Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 845 - 589: Inter Sporting Director Returns to Manchester—Who Is His Target This Time? (Part 2)

Ranocchia and Ossilio's relationship was not particularly good, probably just an ordinary colleague relationship.

They even had a falling out because Ranocchia did not want to leave Milan City, yet Ossilio was determined to sell him. At first, he was said to be transferred to Manchester United, but before he knew it, he landed in Manchester City's lap. Ranocchia has always been holding a grudge, feeling that Ossilio was playing him like a monkey, disrespecting him as a person and as the former captain of Inter Milan.

However, facts proved that regardless of Ossilio's intentions, selling him to Manchester City ended up being a very good decision!

After Ranocchia arrived at Manchester City, he quickly established himself as the leading play-out defender.

He won the league champion in the same season, and this season, after being transformed by Guardiola into a Busquets-style metronomic midfielder, he has become increasingly stable;

At the age of 29, his value surged by 20 million, reaching a staggering 60 million Euros.

This season, Manchester City is advancing triumphantly on all fronts, and with the Premier League champion already secured, Ranocchia and his teammates have the FA Cup and Champions League titles to compete for.

Tang Long and Bonazzoli gladly accepted the invitation from Ranocchia and Ossilio.

Even though they weren't very familiar with Ossilio, after leaving Italy and coming to play in the United Kingdom, Tang Long sometimes started to miss the days on the Apennine Peninsula at night.

Compared to English, he is still more accustomed to speaking Italian.

Tang Long and Bonazzoli interrogated Ossilio about his purpose for coming here, and Tang Long even jokingly asked whether they could sell Inter's left-back Di Marco to Manchester City.

How sly can Ossilio be?

Not even Ranocchia could get anything out of him, let alone Tang Long and Bonazzoli.

Thankfully, players are not agents; as long as transfers don't involve them, they speak of it with more of a gossip mindset.

So even though Ossilio kept his lips tight, they had a lot to talk about regarding past events at Inter Milan, and the conversation was very congenial.

They even mentioned Berni, the locker room joker.

When they talked about Berni not playing a single match in a season, yet accumulating three red cards from the bench, ranking first in all of Serie A, they all burst into laughter.

"This Berni, fears no one in Serie A."

"Do you remember that match we had against Rome, where Totti lost his temper and kicked someone, who was it again, seemed like it was Icardi? Every player in Serie A knows that you can provoke anyone but not Totti; Icardi didn't even utter a sound, just turned back to look, then got up and walked away."

"But Berni didn't care about any of that; he jumped up from the bench, pointed at Totti, and started cursing loudly, like thunder, and Totti rushed over to spat at him, ultimately both were red-carded off."

Tang Long laughed aloud, picturing the bearded face of Berni.

"That's just Berni's fiery personality," Ossilio said mysteriously, deliberately holding off.

After everyone urged him to continue, Ossilio spoke in a teasing tone, "I signed Berni back then purely to make up numbers for youth training, and when talking to Berni, he even joked about how he intended to practice boxing as a kid, but his dad dragged him to play football instead. Ultimately, he couldn't make it in boxing, and he's poor in football too, making him a lifelong third-choice goalkeeper."

Recalling the past always brings joy, and Tang Long felt that the laughter from those two or three hours was worth more than the previous month's.

After dinner, Ranocchia volunteered to drive Ossilio to the hotel, so he could rest early and catch the morning flight.

Ossilio politely declined, and everyone saw him to the door.

Ossilio's eyes twinkled; he walked to the corner, waved at Tang Long, and called him over individually.

Tang Long followed Ossilio over, turning to look at Ranocchia and Bonazzoli standing at the door; they both watched curiously, amusing Tang Long — was there anything that couldn't be said in the living room?

Ossilio got straight to the point.

He wasn't tall, so he put a hand on Tang Long's shoulder and leaned to his ear on tiptoes.

"I know you're making a lot at Manchester City, much more than at Inter, but when it comes to money, the more the better. Just like beautiful women, every man loves them, right?"

Tang Long was left bewildered by the off-topic comment, staring at Ossilio's eyes, trying to glean his true intentions.

But from Ossilio's eyes, apart from a glint of greed, there was nothing discernible.

Before Tang Long could respond, Ossilio chuckled and continued whispering:

"I'm not going to beat around the bush; when you transferred from Inter to Manchester City, City actually promised me privately."

"If you could win the Champions League, I would receive an extra commission of 2 million Euros or should I say, a bonus."

When Ossilio spoke of the phrasing, he stammered.

Evidently, this money is not meant to be revealed, which made Tang Long's heart skip a beat upon hearing.

He already knew about Ossilio's penchant for kickbacks, but he didn't expect that winning the Champions League would be tied to Ossilio's cuts.

Shouldn't these matters be clearly stated in transfer contracts?

Yet, upon seeing Ossilio's greedy gaze again, he quickly understood.

Back when he was transferred from Inter, not only were Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern, Barça, and other giants pursuing him.

At that time, Inter Milan's president Toshihiko was in the United States having burgers with the Philadelphia 76ers' boss, taking a hands-off approach to Inter's matters, leaving Ossilio in control.

It seems Manchester City must have secretly given Ossilio quite some benefits to secure him.

Ossilio continued mysteriously:

"I assure you, besides myself and Belada from Manchester City, you are the third person who knows about this clause."

"Now your only competitor is C Luo; if you can beat him in the finals, that would be splendid."

"So, make sure to push hard, don't relax, and ensure victory over him in the Champions League final!"

Ossilio hammered Tang Long's chest twice heavily; those strikes weren't light, leaving Tang Long's ribs faintly aching.

"If this goes through, I definitely won't short-change you." Ossilio hunched, lifted his hand, and mimed counting money to Tang Long, "2 million Euros, how about splitting between us, 1 million each?"

Just then, the Uber car Ossilio called arrived, and he patted Tang Long on the shoulder, making a flexed bicep motion at him.

"This is our secret; don't tell anyone, understand?" Ossilio emphasized.

"Hmm, got it." Tang Long said solemnly.

Satisfied, Ossilio smiled and waved goodbye to Ranocchia and Bonazzoli, then hopped into the car with his luggage, out of sight once the car made a turn.

Tang Long turned and told Ranocchia and Bonazzoli everything Ossilio said.

The two were stunned, silent for three seconds, before bursting into laughter.

Ranocchia laughed the hardest, leaning on his villa's courtyard wall, pounding the doorplate as he bent over in laughter.

"Hahaha, that bald guy, I was wondering why after a day's work, he'd still come to us? So it was about this!"

After laughing, Ranocchia touched his somewhat aching stomach from laughter, still smiling, raised two fingers at Tang Long thoughtfully:

"I know him too well; there are only two possibilities."

"First, Ossilio has bet on Manchester City win the Champions League at a betting company."

"Second, the cut Manchester City offered is far more than his claimed 2 million, at least double!"