Chapter 5 Signing and Integration
Unlike the typical "fantasy novel" portrayal of someone soaring to great heights, Fino, despite a strong debut, didn't actually get much playing time in the 2006/07 season.
On the one hand, Ancelotti is not a coach who likes to rotate players. He prefers to select from the existing players to build a starting lineup that meets his tactical needs, and then stick with it, using it to the fullest extent as long as it doesn't break down. When key players are injured, he also prefers to choose mature players to replace them rather than relying on young players.
On the other hand, amidst the great anticipation of the Rossoneri, the club finally brought in a strong reinforcement during the winter transfer window, with "The Phenomenon" Ronaldo returning to Milan for a transfer fee of 7.5 million euros.
Since Ronaldo had already been registered with Real Madrid for this season's Champions League and could no longer represent Milan in the competition, Ancelotti placed him in the domestic arena to dominate.
In the second half of the 2006/07 season, Ronaldo played 14 games in Serie A, scoring 7 goals, performing exceptionally well and firmly securing a starting striker position.
With Gilardino returning from injury, Fino was relegated to the bench, only getting a few appearances during garbage time near the end of the game.
Fino accepted this well, saying that it's perfectly normal for someone from a top club's youth academy to sit on the bench.
With enough effort, even in daily training, one can learn a lot from veteran players that needs to be digested gradually. Veterans who are gradually approaching the end of their careers are never stingy in giving pointers to younger players.
Milan during this period had too many talented players. What makes a genius a genius is not just good statistics and strong ability, but also their unique way of thinking and boundless creativity.
Like Inzaghi, his physical attributes, ball control, and speed weren't top-notch, but he still managed to score goals.
Whenever his teammates pass the ball into the penalty area, Inzaghi can always emerge from some unbelievable position to launch a fatal strike.
His ghostly positioning and keen sense of smell are his magic weapons for winning a decisive battle.
Everyone knows it, but no one can crack it.
Even Inzaghi himself couldn't explain it. What's there to talk about in positioning? Isn't it as natural as breathing? Just see the position, run over, receive the ball, and shoot.
That's what genius is; what others see as wildly creative goals are simply their instincts.
A scientifically rigorous, assembly-line-like training program can produce ten thousand competent engineers, but it cannot produce a single exceptionally talented genius.
The disciplined engineers raised the team's floor, while the exceptional talents raised the team's ceiling to an unprecedented level.
The time spent on the bench greatly improved Fino's ability to read the game. The broadcast camera always followed the ball, but watching the game live was different. Fino could observe each player's movement off-camera up close and see how some seemingly unbelievable runs turned into brilliant moments of genius a few seconds later.
He even imagined himself as Pirlo, Kaká, Inzaghi, and Ronaldo, like playing an RPG, and what choices he would make if he were on the field.
Once her choice resonated with the other person, a sense of spiritual satisfaction arose spontaneously, a feeling that fascinated Fino.
After working together for half a season, Fino left a very good impression on the coaching staff.
He is calm and composed, unlike the arrogance of a young player newly joining the first team. He has a clean private life and has never been involved in any scandals.
During training, he was serious, hardworking, and respectful of the coaching staff's arrangements. He never slacked off or complained, and his progress was remarkable.
What's even more remarkable is that Fino displayed a level of strategic awareness rarely seen in young players.
In his limited playing time, he never blindly dribbles forward with his head down. Instead, he judges whether to pass, dribble past, or shoot based on the situation on the field and the positioning of both teams. He puts the team above himself.
He even has good organizational skills.
The coaching staff has high hopes for his future.
After the 2006/07 season ended and the summer transfer window opened, two teams hoped to loan Fino: Chievo, who narrowly missed out on Serie B by one point, and Torino, who barely avoided relegation.
Loaning young players from top clubs is a common way for smaller teams to save money.
By lending out a player, a small team only needs to pay a small loan fee and a meager salary to acquire a young and strong player to help the team fight. The player gets stable playing time, and the parent team can also recoup some funds. It can be said to be a win-win-win situation.
Smaller teams are particularly keen to loan out promising young talents from top clubs.
On the one hand, these prodigies are more capable and can help the team more; on the other hand, in order to give these prodigies ample training and growth opportunities, big clubs often do not charge loan fees or even pay them out of pocket. As long as the playing time is increased in the loan contract, smaller teams can use them for free or even make a profit.
For Milan, such loan requests are commonplace; every year, several players are released to gain experience.
When Fino's loan request was presented to Ancelotti, he rejected it without hesitation.
After the "Calciopoli" scandal, AC Milan president Berlusconi refused to spend large sums on transfer fees, and Ancelotti also faced difficulties.
