Chapter 78 (Bonus Chapter for 1k Nutrient Solution) Modern...

After returning from the national team, Fino and others only had one day of rest before they had to immediately begin training with Milan, as the match schedule was simply too tight.

On this rare day off, Fino prepared to do a thorough cleaning. He had always lived alone and did not employ a nanny, doing all the housework himself.

He has been living in this small apartment left by his original parents for almost two years. He has carefully stored away the important items from his original family. There is no trace of anyone else in the small apartment, and it is filled with the marks of his life over the past two years.

Even though his financial situation was good enough to buy a more spacious and comfortable house, he had no intention of leaving this small apartment, which felt like a warm and cozy haven all to himself.

While he was making the bed, he received a call from Mendes.

“Fini, AC Milan has contacted me. They want to initiate the contract renewal process for you as soon as possible, ideally around your birthday, like last year.”

"So eager?" Fino was somewhat surprised. A 2 million euro annual salary was indeed not commensurate with his current performance, but his contract with Milan still had 4 years left, and the initiative was in the club's hands. He did not expect the club to be so eager to take the initiative to offer a contract extension.

"Given your age and ability, you were already valued by the club. After being selected for the national team, your importance in the club's eyes will naturally rise again. Besides, how many business deals have I brought you? Milan doesn't have to do anything; they're making a fortune just from sharing the profits. A 2 million euro annual salary is simply an insult to your ability and my capabilities!"

Mendes' tone was somewhat agitated. He deeply regretted not cultivating the Italian football scene earlier, and having missed out on Fino, a diamond in the rough destined to shine. Fino's commercial development had been incredibly successful; he barely needed his own team to promote him, with numerous brands automatically seeking him out. Yet last season, Fino only had one endorsement deal with Adidas, earning a mere 2 million euros annually—a complete waste!

"Thank you for your hard work, Jorge!" Fino didn't know why Mendes had gotten so excited, so he immediately tried to calm him down. "You are the most professional in business development. Choosing you as my agent was definitely one of the wisest decisions I've ever made."

The employer's approval is the best reward, Mendes thought with some pride.

“I originally planned to talk to Milan about your contract extension before the winter transfer window opened, at which point we would have more leverage. I didn’t expect the club to bring it up first, which is certainly a good thing for us. Since the club is in a hurry, we are in control.”

Mendes hesitated for a moment before speaking again: "I have a prediction that's highly accurate. Milan might be giving up on Kaká, and they've chosen you to take over Kaká's top spot. That's probably why the club is in a hurry to start renewing our contracts."

Fino, a product of AC Milan's youth academy, possesses a good image, strong abilities, high emotional intelligence, and immeasurable commercial value. He was also selected for the Italian national team, making him practically Milan's chosen star. Compared to Fino's rising career, Kaká has already reached his peak, and what lies beyond that peak is clear to everyone.

Fino was silent for a few seconds before asking a question he already knew the answer to: "Is it because of me that the club wants to give up on Kaká?"

When Kaká won the Ballon d'Or, Fino was acutely aware that the club would eventually sell him. To reiterate, Milan could no longer afford to support such a star like Kaká. However, emotionally, he found it difficult to accept that he was the reason Kaká left.

Mendes keenly sensed Fino's emotions and immediately reassured him, "I know you and Kaka are very close, but don't feel guilty. You've got the cause and effect backwards. It's not because of your excellence that Kaka was sold, but because Milan wanted to sell Kaka, and then you were chosen as Kaka's successor because of your own excellence."

"It's still about salary," Mendes continued. "Inter Milan recently renewed Ibrahimovic's contract, and his annual salary is €12 million after tax. Compared to Ibrahimovic, Kaká's €9 million after tax salary from his contract renewal six months ago seems insufficient. Therefore, Kaká's team once again requested a salary increase from the club, demanding €12 million after tax, the same as Ibrahimovic's. You know Milan's salary system; Berlusconi and Galliani directly rejected Kaká's team's request."

"Then Kaka's father started hyping up other clubs wanting to buy Kaka, right?" Fino asked calmly, as this was already a routine operation for Kaka's father.

“Yes,” Mendes nodded on the other end of the phone. “But Galliani is very determined this time. According to my information, Galliani has even taken the initiative to contact Manchester City, hoping to sell Kaká to Manchester City during the winter transfer window or next summer. Manchester City was acquired by a large consortium from the Middle East this summer, and they have so much money they don't know what to do with it. They need the Ballon d'Or winner to bolster their image!”

Fino was filled with mixed feelings and didn't know what to say, so she could only sigh in the end.

“This season, Milan has gradually received more sponsorships, and the economic situation is improving. I originally thought Kaká might stay.”

