It was a great honor to be able to enter the Italian national team at the age of 22, but it was a great misfortune to be the substitute for the 28-year-old Prince of Rome, Francesco Totti. However, fate was destined for Cassano to replace Francesco Totti as the protagonist of the Azzurri team. The moment Francesco Totti spat at the Danish player, Cassano became the new core of the Italian team. Against Sweden, Cassano's goal kept the Azzurri team's hope of moving forward. What made the old manager Trapattoni even more gratified was that the Bari boy was almost the only striker that the Italian team could rely on. When Francesco Totti sat in the stands, when Vieri was lost in the hot summer, only Cassano lit up the night sky of Iberia for Italy.
However, Cassano's efforts could not change the inevitability of fate. When he sent the football into the Bulgarian goal, when he ran wildly to the manager Traff, when he knew that the score of the other game that kicked off at the same time was fixed at 2: 2, the smile on his face disappeared and tears fell in an instant. From despair to hope, and from hope back to despair, it was easy to read Cassano's sadness from the tears at that moment, but it was difficult to read the weakness and loneliness in the heart of such a rebellious and cynical Bari boy.
After the UEFA European Championship, with Capello's departure from Roma, the once passionate Red Wolves began to fluctuate in results. Cassano was also surrounded by various transfer rumors. It seemed that there was no warning that the darling of Roma was going to leave. At the beginning of 2006, when Cassano took over the Real Madrid jersey and smiled in front of the camera, almost all the Italian fans were thinking, why did Cassano leave? They received various answers. He did not get along with the manager, lacked communication with his teammates, and even had a bad relationship with the Prince of Rome, Francesco Totti. As outsiders, it was difficult for people to know how true the rumors in the locker room were. However, the only fact was that Cassano left Roma and the genius broke his wings at Bernabéu.
The Bernabéu fans' memories of Cassano were vague. Although Real Madrid only spent five million euros to get the 23-year-old genius, Cassano could still only appear in the boos of the Bernabéu and on the substitutes' bench. There, his personality was difficult to be accepted by Real Madrid's complicated locker room. He began to sink and he began to lose himself in the night sky of Madrid, Spain. Lippi, who had originally recruited Cassano, made a major decision before the World Cup in Germany. Cassano's name would not appear in his squad list. Yes, this was the age when the 24-year-old Cassano should shine at the Bernabéu.
From the results, Lippi was right. After all, when Cannavaro raised the World Cup over his head, who would remember Cassano? Who would care where Cassano was? What? He was forgotten by his mentor, Capello, on the substitutes' bench? What? He returned to Italy and Sampdoria became his new home? No, this was not important. What was important was that people gradually confirmed that this genius was repeating the trajectory of countless football geniuses. He began to sink and began to leave people's sight.
Later, the arrival of Capello, Cassano's mentor when he was at Roma, was thought to be able to save Cassano. However, to everyone's surprise, Cassano's brain was flooded with water again. Last season, because he contradicted Capello, he was abandoned by the Italian manager and the bad boy did not play for almost an entire season. During his time with Real Madrid, it had been one and a half seasons so far. Cassano only played 19 games in La Liga and scored two goals. After being abandoned by Real Madrid, Cassano did not challenge fate like David Beckham. Instead, he indulged in debauchery and appeared in the media mostly with a certain female star.
However, despite this, every time the transfer period came, the Italian fans would think of Cassano again. They missed him. They missed the bad boy who was far away from home.
Perhaps only the Italians could understand Cassano's arrogance. In the hearts of the Italians, Cassano was always the best football genius in Italy after Francesco Totti. This was their most primitive memory of Cassano. His agility, his sharpness, his dribbling, and his shooting were all deeply loved by the Italians.
This summer, the Italian media had been speculating, hoping that Cassano would leave Madrid and return to the Apennines. In the media's reports, Fiorentina and Sampdoria were rumored to be Cassano's next destination. As for the big teams, whether it was Inter Milan, AC Milan, or Juventus, who had returned to Serie A, there were no rumors about Cassano. This made the Italian fans sigh and feel disappointed. In their eyes, only the big teams were worthy of the darling of the Apennines.
Now, Cassano actually appeared outside the Pininati training base on this stormy night. This was a big discovery. It was no wonder that the two rookie reporters were so excited.
*****
Li Ang was surprised when he received a call from Cassano.
Previously, Cassano's agent, Pep Pozzo, had recommended Cassano to Inter Milan. Moratti liked the boy, but Li Ang firmly refused to bring in Cassano. He did not want to have such an unreliable bad boy in his locker room. He was a bomb that could explode at any time. He did not want a bad boy to spoil a pot of porridge.
Li Ang thought that this was the end of the matter. To his surprise, he received a call from Cassano.
It was rare for a player to take the initiative to call the manager of another team to ask to join. Generally, players would do it through their agents. It was rare for a player to do it with his bare hands. However, considering that this was the brain circuit and the unusual Cassano, it seemed to be understandable.
Li Ang tried his best to tactfully reject Cassano again.
However, he forgot that the person on the other end of the phone was Cassano, who was born when Mars collided with Earth. The bad boy kept asking, "Why don't you want me?" "Why don't you want me?"
Li Ang could not stand it anymore. He knew that he could only tell the truth when dealing with such a boy. He said angrily, "I'm just worried that you won't listen to me. I'm worried that you'll lead my players astray."
He did not expect Cassano to directly say, "Don't worry, I'll listen to you in the future."
Of course, Li Ang did not believe this. He looked at the storm outside the window and said casually, "If you can come to the Pininati training base in an hour, I'll consider it."
Li Ang was just saying it casually. With Cassano's temperament, it would be strange if he obediently came in the storm.
After hanging up the phone, Li Ang did not pay any more attention to the matter. The new season was about to begin. Inter Milan had to regroup this season and once again attack multiple championships. As the manager, he really had too much work to deal with. He did not have time to get entangled in Cassano's matter.
Unexpectedly, about 50 minutes later, he received another call from Cassano. The boy Barry told him that he was not far from the Pininati training base. The car broke down.
Li Ang first subconsciously looked out of the window. The storm was pouring down, and then he muttered.
He really didn't expect that Ka Sanuo would actually rush over because of his joke.
Li Ang was surprised by Cassano's behavior. For the first time, he was interested in meeting the bad boy Barry.
Even Li Ang had to admit that Cassano was a genius. He was the most talented player among the current Italian players. However, this player's perverse and unpredictable character had never been considered by Li Ang. But now, Li Ang had to admit that Cassano's actions had moved him slightly.
Outside the Pininati training base, Cassano looked a little embarrassed. He did not wait in the car. Instead, he stood outside the car, holding an umbrella in the storm.
However, the wind was strong, and the rain still wet his clothes. The Real Madrid star threw the umbrella away and stood in the storm, looking embarrassed. He looked up at the gate of the Pininati training base from time to time.
"A little embarrassed dog!" This was Li Ang's first impression of the famous Italian bad boy, who came to the gate with an umbrella.
PS: Xiao Qi wishes everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and a happy family!
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