Although it’s just a Coppa Italia victory, the significance of this win is absolutely extraordinary.
First of all, Inter beat a full-strength Napoli lineup with a substitute team, a result even the Inter players themselves didn’t expect before the match.
Secondly, this is the first ti in four years that Inter beat an opponent away!
The curse of not winning for five rounds at São Paulo stadium is finally broken.
No wonder the starting goalkeeper, Berni, jumped onto the locker room table, wearing only his underwear, swinging freely with a pot speaker in his arms.
"Ah~ my sun~ let’s beat these southerners!"
Berni’s rock-style parody of the Italian opera "O Sole Mio" stirred up laughter among the players present!
Since Mancini was absent, captain Ranocchia secretly ordered five boxes of pizza for everyone to share in the locker room.
Tang Long also unusually had a slice.
In the midst of this feast,
Santon sat down next to Tang Long, and the two started chatting.
"Tang, I really need to thank you. Before the match, I never thought I would score. Thank you for your assist!"
"Haha, I told you at halfti, if you want to attack, push forward boldly. You did it, congratulations, Santon!"
Santon shook his leg and pointed at his knee with emotion:
"During halfti, Herrera actually said I couldn’t adapt to Serie A level gas. That really hit , but I want to show everyone that even though I’ve lost two niscus pieces, I can still do what healthy players do!"
Tang Long was filled with admiration for Santon’s fighting spirit.
Like Chiwo, they were both severely injured on the field.
But after going through hardships, they returned to the field, still fighting in high-level professional leagues.
This unyielding will is truly the character of a man!
Amidst the noisy locker room ca two claps.
Inter Milan’s vice-chairman, the retired veteran captain from last year, Sane蒂, walked in with a smile, indicating for everyone to be quiet.
"Guys, we have an important guest coming to see us. Can you guess who it is?"
"Could it be Maradona?" Berni was startled, jumping off the table quickly and putting on his pants.
Sane蒂 shouted towards the door: "Co in, Diego!"
Amidst all the attention, a man with a full beard, short stature, and a bloated figure walked in!
Berni guessed correctly, it was the Argentine football king Maradona!
Maradona hadn’t even greeted yet.
Inter’s players instantly erupted!
Everyone jumped up, rushing towards Maradona.
"Mr. Maradona, it’s really you!"
"Oh my God, I saw their God in Naples!"
"So surprising, I actually t Maradona!"
The most excited one was Berni.
Always carefree and fearless, Uncle Berni was now like a shy girl, big fists clenched at his chest, with a fascinated look as if watching an idol drama.
To this generation of 80s players who were trained in professional football from a young age, in Italy, Maradona is a perfect football icon.
He symbolizes the perfect blend of skill and talent!
Throughout his football career, countless exquisite passes and shots have showcased his extraordinary skills and distinct football wisdom.
Every move he made was seen as a model of football artistry, providing a template for later players to learn from.
Even a defender like Ranocchia, in his childhood, mimicked Maradona’s five-person goal nurous tis on the training ground.
His na has beco a representative of a spiritual force, constantly inspiring later footballers to strive forward and never give up.
Maradona politely congratulated Inter on advancing to the Coppa Italia semifinals, offering his congratulations to the Inter players.
Then, he shook hands with each player.
When he t with the Argentine players in the team, Maradona exchanged a few casual words with them.
Especially with Icardi.
Old Ma could see this young compatriot seed unhappy, probably because he didn’t score.
He jokingly teased him:
"Mauro, it’s a pity that when I was the Argentina coach, you were too young. Otherwise, with your strength, you would have surely been my main striker in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. I have high hopes for you!"
The 21-year-old Icardi, obliviously, didn’t catch Old Ma’s joking tone, and asked back:
"Really, can I really be the main striker for the national team? But they didn’t call up for last year’s World Cup!"
Maradona laughed loudly, the big gold chain on his neck trembling.
"Don’t worry Mauro, if I’m still the coach in the next World Cup, I’ll reserve a spot for you in advance, that okay?"
Finally, Maradona approached Tang Long.
He didn’t speak, instead carefully examining this Chinese in front of him.
Standing over 1.8 ters tall, with a well-proportioned physique, defined abs and chest muscles, topped with neat black short hair and a handso oriental face.
A model professional player’s physique indeed.
In front of everyone, Maradona gave Tang Long a thumbs up.
"Young man, this is our first eting. I didn’t expect you to be so young. Your skills left a strong impression on ; you controlled the whole midfield tempo single-handedly!
I’ve been to China many tis, in 1996, 2003, and 2012. It’s a beautiful country, warm and hospitable, with many of my fans. They left with wonderful mories.
As it’s our first eting, I want to give you a gift, my friend from the East, oh, what should I give you...
Having not prepared beforehand, Maradona glanced around.
When he saw Sane蒂 holding a football, Old Ma had an idea.
He picked up a pen from under the tactical board, took the football, and signed his na on it.
"Here’s a football as a gift for you, my friend from the East!"
Tang Long thanked him politely, took the football, and examined it carefully, discovering it looked quite old.
Other teammates also gathered around, curiously observing this gift from Maradona.
Inter’s vice-chairman Sane蒂 looked slightly troubled on the side.
He pulled Old Ma aside.
"Diego, this isn’t good, is it? This ball is from the 1989 UEFA Cup final. It’s too precious a gift. You brought it from ho, saying you’d donate it to Napoli’s honor exhibit room. You promised De Laurentiis, it wouldn’t be right to go back on this, would it?"
Maradona, with a calm deanor, replied indifferently:
"I can give away my collections to whover I please, right? Besides, I have three of them, all final balls. I’ll get another one later, no big deal!"
Late at night, on the flight back to Milan from Naples.
Tang Long held onto the football Maradona gave him, staring at it for a long ti.
He felt there was sothing peculiar about it.
But, he couldn’t quite put his finger on what was out of place...
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