In ancient Roman times, anyone who became a slave was forced to deprive them of all their citizenship rights, including the right to a name, so the name of the slave was "gifted" by the slave owner.

So, according to the characteristics of his players, Li wanted to name these 23 people after the "superstars" who dominated the football world after 2,000 years.

With Octavian's special approval, the Atlético de Roma Council accepted the only special football team that did not participate in the "Rome Cup" under the name of the province - the "Freedom Team".

Immediately, Li Xiang submitted the prescribed "list of twenty-three people" to the Athletic Committee as usual.

***

(Attached) Liberty 23-man list and related jersey numbers--

Goalkeepers: Kahn (1), Buffon (2), Casillas (3)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (4), Owen (5), Ruud van Nistelrooy (6), Raul (7), Messi (8), Ronaldo (9), Piero (10)

Midfielders: David Beckham (11), Zidane (12), Figo (13), Lampard (14), Ballack (15), Steven Gerrard (16)

Defenders: Hiero (17), Puyol (18), Carvalho (19), Desailly (20), Cannavaro (21), Thuram (22), Maldini (23)

***

"From slave to general" is easy to say, but in fact it is difficult to ascend to the sky.

Although the twenty-three slaves have the same name as the superstars of 2,000 years later, it is definitely not an easy task to go from slave to star, and it can be described as "a long way to go".

On the first day of its establishment, the Liberty team encountered unimaginable difficulties and became a standard "three-no team", that is, no training ground, no sponsorship funds, and no competition experience.

The Freedom Team is led by Li Xiang himself, Wang Baguio is the coach, and Auman is the assistant to the team leader.

Li Xiang learned that the relevant rules of the football game at this time are almost the same as those of modern football games, and even the specifications of the stadium are not much different, but the biggest difference is that the materials used in football at this time are not environmentally friendly enough, and rhinoceros leather is used.

Due to regional cultural differences, there is a considerable difference between the ball game in ancient Rome and the Ju game in the Han Empire, which was more than N miles away at that time, in terms of name, rules, and the size of the playing venue, and it can even be said that there is a world of difference.

For this reason, Li Xiang had to take a lot of pains to patiently and carefully explain to "Coach Wang", because, in case something was missed, "Coach Wang" completely trained the players with a set of the Han Dynasty, and when the whole team fouled and was sent off with a red card, wouldn't it be more wrongful to lose than Dou E?!

Li Xiang said to Wang Baguio: "Na! Where we stand, that's where we will be playing. ”

"It's the equivalent of our Ju City there."

Li Xiang smiled and said, "Of course, it's best if you can understand." And ah! The player is the Juke. ”

"You told me about this last time."

"Oh? Really? Huh! It doesn't hurt to step it up. ”

"Our Ju Zheng there, what's this place called?"

"I'm about to explain it to you! It's called referees here in Rome. ”

"'Referee'?"

"That's right! Umpire! Not a tailor. ”

Wang Baguio smiled.

Li Xiang pointed to the goal not far away and said, "Do you see it?" That's the goal, which is basically what you call a bow room. ”

"The goal is much bigger than the jufuro, and if you grab the ball, you can kick it in, so what's the point?"

Li Xiang laughed.

Wang Biyao felt that Li Xiang was a little inexplicable when he smiled, so he said, "Okay, what are you laughing at?" Am I saying something wrong? ”

Li Xiang gradually suppressed his laughter and said: "Say you're wrong, you're not wrong, with such a big goal, anyone can definitely kick the ball in, but you're right!" You're not right, because, although the goal is big, there will be a goalkeeper in front of the goal. ”

"'Goalkeeper'?" Wang Baguio frowned and said.

"That's right! The goalkeeper will try to prevent the ball from entering the goal. ”

"I think! How can this goal be so big? ”

"In addition to the goalkeeper, there are ten players."

'We only have six men on each team because the goal is small and we don't need any goalkeepers.

"Is it 'a round bow square wall, like yin and yang, the law and the moon are opposed, and the two and six are equal'."

"That's right! Huh! That's a lot you know! ”

Li Xiang smiled and said, "Pass the prize!" Overpraise! I only know a thing or two! "I thought: I have a "big encyclopedia" in my mobile phone, and it's hard for me not to know!

***

With a capacity of nearly 30,000 spectators, the Circus Casilina is one of the top three of the city's seven arenas, with several events taking place each year, and during Octavian's reign, the city had 159 days of holidays throughout the year, 65 of which were celebrated on competitive occasions.

During the festival, there were carriage races, gladiator duels, human-animal fights, mass executions, simulated battles and other competitive events for citizens to watch, and the Athletic Commission included football matches in the festival, and since then, the "Rome Cup" football Grand Prix has been held every two years.

The final of the last "Rome Cup" was played in the Casilina Arena.

***

Li Xiang, Wang Biyao and the players stood opposite each other on the court in the center of the arena, and the players all wore fashionable jerseys designed by Li Xiang himself, and they all looked energetic and energetic.

Li Xiang said to everyone: "To tell everyone, the outside world has been looking at us with strange eyes, and some are even laughing at us, because although we are called the 'Freedom Team', all the players are people who have lost their freedom. ”

The players' expressions were a little more solemn.

Li Xiang continued: "What others say is the truth, but when I heard it, I felt very uncomfortable, although I 'rented' you, it doesn't mean that I will treat you as slaves like everyone else." ”

The mood of the players at this time turned from cloudy to sunny.

Li Xiang continued: "Actually, it is a kind of fate that everyone can get together, as long as you are willing, we can all become brothers. ”

"Brother?" The players said in unison.

The players all feel that as the most popular "red man" around the "emperor" today, they can be so approachable, and they can actually lower their prices and be brothers with themselves as slaves! This kind of "unprecedented" approach is simply too incredible.

Seeing the complex and changeable expressions on the faces of the team members, Li Xiang continued: "Don't feel strange, because in my eyes, there is no distinction between high and low people, and slaves are also human ......."

Zidane, speaking a Latin mixed with Gaul, said movingly: "All along, we 'slaves' have only been regarded as 'tools that can speak human language', and only you treat us as human beings."

"Although the current terrible social system cannot be completely changed by my own ability, I still hope that through some other methods and means, more people like you who have lost their freedom can regain their precious freedom."

The players are all full of passion and a desire for freedom.

Li Xiang continued: "The 'Rome Cup' is an opportunity, I have simply calculated, as long as we can play in the top three, the prize money obtained is enough to redeem all of you and return you to freedom. ”

After listening to Li Xiang's remarks, the players were all quiet in their yearning for freedom.

Li Xiang continued: "If we are lucky enough to become champions, the prize money we will get, in addition to helping you redeem your life, will also be able to distribute the extra money to you to replan your future." ”

As soon as such a "tempting" remark came out, the stimulation of the slaves' hearts was absolutely no less than the famous saying that the "warmongers" often said to the soldiers in order to conquer the city in the shortest possible time, "Brothers, as long as you break through the city gates, the gold and women in the city will be yours!" ”

To be able to regain their freedom was a luxury for these slaves who had tasted the suffering and humiliation of the world, but now they can be freed with wealth, and this powerful power bursts from the depths of their hearts, and its energy is definitely no less than the destructive power of a superstorm sweeping the world.

Li Xiang saw the deepest part of the twenty-three people in front of him, and the flame of hope that had been extinguished was burning again.