There was no echo from the other side of the phone.
After a long while, a sowhat weary voice ca through.
"Chiwo, you should contact the sports director Ossorio about resigning. I'm just the head coach of the first team. Also, Leno can't be moved; his relationship with Mr. Moratti is good, you know."
"I understand, but Mr. Mancini, it was you who brought from Ro to Inter in 2007. I respect you greatly, so I wanted to notify you before resigning."
"Is this the result of careful consideration?"
"Yes, Mr. Mancini, this is the result of careful consideration, I'm very sorry."
"Hmm, it's okay. Where are you planning to go?"
"To Ajax, they contacted last month about coaching there."
"Ajax is where you grew up, becoming the head coach there, you'll have a limitless future."
"No, it's an assistant coach for the first team."
"Assistant coach... By the way, Chiwo, I have a question for you; what do you think of the player Tang?"
Mancini suddenly changed the topic, speaking about Tang Long.
Chiwo was taken aback and then responded, "Tang's sense of the big picture far exceeds his peers; it's his talent, which is why I recomnded him to the first team."
"Hmm, good."
Mancini on the other end of the phone smiled.
"Chiwo, becoming an assistant at Ajax isn't that different; why not join the first team here and be part of my team? I need you."
"You want to replace Herrera as your assistant?"
"No, Herrera will retire at the end of this season. I need you because I want to implent a special training plan for Tang; you are the most suitable candidate to lead this plan!"
...
The next morning, Tang Long finished gearing up and entered the training field.
Today, it was drizzling, with temperatures around 5 degrees, very wet and cold.
A cold wind blew, and Tang Long couldn't help but shrink his neck, shivering.
"Achuu~"
Suddenly, a scarf wrapped around his neck.
The delicate black knitted scarf was warm and cozy, still carrying body heat.
This is...
"Tang, Italy's winter isn't very cold, but when it rains it's quite unpleasant; you need a scarf."
It was Inter's captain, Ranocchia.
The 195cm tall Ranocchia looked at Tang Long with a warm expression.
"Thank you, captain, but what will you wear?"
"I have two; giving you one, it's no problem."
Ranocchia's attentive care towards Tang Long was a bit unexpected for him.
However, Tang Long also knew Ranocchia's concern for him stemd not only from a first team captain's care for young players.
The deeper reason was Tang Long's praise of Ranocchia at the press conference after the Ro match.
When Milan Sport Daily asked Tang Long who was the best player of the match.
Tang Long deliberately didn't say the obvious answer, Icardi, but nad captain Ranocchia.
"Ranocchia's solid defense, keeping the opponent scoreless, was key to our victory in this match!"
To counter the South Arican Gang led by Gualin, Tang Long chose to show goodwill towards the Italian Local Gang and the Argentine Barbecue Gang.
Training moved to the confrontation phase.
During a one-on-one ball contest, midfielder del executed a fierce tackle!
With the ball and Tang Long, he directly tackled him off the sidelines.
"Hey, kid, if you're a man, stand up, don't clutch your leg!"
Gualin taunted from the side.
Clearly, del, who had no personal enmity with Tang Long, did so under the private instigation of South Arican Gang leader Gualin.
Mancini on the sidelines didn't say anything, but he saw it all clearly.
del was very cunning; the move appeared to tackle the ball first then the person, which wasn't a foul.
However, after the tackle, his toe had a subtle extra movent, slightly lifting.
So it directly knocked Tang Long over, rolling a few tis.
"del, this is training, why are you being so rough? Use that force on the opponent!"
Icardi was the first to rush out.
He went right up to del, their noses almost touching, conflict about to ignite.
del was taken aback, he hadn't expected Icardi to stand up for Tang Long, feeling a bit at a loss.
Gualin ca over, speaking sinisterly:
"Mauro, why are you so worked up? If you're not serious in training, can you tone down opponents' actions on the field? Besides, this wasn't a foul, just a beautiful tackle!"
Gualin, 184cm tall, wasn't particularly tall.
But this guy weighs 86kg, full of muscle, his presence imdiately overshadowed Icardi.
Gualin's nose, like a bull's nose, spewed audible foul air.
Icardi wiped the rain from his face, instinctively pushing Gualin away!
This push changed everything!
From the South Arican Gang, Brazilian defenders Jonathan and Juan ca around.
Argentinian gang mbers Palacio, Oswaldo, Campaniello, Caliso also weren't backing down, supporting the 22-year-old Icardi.
Assistant coach Torreira watched the situation tensely, then tugged Mancini's sleeve.
"Boss, aren't you going to intervene?"
"Let them fight; I want to see what this can beco." Mancini remained unmoved.
On another side.
The Forr South Gang and Italian Gang were watching idly.
Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo naively ran over, "Everyone calm down, let's talk it out..."
Nobody paid attention to him; on the contrary, Gualin glared at him contemptuously, pushing him away with one hand!
Yuto Nagatomo, only 170cm tall.
Gualin, at 184cm, was quite tall; the push happened to land directly on Yuto Nagatomo's face.
Slap!
Equivalent to a smack!
Yuto Nagatomo was directly stunned, pitifully holding his face, staying still, not moving.
Captain Ranocchia helped Tang Long up, confirming he was okay.
He charged straight into the crowd.
His height was the tallest; like an electric pole, standing in the center, everyone had to look up to him.
"Everyone stop right now; this is Inter Milan, not street lanes. We are professional players, not street punks. If you want to fight, then get out and fight!"
As a local player and captain, Ranocchia's authority within the team was self-evident.
Behind him, Dambrosio and Andreolli followed closely, glaring at everyone.
"del, there's nothing wrong with defending seriously, but Tang's ankle has been uncomfortable since being tackled head-on by two people in Genoa; what do you an by this?"
"And Gualin, you're already 28, a veteran in the team; why are you challenging Icardi?"
Although Ranocchia was fulfilling his captain's duties in pulling apart the conflict.
Anyone with clear eyes could tell the captain was favoring one side!
Argentine Gang leader Palacio, looked at Ranocchia aningfully.
"Everyone disperse, everyone disperse, why argue, the coaching staff is watching. Continue training!" Palacio tried to smooth things over.
Then Mancini ca over.
He said expressionlessly, "Gualin, Icardi, both of you end today's training, go ho and calm down! Everyone else, continue training!"
The rest of the training passed peacefully.
However, when Mancini noticed several dia reporters observing the training on-site.
He quietly instructed assistant coach Herrera with a few words.
...
That afternoon.
The Inter Milan website published a set of nine photos of the training.
In the high-resolution cara shots, players were shooting, heading, and tackling!
Each seed full of life.
But in the last two photos, the style appeared sowhat different.
A photo of del and Tang Long hugging.
The photo showed both with bright smiles.
Another photo captures Icardi and Gualin warming up shoulder to shoulder.
They supported each other's shoulders, with one hand holding the back-pulled ankle, stretching the leg.
Of course, both were smiling.
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