Even winning the Champions League trophy last season cannot mask the fact that Milan's starting lineup is aging and in dire need of rebuilding.
In fact, if Kaká hadn't delivered a godlike performance, carrying Milan all the way, the outcome of this Champions League trophy would have been uncertain.
The team urgently needs to add fresh blood.
In the summer transfer window of 2007, Milan made only one decent signing in the midfield and forward positions: Brazilian prodigy Alexandre Pato, who was under 18 years old, joined Milan for 22 million euros, setting a transfer fee record for a player under 18.
This is a talent that both AC Milan vice-president Galliani and legend Leonardo have high hopes for, and he is highly valued by the club.
A new sun is about to rise at San Siro, and the Rossoneri are already eagerly arranging a Shevchenko-esque script for Pato.
But all that's seen is the laughter of the new bride; the cries of the old are unheard.
The new "Shevchenko" Pato has arrived, while Oliveira, who joined last season, has lost all confidence in the coaching staff due to his poor performance.
Oliveira made 26 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring only 3 goals. He will return to La Liga this season on loan with an option to buy.
According to relevant Brazilian regulations, players under the age of 18 are not allowed to play overseas, so Pato will have to wait until January 2008 to make his official debut for Milan.
Therefore, in the first half of the 2007/08 season, apart from Fino, Milan only had three forwards available: Inzaghi, Ronaldo, and Gilardino. Inzaghi was already 34 years old at this time, Ronaldo, who was 31 years old, was constantly plagued by injuries, and Gilardino, who was in his prime, was not very adaptable to the system.
Under such circumstances, Ancelotti would absolutely not let go of the young, strong, and increasingly skilled Fino.
With Ancelotti's encouragement, the club signed a formal professional contract with Fino. According to the contract, Fino will play for Milan until the summer of 2012, a total of 5 seasons, with an annual salary of 500,000 euros.
Although this is only the lowest salary level for the first team, far less than Kaka's top salary of 6 million, and even only half the salary of Kaka's "hostage" brother Degan, this contract is of great significance to Fino.
This means that Fino has finally completed the transition from a youth player to a professional player, and he has truly embarked on his professional career.
As for the low salary, Fino is perfectly accepting of it. Players always let their performance speak for itself. As long as he can perform well, a raise will naturally follow.
Kaka can earn 6 million because his performance fully justifies it. As for why Deegan can earn 1 million, everyone knows the reason, and there's nothing to compare.
For the past six months, Fino has had a relatively pleasant time in the first team. Through observation, he quickly figured out the rules of survival in the locker room.
Milan is a team with a strict hierarchy. The so-called "strict hierarchy" does not mean that the locker room atmosphere is authoritarian and oppressive—in fact, the locker room atmosphere is usually relaxed and friendly. Rather, it means that the players are implicitly divided into different levels, which is an unspoken rule in the locker room.
Maldini, Costacurta, and other Knights Table members firmly occupy the top of the pyramid. They are not the highest paid players—in fact, the two big shots have repeatedly taken pay cuts as they get older—but they are the most influential people in the locker room.
Secondly, the opinions and ideas of reserve members of the Knights table or key players of the team, such as Ambrosini, Gattuso, Nesta, and Kaka, can also be taken seriously.
Then there are the rotating starters and the veteran stars who have made a name for themselves. These players either have unstable positions or just want to retire peacefully and rarely express their opinions.
At the very bottom are young players like Fino who don't get many playing time; they have no say and just have to obey.
Normally, such a clear class division can easily lead to conflict and division in the locker room, but Milan is different. The Knights' Table, which occupies the top floor, was created to enhance team cohesion and plays an important role in stabilizing morale and promoting the Milan spirit.
Especially captain Maldini, who has served Milan for 23 years, has become the embodiment of Milan's spirit. His loyalty, hard work, iron will, and never-say-die attitude have earned him the respect and trust of everyone.
The Knights Table regards team honor as its highest belief, maintains normal order in the locker room, and all players must unite around the Knights Table. There is only one voice in the locker room, and cliques and bullying within the team are absolutely not allowed.
This locker room culture made Fino feel incredibly at ease. He no longer needed to act cheerful and enthusiastic to fit in. As long as he recognized his place, corrected his attitude, and followed the guidance of the Knights' Table, he was a member of the group.
Many years ago, Fino had already mentally cheered for Maldini a thousand times over, and supporting the Knights Table was simply a matter of course.
So he settled back into being a mute, like a fish swimming back to its comfortable waters.
Kaka would occasionally look at Fino and sigh, "Weren't you quite lively during team building? Why are you becoming less and less talkative?"
Fino simply twitched the corner of his mouth, making a smiling expression.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