“Fini, even if Milan can meet Kaká’s salary demands, they won’t give him a raise. The team’s top salary is too high, which greatly affects the club’s recruitment. The salaries of the new signings this season are all inflated. Apart from Ronaldinho, none of them deserve such high salaries.” Mendes tapped the table with his fingers and analyzed calmly, “Not to mention your pitiful 2 million, Pirlo, Nesta, Gattuso, Ambrosini, these Italian players, AC Milan’s absolute mainstays, don’t even earn as much as Flamini and Shevchenko, these two substitutes, and neither of them are Italian.”

"So all Italian players are victims of injustice, is that right?" Fino said with a self-deprecating laugh.

"Good that you understand." Mendes said meaningfully, "So when I'm talking about renewing your contract, just rein in your Milan obsession and keep quiet like Kaka. Milan doesn't need your few million. I'll get you more advertising deals, and they'll earn back your annual salary from image rights."

Fino thought for a moment and gave his opinion: "An annual salary of 4 million is enough, similar to other big Italian signings. Flamini and Shevchenko didn't have transfer fees, so it's normal for their salaries to be higher. Although salaries in football have inflated significantly in recent years, I'm only 20 years old, and we need to leave room for future salary increases. Let's not involve the media to stir things up; that would be too ugly."

"Don't worry, Milan is your former club after all. I won't make things difficult for you. The contract will be signed with dignity."

Mendes' main purpose in making this call was to reach a consensus with Fino, so that he wouldn't be arguing with Milan while Fino, driven by his loyalty to the team, sabotaged him from behind. Having achieved his goal, he prepared to hang up.

At this point, Fino asked another question that she already had the answer to in her heart.

"Actually, even if Kaka's team hadn't demanded a raise, the club was already planning to sell him, right?"

“Yes.” Mendes responded quickly. “Since last year, Kaka has been getting more and more injuries, and he’s showing signs of declining. From a businessman’s perspective, while the Ballon d’Or winner’s reputation is still intact, we should sell him and cash out as soon as possible to maximize our profits.”

Fino fell silent.

“Fini, I don’t want to shatter the sacredness of Milan in your heart, but I hope you understand that the team is a home to you, but to the club’s management it’s just a business, perhaps for fame, perhaps for profit. Kaka had such a day, and you may have such a day too. You need to be mentally prepared.”

"What if I become the captain of Milan in the future? Like Maldini?"

"So what if he's the captain? Aren't there plenty of examples of football teams selling off their legendary captains? Having the captaincy might even increase his price! Maldini is Maldini, and his fate is one in a million. It's unlikely that modern football will allow another Maldini to emerge."

Fino's feelings were complicated at that moment.

He's certainly not a team fanatic; he's very clear-headed. AC Milan is a business, an industry, and Berlusconi's political calling card. That doesn't diminish his love for Milan, nor does it affect his desire to dedicate his life to the club.

Moreover, he and Maldini already had a tacit understanding.

However, players don't have real power within the club. Even Maldini, though he has a voice, doesn't have decision-making power. His future may not be as he and Maldini hope, that he will remain at Milan.

Fino sighed. He'd just have to take it one step at a time. At least for now, his future in Milan looked bright and promising.

...

On October 19, AC Milan played their 7th league match at home against Sampdoria.

Sampdoria, who qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing sixth in the league last season, have not performed well this season, with four draws and two losses in the first six rounds, failing to win a single game.

Ancelotti made significant rotations in his lineup, with players such as Fino, Pirlo, Gattuso, Zambrotta, and Kaká, who had played in the World Cup qualifiers a few days earlier, sitting on the bench.

Ronaldinho, who is not trusted by Brazil's national team coach Dunga, was not selected for this national team squad. In this match, he played as a lone attacking midfielder, with Pato and Borriello as the two strikers. In the defense, Antonini was trusted by Ancelotti and temporarily replaced Zambrotta.

The first half was dull, ending in a 0-0 draw.

In the second half, Ancelotti substituted Pato with Kaká, changing the formation from 4-3-1-2 to 4-3-2-1, and this change had a significant effect.

Ronaldinho scored two goals in ten minutes, celebrating with great passion and venting his frustration at being dropped from the national team.

Inzaghi came on as a substitute in the 79th minute and extended Milan's lead again in stoppage time.

The final score of the match was 3-0, with Milan securing another 3 points at their home stadium, the San Siro.

Inter Milan, the league leaders, thrashed Roma 4-0 in this round of matches, securing 3 points and maintaining their top position with 16 points. AC Milan, with 15 points, is temporarily in second place, just one point behind.