novelraw Chapter 897 - 618: Average Age 29.8! The Old Boys Make Their Serie A Season Debut!
Chapter 897 - 618: Average Age 29.8! The Old Boys Make Their Serie A Season Debut!
Tang Long's return to Inter Milan was like a giant stone thrown into a lake, instantly causing ripples throughout the Apennine Peninsula, sparking a series of eye-catching chain reactions.
First off, the 32-year-old Argentine forward Icardi also donned the Blue-Black jersey again amidst the trend of returning home.
This striker, who had once left both glory and controversy at Meazza, was originally planning to retire in the Turkish Super League, spending a serene and warm remainder of his life with his new model girlfriend by the Bosphorus in Istanbul.
The warm Mediterranean breeze seemed to have long blown away his ambitions for top leagues, until the news of Tang Long's return came like a thunderbolt—
The partner who had once stood by his side in the youth team, creating countless opportunities for goals with magical passes, had returned to the place where their dreams began.
Icardi looked at his slightly timeworn face in the mirror, his fingers gently tracing the scar over his left eyebrow.
That was a mark left from a battle against Lazio.
Memories surged like tides: That noisy summer in 2014 when he first arrived, not even knowing who Tang Long was...
The unpleasant contract renewal dispute in 2015, during which he left in a huff, blacklisting everyone's numbers, including Tang Long's.
At this moment, he clenched the Inter Milan training jersey, as if he could feel the textured "Inter" lettering on it—the temperature of home.
The Inter Milan fans were thrilled about Icardi's return.
Although during the 2014-15 season, there had been unpleasant incidents due to his agent Wanda's greed, time had long washed away the grudges.
When Icardi, upon his loan return after divorcing Wanda, once again conquered the Blue-Black Corps with goal after crucial goal, the stands at San Siro echoed with cries of "Mauro! Mauro!"
Old fan Alberto wiped tears at the season ticket booth: "Ten years ago we couldn't afford to keep him, and now we finally waited for him to come home."
Yes, Inter Milan a decade ago was at a financial low, forced to watch this talented striker continue to wander;
And now, Tang Long's return brought not only nostalgia but hope to revitalize the giant club!
Following Icardi's joining, what fans looked forward to most was his re-teaming with Tang Long.
The duo, once dubbed the "Blue-Black Twins" by Rome Sports Newspaper, hadn't played together in an official match for a full decade.
On social media, fans dug up old videos from ten years ago: Tang Long deftly flicking the ball with his heel at midfield, before slotting a precise through pass, with Icardi sprinting and slotting it into the far corner.
"Is their chemistry still there?"
In a poll initiated by the Rome Sports Newspaper, over 85% of fans chose "absolutely believe it".
Ranocchia's retirement and subsequent comeback was like a shot of adrenaline for the fans.
This captain, born in 1988, suddenly announced his return half a month after announcing his retirement, adding gravity and stability to the Blue-Black Corps' locker room.
On the training ground, the ice pack on his knee spoke of the merciless passing of time, yet his gaze remained as sharp as a hawk's.
In training matches against younger players, he would suddenly call a halt, demonstrating how to use your body to block shot angles: "Defense doesn't rely on brute strength; it's about predicting the opponent's next move."
This native Italian had already ingrained the Blue-Black blood into his bones, just as fans would say: "As long as Ranocchia is here, Inter Milan's soul is here."
Tang Long, leveraging his influence in international football, successfully persuaded Robertson, who was clashing with Liverpool, to join.
The 16 million Euro transfer fee was considered a bargain in today's market, but even more astounding was Tang Long's power of persuasion.
He remembered young Robbie at Manchester City training ground seeking him out for defensive advice at just 21, the humility and diligence of the Scottish lad left a deep impression on Tang.
Now at 31, Robertson was one of the top left-backs in the Premier League, with precision in long passes and the ability to move up and down the pitch that many teams coveted.
"I know you're unhappy at Liverpool," Tang Long told Robertson over the phone, "The rhythm of Serie A is more suited for tactically-minded players like you, and," his gaze burning with intensity, "we need a warrior like you to help rebuild Inter Milan."
At this moment, Robertson, standing on the terrace of his villa, gazed at the sun setting over Liverpool Harbour through the window, recalling nights at Anfield when he faced boos, finally nodding gently.
When he first donned the Blue-Black jersey, touching the snake spirit emblem on his chest, a sense of mission both unfamiliar and familiar surged within.
Tang Long's return was like a hurricane, totally igniting Inter Milan's football market!
Before the season even began, 60,000 season tickets were snatched up eagerly, setting a new club record for the past twenty years.
The staff at Meazza Stadium had to work overtime, ensuring each seat's safety facilities—this colossus accommodating between 78,000 and 79,000 spectators was about to welcome its most feverish season.
Longtime ticket office employee Massimo remarked with emotion: "The last time I saw something like this was during the 2010 Triple Crown era, back when Mourinho was the manager!"
The feverish football market gave Inter Milan's management plenty of confidence, continuing to support coach Chiwo, allowing this young coach, who had steadily progressed from a youth team assistant, to continue with the reins.
Chiwo's office was filled with tactical boards and player analysis reports, the most conspicuous being a data analysis chart of Tang Long's key matches in his career.
"He's like a precise football computer," Chiwo said in a press conference, "Our task is to create the most suitable system for him to fully unleash his talents."
Tactically, Chiwo decided to make slight adjustments to the original 352 formation, changing it to a 3412, advancing Tang Long's position to attacking midfielder, which was the position he excelled in during his debut at Inter Milan.
On the training ground, Tang Long stood at the center circle, his gaze sweeping over each teammate's positioning.
