A sudden downpour hit the city of Milan.
At the entrance of Inter Milan's Pinenati Training Base, a car was parked there. Many reporters had retreated due to the storm. Only this car remained at its post.
"Hey, Tina, shouldn't we go back too?" A long-haired reporter said to his partner, "Even ducks won't swim in this damned weather, let alone humans. Can't you see that everyone else has left? "
"Shut up, Kyle, you idiot! It's precisely because everyone else has gone back that we can't leave. " The bald Tina slapped his partner's head. "If there's any news, this is our chance. Exclusive news!"
"Oh, oh, oh, Tina, you're so smart." Kyle's face was full of admiration.
Both of them were absolute newbie reporters working for a small Milan newspaper.
At this moment, in the storm, a car came from afar. It suddenly stopped a few dozen meters away from the entrance of the Pinenati Training Base.
Then, the car's headlights turned on. The driver got out of the car, opened an umbrella, checked the situation, and kicked the tire hard.
"Broken down? Tsk tsk. "Kyle whistled.
"Idiot, look at this guy. Doesn't he look familiar?" Tina scolded with excitement in his eyes.
"This is … Cassano?" Kyle's eyes widened as he looked, and then he shouted excitedly.
"We're rich! We're rich! "Kyle shouted excitedly.
"Shut up!" Tina was also excited, but he restrained himself. He said in a deep voice, "Cassano's appearance at the entrance of the Pinenati Training Base is news, but that's not enough. It's best if we can find out why that kid is here."
"I'll listen to you." Kyle nodded. He and Tina were close friends. He knew that he was not smart enough, but with Tina around, it was enough.
In the storm, Cassano held an umbrella and took out his phone to make a call.
*****
It was no wonder that Kyle and Tina were so excited. Cassano meant too much to the Italians.
Although Cassano was not doing well in Real Madrid, the Italians had always been paying attention to their bad boy. They firmly resisted the Madrid media's criticism of Cassano. They insisted that it was the Madrid people who did not know how to use Cassano. The Italian genius was suffering in Madrid!
The Italians loved Cassano deeply!
On the field, there was a type of person that you both loved and hated. He had outstanding talent, but because of his personality, his career development was hindered.
Geniuses often meant that they stood out from the crowd. Geniuses also meant that they were unrestrained and even maverick. They would always be difficult to control. There was no doubt that Cassano was a rare genius in Italian football with a relatively conservative style and a team spirit. Looking back at the starting point of this genius youth's football journey, the southern port city of Bari in the Apennines was a place that could not be ignored. Although time had passed and the boy who played football on the beach in the Ferrarese Square was nearing the end of his wandering football career, the sea breeze could not blow away the footprints that Cassano left on the Ferrarese Square. It could not blow away the outstanding genius and the unrestrained genius of a genius.
When Cassano walked into the youth training camp of the Bari club, he first showed his outstanding talent on the field. In the youth team, he could use countless breakthroughs and goals in a game to shut the opponents up. Perhaps it was because scoring goals was too easy for him. During the game, Cassano even took pleasure in hitting the goalpost. The "ruffian" aura of a genius was revealed in his child-like smile. That was probably the happiest period of football for the "bad boy" Cassano.
Seeing such a performance, Bari's manager already understood that the stage of the youth team was too small for Cassano. The Serie A stadium was waiting for him. In the 1999-00 season, Bari was facing Inter Milan. The 17-year-old Cassano cut in at high speed and received a pass from his teammate. He used his heel to pick the ball in front of him and then beautifully and smoothly received the ball with a header. He began his mad dash to the opponent's penalty area. Blanc and Panucci were so clumsy in front of this kid. Italy's national goalkeeper, Peruzzi, could not stop this goal from happening.
Through the broadcast camera, the madness of the fans in the stadium instantly spread to every corner of the Apennines. Italian football had been waiting for this genius for too long.
Many people thought that Cassano was destined to become the hero of Italian football, because in the 1982 FIFA World Cup, Cassano was born in Bari the day after the golden boy, Rossi, raised the World Cup high above his head. This should not be just a coincidence of fate. People were looking forward to it, looking forward to Cassano continuing the legend of the golden boy. However, six years later, Lippi, who was standing in front of the Inter Milan technical area at that time, became the manager of the Italian national team. He led the Azzurri to the top of the world again after 24 years, and Cassano was no longer by his side.
At that time, people understood that the so-called coincidence of fate was just a joke that was not a beautiful one.
Before that, Cassano was lucky. Along the way, he used his youth to pave the road ahead. His road ahead was smooth. He was continuing the tradition of the number 9 and a half in Italian football. He was constantly creating surprises. He was walking on the road from a genius to a superstar.
*****
In the summer of 2001, Capello was the first to embrace this genius. The defending champion bought Cassano for a sky-high price of 28 million US dollars. In the new season, the bad boy of Bari would gradually take over the flag in Barti's hands. He would stand beside Totti and Montella and form the most passionate and talented forward combination in Serie A. Although Roma did not successfully defend their title in the end, that was the most unrestrained era under Capello's rule. Perhaps only a strict and inflexible coach like Capello could let Cassano show the most perfect football talent.
In the years that followed, Roma was further and further away from the title, but Cassano's arrogant nature was vividly revealed. He could speak rudely to the referee, and he could also joke on the sidelines by sprinkling water from the water bottle at the team doctor. On the field, he was like a child who would never grow up. Perhaps when he grew up and matured, the talented football teenager would completely disappear in time.
In the 2003-04 season, the game against the Old Lady Juventus was an eternal classic left by Cassano during his time in Roma. Cassano scored twice and the final score was an incredible 4: 0. In the sea of red, the way he celebrated by taking off his jersey obviously could not release all of Cassano's passion. He ran to the corner flag area and broke the corner flag pole with one kick.
That was the best memory left by a genius for the city of Roma.
PS: Weakly begging for a monthly ticket.
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