Inter Milan currently had two goalkeepers, César and Toldo. The team also needed a third goalkeeper.
The candidate was quickly decided.
Oriari recommended Paolo Orlandoni to Li Ang.
Li Ang remembered who the man was as soon as he heard the name.
Paolo Orlandoni was a goalkeeper trained by Inter Milan's youth academy in the early 1990s. However, he did not play a single game for Inter Milan. He then went to Mantova in Italy's Serie C and had been moving between Serie C and Serie B ever since. He only played in Serie A with Reggina around the turn of the millennium. After that, he wandered again and joined Lazio and Piacenza. However, he was a substitute goalkeeper.
Now that Orlandoni was free, the Inter Milan youth academy goalkeeper was eager to return to Inter Milan.
Li Ang remembered that in the original historical track, Orlandoni joined Inter Milan this summer. After that, he served as Inter Milan's third goalkeeper. Although he did not get many opportunities to play, he had been conscientious as the third goalkeeper for Inter Milan for seven years. He finally retired at Inter Milan.
Objectively speaking, he was a very simple goalkeeper. He was indeed very suitable for the position of Inter Milan's third goalkeeper. Moreover, he was a product of Inter Milan's youth academy.
Therefore, the candidate for the third goalkeeper was determined to be Orlandoni.
Subsequently, Inter Milan officially announced that Paolo Orlandoni, a youth player who had been 'wandering' outside for many years, had officially returned and signed a two-year contract with the club.
*****
In the center back position, with the addition of Samuels, Inter Milan now had three center backs in Materazzi, Samuels, and Cordoba. These three players would compete for the two main center back positions.
However, to be on the safe side, the team also needed a substitute center back on standby.
Li Ang did not buy from the transfer market. Instead, he promoted a player from the Inter Milan youth team.
This player was the 18-year-old Leonardo Bonucci. That's right, it was Bonucci, the future pillar of Juventus' rear.
Bonucci was able to appear in Inter Milan's youth team thanks to the youth coaches and scouts of Inter Milan. The 18-year-old Bonucci was recommended by Inter Milan's scouts and had just joined Inter Milan a month ago.
When Li Ang saw Bonucci's name on the youth team list, he knew that he had found a treasure.
In the original track of history, Bonucci was not in an important position at Inter Milan. He was constantly loaned out, and at one point, half of Bonucci's ownership was sold to Treviso. However, after Inter Milan bought back this half of the ownership, they did not give Bonucci a chance. Instead, they continued to sublet him and finally sold him to the newly promoted Bari for two million euros. In Bari, Bonucci grew rapidly and attracted the attention of Juventus. He was bought by the Bianconeri for 15.5 million euros and became the absolute backbone of the Old Lady's defense.
Inter Milan let go of a world-class center back just like that. This made many Inter Milan fans jump with regret.
However, that was the original track of history. Now that Li Ang had become the manager of Inter Milan, he naturally would not allow Bonucci to be lost.
*****
Li Ang directly called Bonucci to inform him to report to the First Team on July 23rd and participate in the training for the new season.
When the 18-year-old received a call from the First Team manager and learned that he had been promoted to the First Team, he was stunned. Then, he fell into ecstasy.
"In addition, the team will sign a new contract with you," said Li Ang.
At that moment, Bonucci was so happy that he forgot to reply.
"Are you listening? Young man, "asked Li Ang.
"Ah, ah, yes, sir. I'm listening," Bonucci quickly replied.
"Come to Pinenati tomorrow. The club will sign a new contract with you," said Li Ang.
"Yes, sir." For the 18-year-old Bonucci, the club was willing to sign a long-term contract with him. This meant that they valued him. Other than being happy, he could not refuse. This was a great thing.
"Do your best, young man. I have faith in you!" said Li Ang with a smile.
"Yes, sir. I will do my best!" Hearing this, Bonucci quickly expressed his loyalty.
Then, he heard the phone hang up. Bonucci was still immersed in his excitement.
When Old Bonucci returned home, he saw his son holding his phone and laughing foolishly. He went up and patted his son on the shoulder. "Paul, what are you laughing foolishly for?"
"Hey, Dad! Dad! I have good news for you. I've been promoted to the First Team! "Bonucci shouted.
"Are you having a fever?" Old Bonucci did not believe it. His son had just signed a contract with Inter Milan and signed with the youth team. How could he be promoted to the First Team so quickly?
"It's true, Dad! The First Team manager, Li, called me personally. He said he has faith in me! "Bonucci was so excited that his neck was red as he explained.
Seeing his son jumping up and down, Old Bonucci started to believe that his son was not talking nonsense.
He patted his son on the shoulder again. "I told you, my son is a genius! That Chinese man has good taste! "
Young Bonucci laughed foolishly.
*****
The candidates for the third goalkeeper and substitute center back were settled.
Li Ang set his sights on the team's full backs.
Inter Milan now had three full backs. They were the captain, Zanetti, the veteran, Favalli, and the player nurtured by Inter Milan's youth team, Giovanni Pasquale.
Zanetti was the main candidate for the right back. That was indisputable. That was also a position that Li Ang was not worried about.
However, Li Ang was not at ease with the left back position.
Favalli was already thirty-three years old. The Italian veteran was a left back who played steadily and had accurate judgment. Although his speed and assist ability had decreased as he grew older, his basic skills were solid and his defensive awareness was quite good. This could be understood as he would not make low-level mistakes. However, it was also difficult for him to have outstanding performances. Li Ang could not rely on Favalli to open up Inter Milan's left flank corridor.
As for Pasquale, Li Ang had studied Pasquale's game videos from last season. Pasquale, who had been on loan to Siena for half a season last season, could be said to have improved a lot. At Siena, he had completely gotten rid of the restraint he had at Inter Milan and naturally played to his own standards in games. Therefore, it could be seen that Pasquale's ability was still relatively outstanding. However, in Li Ang's memory, Pasquale had not really played. Moreover, based on Pasquale's current performance, he was barely qualified as a substitute in some unimportant games. However, this player could not be expected to shoulder the heavy burden at key moments.
Therefore, in the left back position, Li Ang needed to bring in a reliable player.
PS: Third update, thank you to Jiexi for your reward 2.
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