Calhanoglu's precise long passes, Barella's combativeness and coverage, Di Marco's forward assists, all unfolded seamlessly under his command.
On the front line, the competition among the four forwards Lautaro, Marcus Thuram, Bonazzoli, and Icardi was fierce.
After each day's training, they would stay to hone their shooting skills, with the sound of balls hitting the net ringing out continuously.
Icardi was always the last to leave, practicing strikes from varying angles towards the goal, his sweat-soaked jersey bearing the name "Icardi" shimmering gold in the sunset.
"I want to prove that at 32, I can still fight alongside Tang!" He told the accompanying journalist.
The impact of Dumfries and Augusto on the defense line perfectly complements Tang Long's through balls.
During a practice match, Tang Long suddenly noticed Dumfries advancing from midfield, sending a scalpel-like through ball piercing the defensive line, and the Dutchman sprinted forward to score with a shot.
Chiwo excitedly waved his fists on the sidelines, quickly jotting down in his notebook: "Tang-Dumfries connection success rate is very high%, can be used as a key offensive strategy."
Not to be overlooked are local players like Damian, Ranocchia, and Bastoni; they are the bridge between the club and the fans.
After every practice session, Ranocchia stays on the sidelines to sign autographs and take pictures with young fans, patiently answering their questions. "This is not just a job," he said, touching the crest on his chest, "this is our belief."
Within the Inter Milan team, there is a special presence—36-year-old Armenian veteran Mkhitaryan, who was Tang Long's old teammate during his time at Manchester City.
When the two reunited in the locker room, Mkhitaryan gave Tang Long a warm embrace without hesitation, his beard brushing against Tang Long's cheek: "I didn't expect that ten years later, we could still fight for the championship together."
Mkhitaryan's career is truly legendary; his agile dribbling and precise passes allow him to maintain a position in midfield.
Though he understands that Tang Long's return might compress his playing time, he still arrives first at the training field every day, diligently completing every set of physical training.
"Is there anything more beautiful than standing alongside an old friend late in your career?" he said in an interview, his eyes sparkling.
Nowadays, the starting lineup of Inter Milan has an average age of 29.8 years, making it the oldest team in Serie A.
But like fine wine, the older, the more exquisite; older players understand football even more.
These veterans who have weathered storms have accumulated rich match experience; they know how to control the game in the slower-paced Serie A, how to use wisdom to compensate for physical shortcomings.
In the pre-season, Inter Milan demonstrated an astounding state.
In three friendly matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern, they achieved an unbeaten record of 2 wins and 1 draw, especially the 4-0 victory over Bayern, which was classic.
During that match, Tang Long started as an attacking midfielder and delivered four assists in four different ways—instep, outer foot, front foot, and heel—to help Mkhitaryan, Icardi, Bonazzoli, and Lautaro score!
When the fourth goal hit the net, Meazza Stadium erupted.
Fans on the stands waved their blue-black scarves, loudly chanting Tang Long's name, and the roar seemed to shake the roof.
Bayern's head coach Kompany expressed with emotion after the game: "When Tang Long and I were teammates at Manchester City, I realized his prowess; I didn't expect, after half a year's serious injury, he returns to the field even stronger in passing; Tang Long's passes seem magical; he always finds the right person at the perfect moment."
On social media, fans passionately reposted Tang Long's assist highlights.
"This is the Tang King we know!"
"Four assists, four types of kicks—this is the strength of the Golden Ball winner!"
"Inter's forwards are so blessed; they are enjoying these passes so much!"
Various comments were overwhelming, making Inter Milan a hot topic in the football community.
Finally, the curtain slowly rises on the new Serie A season.
Inter Milan's first opponent is Palermo, who returns to Serie A after years.
On the matchday, Meazza Stadium was packed with fans early on, and the massive Tifo on the North Stand slowly unfolded:
"Welcome home, Tang!"
"Blue-Black revival begins today!"
...
On Palermo's bus, the players excitedly chatted, anticipating their Serie A debut.
However, sitting at the front, Buffon appeared particularly tense.
The legendary 47-year-old goalkeeper tightly clutched a bottle of mineral water, his fingers turning white from exertion, with beads of sweat constantly forming on his forehead.
He stared at the white cement dome of Meazza Stadium outside the window, cursing inwardly: "Is Serie A Alliance doing this on purpose? Facing Inter in the first round is putting an old bone like me in a tough spot!"
In the locker room, Tang Long quietly sat on the bench, stroking the crest on his jersey.
Ten years ago, he wore the first team jersey here for the first time, hands sweating from nerves;
Ten years later, he is a four-time Golden Ball winner, having been baptized by both Premier League and La Liga, now returning to his homeland.
The cheers of the fans in the stands echoed in his ears as he took a deep breath, stood up, and glanced across his teammates: Icardi's fighting spirit, Ranocchia's composure, Robertson's focus, Mkhitaryan's smile...
"Brothers," his voice was deep and powerful, "Today, we will show all of Italy that Inter Milan is back!"
In the player's tunnel, as Tang Long stepped out first, the cheers at Meazza Stadium reached its peak.
He looked up at the sky as the moonlight passed through the clouds, illuminating his face.
That young boy from ten years ago finally returned here, carrying glory and scars, filled with love and devotion to the Blue-Black Corps, ready to write a new legend.
The referee's whistle blew, officially starting the match.
Icardi returned the pass, and Tang Long received the ball at the center circle, making a light tap and passing it to Mkhitaryan behind him, then quickly moving into position for the next play.
Under the night sky of Meazza, Tang Long embarked on another journey with the Blue-Black team.
His new story is unfolding!