"Milan Youngster Comes Off the Bench to Save Team Single-Handedly"
"New Kaka Completely Outshines New Balotelli"
"Dr. Michel: He Is a Miracle"
"Inzaghi: He Is Milan's Future..."
La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttosport, Roma Evening News...
Some papers splashed sensational headlines and striking photos across their front pages, while others offered only a few casual, noncommittal sentences. A few even squeezed a passing mention into tiny columns tucked away in the margins.
Some took it seriously and some brushed it off, but no one dared to ignore it completely.
At the very least, across the city of Milan, Sandro had sparked considerable attention.
With Kaka having just returned to the club, the sudden emergence of a "New Kaka" naturally generated plenty of buzz.
Unfortunately, an already overwhelmed Massimiliano Allegri couldn't have cared less.
In response to Inzaghi's recommendation, he simply replied, "A new Kaka? But I already have the real Kaka..."
Though they were discussing Sandro, his mind wandered to Petagna.
That kid had been hyped to the skies too, only to be exposed the moment he reached the first team. He had played just one match this season before Allegri sent him packing back to the reserves.
Inzaghi just gave him a hard look. He didn't say much, simply throwing out, "You'll regret this," before storming off.
Allegri, who had seemed entirely indifferent, finally looked up. He watched Inzaghi leave and sighed inwardly.
At first, he thought Inzaghi had come to show off. After all, in the opening round of Serie A fixtures, Inter Milan had beaten Genoa 2–0 to secure a strong start, while AC Milan had lost 2–1 to Verona in their season opener. Meanwhile, the Milan youth team led by Inzaghi had pulled off a comeback victory in the derby, stealing the spotlight. The contrast between the two managers was glaring.
But on second thought, he figured Inzaghi wouldn't be that childish.
Perhaps that kid really was that good?
This was his fourth season in charge of AC Milan.
The Serie A title in his first season, runners-up in his second, and third place in his third.
Although their results were slipping year by year, it wasn't a bad track record overall. It could even be called outstanding. Yet the board was still dissatisfied with him. If he couldn't reclaim the league title this season, he might just be shown the door.
Under these circumstances, he truly had no time or energy to help Inzaghi babysit.
But for some reason, Inzaghi's parting words—"You'll regret this"—left him feeling a bit unsettled. So, almost as if possessed, he dialed Inzaghi's number again.
"Let him come give it a try. If he really is that outstanding, maybe he can be Kaka's substitute?"
Inzaghi was left speechless once more.
Be a substitute for Kaka?
If he wasn't mistaken, even Kaka himself was a substitute right now!
After all, he was already a thirty-one-year-old veteran...
Even so, he still planned to ask for Sandro's opinion.
Whether to stay in the youth team as a core player in the Campionato Primavera, or go to the first team to hand out water bottles, that was for Sandro to decide.
He didn't know that Sandro was currently facing a third option.
"Brescia?"
Looking at the man who had shown up at their door claiming to be a scout for Brescia, the family of three reacted with intense curiosity.
If asked which Italian clubs boasted the most famous legends, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Juventus would definitely be the top picks. But if asked to list the clubs right beneath them, the answer might shock people.
Because the answer would very likely be Brescia.
Baggio, Pirlo, Guardiola, Luca Toni, Hubner, Hagi, and others had all made stops here, adding a touch of legend to a historic Italian club that constantly bounced between Serie A and Serie B.
Macado was a scout for Brescia. He was also one of the first scouts in the stands to report back to his head coach and receive authorization to pursue Sandro with everything he had.
"Yes, Brescia," Macado said earnestly. "I am now officially extending an invitation to you. I hope you will join us and fight alongside us in Serie B this season."
Sandro and Xiao Zhe exchanged a glance. Finally, Sandro nodded, and Xiao Zhe spoke up. "Forgive me, but I'd like to know if this is your idea, or the idea of your head coach."
"It's my idea, and it's the head coach's idea as well," Macado replied, a hint of excitement lacing his tone. "I must also apologize. Because time is so tight, I haven't been able to report the details to the board yet. But our head coach listened to my description and developed a very strong interest in Sandro. If you're willing, we can set off tomorrow. I don't think you'd even need a trial—you could be wearing a Brescia shirt the day after tomorrow..."
The reason he said "the day after tomorrow" was because the summer transfer window would close that very day.
Actually, right after the match ended, Xiao Zhe's phone had been ringing off the hook. Most were invitations from Serie C teams, along with two from Serie B. However, Macado was the first to charge straight to their door so recklessly.
Strictly speaking, it was against the rules for a club to approach a player privately like this. But in reality, it was a standard practice everyone tacitly accepted.
"What if we need more concrete guarantees? Like a starting position," Xiao Zhe said. "Or a specific number of appearances, a clear tactical role, and so on."
"All of that can be negotiated..."
Just as Macado finished speaking, Sandro's phone rang.
He gave Macado an apologetic look, got up, and stepped aside to answer it.
It was Petagna.
The two of them weren't actually very close. It was only after their link-up play on the pitch today that they could even be considered acquaintances.
Petagna's voice sounded somewhat gloomy. "I've decided. I'm going to Sampdoria."
"Loan or transfer?"
"Loan," Petagna said. "It's the best choice for us, isn't it?"
Petagna had already been promoted to Milan's first team in July. He had played several warm-up matches with them and even started in the opening round of Serie A, but Allegri had sent him right back down the moment the match ended.
If he didn't want to keep wasting time in the youth setup, going out on loan to another club was his best bet.
As long as he could prove his worth elsewhere, Milan would naturally welcome him back with open arms.
"You must have received offers from other clubs too, right? Interested in taking a shot at Sampdoria together?" Petagna asked. "They're very interested in you as well."
Sandro stayed silent for two seconds. "I want to wait to hear from the boss."
Just like Petagna, his current situation meant it was definitely unsuitable to stay in the youth team much longer. If there was no news from the first team, he would naturally have to go out on loan.
But if there was even a glimmer of hope with the first team, it was still worth a try...