant in his right knee. Juventus has also... reluctantly agreed to let him seek treatnt in the United States." By the end, Trapattoni’s voice was filled with resignation.
Chen Yu detected the profound weariness in the old coach’s voice. A thought struck him, and he quickly surmised the reason.
Trapattoni had told him before that he had discussed it with the Italian Football Association, which was willing to foot part of the bill to send players to the United States for treatnt.
But now it looked like even if Trapattoni had gone out on a limb to persuade the Italian Football Association, the clubs had their own private concerns.
Otherwise, if both players were injured last week, why wait until now to contact him?
It must an the clubs weren’t very willing to have them treated in the United States.
’Is it that they don’t want the players to get the best treatnt?’ Chen Yu mused. ’Probably not.’
’Trapattoni is calling because he’s hoping my treatnt can get these players back in ti for the World Cup.’
’But as for the clubs... are they really that eager for their players to participate in the World Cup?’
’That’s a big question mark.’
Because even for the World Cup, it’s still a significant strain on the players.
’Since they’re already injured, they have a legitimate reason to miss it.’
’Especially for powerhouse clubs like AC Milan and Juventus, the club’s interests always co first.’
Of course, this was just Chen Yu’s own speculation based on Trapattoni’s attitude. He had no idea what was actually going on.
’This ti, though, I’m probably going to have to disappoint Trapattoni.’
’I really can’t perform Magic.’
There was only one month until the World Cup. One player had a severely torn Achilles tendon, the other a torn cruciate ligant.
These kinds of injuries would probably require daily Diamond Level healing effects to have any hope of recovery in a month, but where was Chen Yu supposed to get that many High Level healing effects?
As it was, treating Xiaobei and the others, on top of looking after his own team, already placed a considerable demand on his healing effects.
After a mont’s thought, Chen Yu lowered his voice. "Giovanni, these aren’t minor injuries they can recover from quickly."
If there were two months, it might be possible. But one month is just too, too short.
Trapattoni was silent on the other end of the line.
"Chen... is there really nothing you can do?" Trapattoni’s voice trembled slightly.
After the two were injured, the doctors in Italy had made their own diagnoses.
Relatively speaking, although Pessotto had injured his cruciate ligant, the tear was less severe. The doctors’ prognosis was that he would need three months to recover after reconstructive surgery.
It was the sa for Albertini. With his torn Achilles tendon, doctors recomnded conservative treatnt, which would also require at least three months for rehabilitation.
Three months... by the ti they recovered, the World Cup would be long over.
Trapattoni pressed on, "Chen, I know it’s a lot to ask, but I truly hope you can find a way. At the very least... to heal Albertini."
"Pessotto is a left-back. Fortunately, thanks to your earlier treatnts, both Maldini and Nesta have made full recoveries, so the situation with our defensive line isn’t as severe."
"But Albertini is different. He’s the core of Italy’s midfield, the tempo-setter for our offense and defense. If he’s out, the impact on Italy will be enormous."
Chen Yu gave a wry smile.
’Easy for you to say,’ he thought. ’These are injuries, not sothing you can just wish away.’
"Tell you what," Chen Yu said. "Don’t rush to have them co to the United States. Send their dical records first, and I’ll take a look."
In truth, this was just a stalling tactic.
A severely torn Achilles tendon—an injury like that was impossible to heal in just one month.
If he didn’t have a clinic full of patients and could focus on Albertini alone, Chen Yu might have been able to co up with sothing.
So, asking to see the records was just a way to comfort Trapattoni.
"Thank you, I’ll have soone send them to you right away." Trapattoni thanked him profusely and hung up.
Chen Yu put down the phone.
Truthfully, Chen Yu didn’t know much about Albertini as a person, nor did he know what this World Cup ant to him. But sotis...
He shook his head. Just then, William pushed the door open, and Chen Yu quickly composed himself.
’Right, there’s still this one.’
He picked up the dical report and, while pretending to read it, covertly watched Neville’s reaction, ntally rehearsing what he was about to say.
Neville watched him nervously.
Even more nervous than him was Beckham, who was staring at Chen Yu with rapt attention, the picture of anxiety.
"I’m sorry."
After thinking it over, Chen Yu decided it was best to be direct.
Neville froze.
Beckham’s face fell. After a mont of stunned silence, he quickly asked what Chen Yu ant by "I’m sorry."
Chen Yu put down the report and looked at Neville. "What I an is, the injury itself isn’t a complicated issue. But... you won’t be able to participate in this World Cup."
’There’s really no way around it.’
’It’s like I said,’ he thought. ’If he were my only patient, I could push myself to make it happen.’
’But then what about Beckham and Gerrard? Should I just stop treating them?’
’All I can do is apologize to Neville and Eriksson.’
’At the very least, I’ve already helped England by healing one Beckham and one Gerrard.’
Neville stared blankly at Chen Yu, clearly unable to process the news.
"No." Beckham snapped out of his daze, suddenly frantic. "Chen, why? You’re able to heal and get back before the World Cup, and Gary’s injury is exactly the sa as mine! Why can’t he?"
’Who ever said your injuries were exactly the sa?’ Chen Yu thought.
’They’re both tatarsal fractures, but there’s a huge difference between them.’
Just as he was about to explain, Neville suddenly raised a hand to stop Beckham.
"Actually..."
Neville looked at Beckham and said through gritted teeth, "Missing the World Cup... it’s a bit of a sha for , but it’s not unacceptable."
As he said this, he even seed to feel a sense of profound relief.
Beckham was floored. He couldn’t fathom how anyone could accept sothing like that.
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