"I'm going to be a father," Li Ang said. His eyes shone with happiness.
Moratti was stunned. After he understood, he gave his blessings. "Really? That's great. Congratulations, Li! "
Moratti was really happy for Li Ang. The senior management of Inter Milan knew that Li Ang had always wanted to have a child after he got married. Unfortunately, he had not been able to conceive. Moratti was very concerned about him. He even introduced a famous private doctor to Li Ang. Li Ang politely declined. He was a doctor himself and knew that whether it was himself or Alice, there was no problem with fertility. However, he still thanked Moratti for his concern.
Then, Moratti was stunned. Li Ang wanted to terminate the contract early. Could it be related to this matter?
Sure enough.
"I feel a little tired. I want to rest for a while after the end of the season," Li Ang said. "I want to spend some time with my wife and family."
Moratti looked at Li Ang in surprise. He did not expect this to be the reason.
Was this reason sufficient?
It might sound a little ridiculous. He had never heard of a top manager choosing to rest at home because his wife was pregnant. Of course, this also had to do with the fact that the top managers were generally older. Most of them were in their forties, fifties, or even sixties or seventies. They might even have grandchildren, let alone children.
Moratti looked at Li Ang in surprise. However, after he thought about it carefully, he had to accept the fact that Li Ang's reason was sufficient.
If Li Ang wanted to leave or even jump ship for other reasons, Moratti would be furious. However, Li Ang wanted to rest and spend time with his wife and family. This reason was very strong and heartwarming. It was irrefutable and irrefutable.
*****
Li Ang and Moratti had a good relationship. Although Moratti was the boss, they had worked together very happily for the past three years. It could be said that they were friends despite the difference in age.
"On one hand, it's because I do feel like I've lost my motivation. For a manager of a team, this is a very scary thing. I don't want to affect the team because of me," Li Ang said.
"This is not a problem. No team can keep winning …" Moratti wanted to say something. He wanted to say that as long as he was in the team, everything was not a problem. He even wanted to say that he could accept the team's performance in the later seasons.
Li Ang shook his head with a smile. He did not doubt the sincerity of Moratti's words. However, this was only for now. If Moratti's results were not good because of him in the future, there would definitely be conflicts between the two sides. Moratti was the owner of the team and represented the results and interests of Inter Milan. This was unchangeable. Of course, Li Ang did not want such a day to come. It was not that he did not have confidence in leading the team. To put it bluntly, he realized that he was a little tired. He did not have the motivation that he had when he first came to Inter Milan. This was the key!
"Of course, that's not the main reason. The main reason is that I've begun to realize that I owe my family too much. I want to take a break and spend time with them!" Li Ang said sincerely.
Li Ang's frank and sincere words moved Moratti. His dissatisfaction and anger faded a lot. Instead, he felt more emotional and helpless.
Of course, he did not want to let Li Ang go. However, Moratti knew Li Ang's character well. Since Li Ang took the initiative to talk to him about this matter, it meant that this person had thought it through carefully. Even if it was an impulse, he had made a decision. This person would not change his decision.
*****
"Since you've said so, what else can I say?" Moratti spread his hands and said helplessly.
"Of course, even if you choose to leave, you have to leave with pride." Li Ang suddenly smiled. "This season, we will stand at the top of Europe. This is the prerequisite for my departure."
Moratti's eyes lit up. It was his long-cherished wish to win the European Championship again. However, when he thought that this also meant that Li Ang would have to leave Inter Milan, the light in his eyes dimmed. "Compared to your departure, I'd rather not win the European Championship."
As the boss of Inter Milan who loved Inter Milan deeply and hoped that Inter Milan would stand at the top of Europe and create a great and glorious future, Moratti was able to say such words. Although it was more because Moratti was a very emotional person, it was enough to move Li Ang.
"I know that I'm leaving temporarily. If Inter Milan needs me in the future, I will come back," Li Ang said. "Of course, I don't want that day to come."
Moratti knew what Li Ang meant. If Inter Milan needed Li Ang to come back in the future, it would mean that Inter Milan was in a crisis and needed Li Ang to come back to turn the tide.
This was a promise, a promise made by Li Ang. This also moved Moratti.
"The doors of Inter Milan will always be open for you. This is your home," Moratti said emotionally.
*****
The boss of Inter Milan shook hands with the manager of Inter Milan, and then the two of them hugged.
"Thank you, Li!" Moratti whispered in Li Ang's ear.
"It's my honor to be able to coach Inter Milan!" Li Ang said. These were the words he had said when he first joined Inter Milan. At this moment, the same words were said, but they were more sincere.
Then, the two of them looked at each other, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little sad and awkward.
"It seems that now is not the time to say goodbye." Li Ang said with a forced smile. Making this decision, he was also reluctant to part with her.
Moratti also laughed. The old man came up and punched Li Ang on the shoulder. "Don't think about running away if you don't win the Champions League."
"Don't worry!" Li Ang waved his hand, pretending to be cool and at ease.
Li Ang said goodbye and turned to leave the office.
"Thank you," Moratti said as he looked at the back of the young manager.
Li Ang stopped, turned around, and bowed slightly to the old man standing in the room. "Thank you."
Then, he turned and left. The sound of footsteps could be heard in the corridor.
The door of the chairman's office was gently closed by Moratti. Moratti's heart was extremely sad. He had an indescribable emotion. It was as if closing the door also closed a period of glorious history of Inter Milan, an era …
*****
A day later, the entire Inter Milan team set off for London to prepare for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals against the Premier League powerhouse, Arsenal.
The Arsenal manager, Wenger, cheered for his team in an interview that morning. The French manager vowed that he was very confident that his team would eliminate Inter Milan and enter the top four.
At London's Heathrow Airport, Li Ang faced countless microphones and said a sentence that would be recorded in Inter Milan and even European football history: the rolling wheels of history cannot be stopped!
Wenger's repeated remarks completely angered him at this time.
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