Breaking the record for the youngest hat-trick did cause some ripples in small circles, but after all, it was just an ordinary Segunda División match, so it quickly quieted down. However, many local fans in Oviedo began to recognize this young Portuguese lad.
Of course, the first reaction these fans had when seeing André's photo was some skepticism about his stated age of sixteen. Then they'd offer their opinions.
A shocking comeback gave André some fan base in Oviedo. Even a small local tabloid that had been criticizing Hierro for days praised André in its paper: "You cannot imagine how a body as explosive as King Kong's could possess such unimaginable agility. It is precisely this agility that allowed him to maneuver like King Kong in a primeval forest, ultimately helping the team turn the match around."
Whether the fans' chant in the stands reached the reporter's ears or both had the same idea simultaneously, anyway, through the promotion of this local Oviedo newspaper, the nickname "King Kong" became synonymous with André in Oviedo. As for the name André Cristiano dos Santos Cleto, the fans didn't find it very easy to remember.
"Oh God, André! I'm so jealous of you! You got a nickname in Oviedo so quickly. Bloody hell, I've been here for almost three years and no fan has been willing to give me a nickname."
Arriving for team training early in the morning, having just reached the locker room and not yet had time to change, Saúl rushed in clutching a newspaper and grabbed André in a bear hug as soon as he entered.
"Hey, hey, hey! Saúl, can you let go of me first? How much bloody cologne did you spray on yourself? And what exactly do you mean?"
"André, look! This is the local Oviedo paper. They gave you a very powerful nickname. Do you know what this represents? It represents their recognition of you."
"Where is it?"
"Brother, it's not on the front page. Flip to the back."
André flipped to the end and finally found the news about yesterday's match between Oviedo and Alcorcón in a very small section. Then André read the article carefully, but his mood quickly soured. After a moment, he looked up and squinted at Saúl.
"You think this is powerful? You're jealous?"
"Of course, brother! Have you seen that film? King Kong. The story of King Kong and Ann Darrow. Oh, what a poignant love story. God, I can't think about it. As soon as I do, I think of the love between me and Lisa—equally poignant and earth-shattering."
"Stop. Hold on. You think that's a love story? And who the bloody hell is Lisa? Didn't you tell me the day before yesterday that your girlfriend was Shirley?"
"Shirley is my ex-girlfriend. I just met Lisa yesterday. We fell in love at first sight, just like King Kong and Ann in the film. Really, brother, I suggest you go watch that movie."
André strongly resisted the urge to stuff the newspaper into this guy's mouth.
"So what is King Kong?"
"King Kong is King Kong. King Kong is a film."
André felt that if he wasn't mistaken, the look this bastard Saúl gave him when answering the question was like he was looking at an idiot.
"Bloody hell, Saúl! I'm asking you what King Kong is! Do you think I don't know it's a movie? That's a damn ape! A gorilla! Are you saying I'm a gorilla? And what poignant love story? Is that even love? Beauty and the Beast! Which son of a bitch wrote this? I'm going to kill him! I'm going to stuff the newspaper down his throat, that absolute tosser!"
Saúl watched the furious André in front of him with his mouth wide open, trembling slightly, for fear that an iron fist would land on his forehead. However, looking at the enraged André, he suddenly felt that the reporter was truly a genius. The way André looked when he was angry really did resemble King Kong—it was just too bloody similar.
"Saúl, do you still think I look like King Kong?" André asked, grabbing Saúl's neck.
"No! That son of a bitch reporter—how could he give such a nickname? I think it's an insult to my brother! André, I'll definitely find him for you. No need for you to act. I'll kill him myself. This guy actually dares to insult my brother!" Saúl's strong survival instinct and righteous performance made everyone else in the locker room roll their eyes.
"Hey, boys, what are you still doing? It's almost time."
Just then, Sánchez walked in to hurry everyone to the training ground. Seeing André with his arm around Saúl's neck, he spoke.
"Saúl, King Kong, what are you doing? Why haven't you changed yet?"
"Hahahaha..."
As soon as Sánchez spoke, the entire locker room burst into laughter. Even Saúl, who was being held by the neck, couldn't help himself.
"Old man, my name is André Cristiano. Please call me by my name. I'm not called King Kong." André was on the verge of a breakdown. He'd just used "persuasion" to subdue one, and now another one arrived.
"Oh, son, King Kong is such a good name. I think it's the fans' expectation of you. And isn't that film also very good? What a touching love story."
He couldn't use the "persuasion" trick on this old man. Forget it. If I can't win, I can run. André quickly finished changing and fled the locker room.
Thinking about it, he felt these foreigners had very limited imagination. Bloody hell, even giving a nickname was so basic. What "King Kong" or "Silver Kong"? At this moment, André couldn't help but miss the clever nicknames from English football culture in his memories as Marcus. Names like "The Invincible," "The Golden Boot," or even "The Cobra"—anything would be better than being compared to a giant ape.
But then again, "King Kong" wasn't that bad. At least it sounded powerful. Better than being called something embarrassing.
No. No, he couldn't accept it. Absolutely not.
After a day of training, André still arrived at Hierro's office on time. To André's surprise, today's private lesson had an extra component: not only some issues from his training today but also some problems that had appeared in yesterday's match. Hierro explained in great detail, even playing back some of his movements after receiving the ball in slow motion.
"From now on, as long as you have the chance to play, I will compile them and explain them to you. However, André, although your performance yesterday was very outstanding, I will still arrange for you in the following matches as before. I won't give you too much match time. What you need most right now is not to play matches, but to stand on the touchline and seriously learn to observe the game. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand, Boss!"
"Good. Then that's all for today. Go back and rest early. By the way, King Kong actually sounds quite good. It's a form of recognition from the fans. Learn to accept it."
"Ah? Okay, I'm leaving, Boss!"
Accept it? It's impossible to accept it in this lifetime.
André walked out of the office, muttering to himself.
Behind him, Hierro smiled.
The kid would come around eventually. They always did.
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