Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

Chapter 893 - 614: Ballon d'Or Winner's Decade-Long Assist Promise, All Grudges Resolved with a Smile! (Part 2)

"Mauro, what kind of trash coffee did you bring us? It's worse than dog pee!"

Berni swallowed a mouthful of coffee with a look of grievance, then spat out the cinnamon onto the table.

As Italians, pasta, pizza, and coffee masters are their proud heritage, hard to match elsewhere.

Icardi said apologetically, "Uncle Berni, I'm sorry, this is the taste of Turkish coffee. It's quite different from Italy's culinary culture. In fact, many things are different here, like how they eat dinner early, at six, in Italy you eat at eight or nine, and..."

Just as Icardi enthusiastically wanted to introduce the customs he experienced over the past year in Turkey;

Berni placed his coffee heavily on the table and said sternly:

"Mauro! Stop saying you guys, it's us! You're Mauro Icardi, and in Italy, there are thousands of people named Mauro. Because all of you are sons of Italians, you are Italian too!"

Berni was right.

Sane蒂, Cambiasso, Milito, including Icardi himself, they are all descendants of Italians born in Argentina. Among Argentina's 40 million population, 15 million have Italian blood.

Icardi's ancestors immigrated from Assisi Town to Argentina for gold after World War I, descendants of Italians.

His body trembled slightly, silently nodding, without words.

Tang Long said: "Mauro, ten years have passed, we're old now, but I still remember the promise I made to you back then, do you remember?"

Icardi couldn't help but let out an "ah" and said, "Are you talking about Europe..."

Tang Long said firmly, "Yes, when I was 19, I promised you, I'd feed you to become the European Golden Boot."

A flash of hopeful light appeared in Icardi's eyes.

This light was quickly drenched in tears.

He recalled the time, after a training session, when they were showering in the locker room, their honest dialogue:

"I feel like your passing isn't as bad as Gualin says. At your age, it's more than adequate!"

"It's mainly because your positioning is good. If it were someone else, even if I passed accurately, he wouldn't score."

"Haha, I'm not being humble, my forward skills in Serie A are still noteworthy. You see, I'm neither strong nor tall, yet I can play center forward, living on positioning and shooting skills."

"I can tell. Otherwise, how could you score 9 goals in 11 league matches? I think you'll easily win the Serie A Golden Boot!"

"Did you know, Tang, if I win the Serie A Golden Boot, I'd be the youngest Golden Boot in its hundred-year history, at 22!"

"You definitely can do it. As long as someone feeds you well, not just the Serie A Golden Boot, the European Golden Boot might also be yours!"

"European Golden Boot? You dare to dream more than I do! I'd better start with Serie A first."

"Mauro, if I'm on the pitch, I'll surely feed you the ball. You deserve to fight for the European Golden Boot; you were born to score goals!"

Icardi wiped his tears with the back of his hand.

At this moment, he felt utterly humbled.

He realized that Tang Long, who was free, would surely return to Inter.

Who is Tang Long?

A person who has won four Golden Ball Awards, four European Golden Boots; a world-renowned forward who scored an astonishing 340 goals in 301 matches during his Real Madrid stint, even outshining C Luo in Real Madrid!

And Tang Long's first European Golden Boot was witnessed by Icardi while he was at Manchester United.

Such a superstar, breaking the Messi and Ronaldo duopoly, creating a tripod in the football world, actually wanted to feed him balls?

It sounds unbelievable!

But Icardi believed, because he knew Tang Long never lied.

"Tang, I apologize for my ignorant youthful days at Manchester United. I was too conceited, manipulated by that wretched woman Wanda. Now I'm 31, having endured countless life experiences, I finally see things clearly. You are the real brother who can help me, I..." Icardi choked.

The scenes of Tang Long assisting him at Inter flooded his memory.

"Mauro, I'll lead the brothers to create glory at Inter again. Now, I need you to join."

"I suffered a major injury; my knee won't allow me to break and shoot like before as a winger, but my passing skills are much stronger than ten years ago! Next season, let's strike hard against Juventus together!"

With a clap, Tang Long and Icardi hit palms heavily, both smiling.

Berni crossing his arms before his chest, watching the two reconcile with a smile, years of feuds dissolving at this moment, couldn't help but exhale in relief.

On the flight to Istanbul earlier, Tang Long told Berni, Mauro is a good kid, just happened to meet the wrong person young, bewitched by that rotten woman Wanda. Without her, he would have long been Inter's best scorer in history.

Now, thinking of the impending "Sugar-Coated Bullet" duo returning, Tang Long was also excitedly filled with a sense of pride.

Old companions are better, a fresh partner looks promising, he would again fight alongside Mauro.

Berni teased, "Mauro, you agreed readily, but the discussions between Inter and Galatasaray might be tough. After all, you're the Turkish Super League Golden Boot, they might not let you go easily."

Icardi laughed heartily, "No worries, let me tell you honestly, even though I was disheartened before leaving the major leagues, considering ending my career in Turkey, I still held onto a plan."

Tang Long and Berni exchanged a glance, then gazed at Icardi, eagerly awaiting what came next.

Icardi said, "When I transferred from Seville to Galatasaray, it cost them 9.8 million Euros. I have a secret written agreement with the club that allows any team from the five major leagues to bid over 9.8 million Euros, even if it's 1 Euro more, they must release me!"

Upon hearing this, Berni shouted in excitement, jumped in place, hugging Icardi.

"Awesome, we can afford 9.8 million Euros, rest assured about this!"

Icardi continued: "As for salary, I don't care anymore. Wanda, although a rotten woman, taught me one thing, whatever I earn, others can't touch, even my parents shouldn't spend my money freely. I have invested my salary in real estate over the years with good returns. I'm only 32, still very young, at this moment I just want to win, win in football, I don't care about anything else!"

Berni smiled, "Great! But don't get too happy yet. Do you remember Bonazzoli, the little boy who learned positioning from you back then is now our team's lead scorer. You'll have to compete with him."

Icardi solemnly nodded, "Of course I know, how to deal with Serie A defenders, confident to secure a footing in the team. I'm the youngest Golden Boot in Serie A's hundred years, also the holder of the single-season goal record!"

With these words, Tang Long and Berni received satisfying answers.

They walked out of the café. Under Istanbul's gentle June dusk, the city's minarets, alleys, and sea were bathed in golden sunlight.

Tang Long looked up at the distant setting sun, recalling the past decade.

The sun sets in the west, but rises in the east tomorrow;

Yet once youth fades, when will it return?

In the twilight, Icardi reluctantly said farewell to the two, promising to meet in Milan next season.

After a brief stay in Turkey, Tang and Berni hurriedly flew to the southern hemisphere's Colombia.

In that country they'd never visited before, they would face a problem far more thorny than Icardi.

Heading into the tumultuous slums, seeking to save an old brother known as Gualin, the "Violent Midfielder!"