The Young Lion

In the lonely summer of 1995, the bureaucratic Football Association was also restless. After receiving Aldridge's recommendation letter, the Italian Football Association not only scoffed at it, but even leaked it to the media, leaking Millwall's recommendation letter intact. As a pastime for the whole of Italy.

Aldridge read the news published in Corriere dello Sport, among which there were many Italian football critics belittling and mocking England's unknown clubs.

In fact, the young echelons of the national teams of various countries have always been selected from domestic sources. This is understandable. After all, the scope of coaches’ inspection of players is not as large as that of the whole of Europe or even the world. .

Aldridge is also dubbed by Italy as a ball blind who sits in a well.

They think that Aldridge has never seen Italian football at all, and they think that they are talented if they have a few Italian players in their hands, and they also recommend these players to enter the national team, which is simply ridiculous.

After reading the report, Aldrich put down the newspaper and said with an unchanged expression: Mr. De Rossi, you must have never watched the Millwall game, and not many people in Italy have watched it. You think I am arrogant and think I don't care about the fuss about football talents. The Italian league is the number one league in the world today. I don't deny it, but it doesn't mean that Europe will still be ruled by Italy ten years later. Please forgive my honesty: Not only the backbone of the future Italian national team, but also the future European champions, world champions. I don't think we can agree today, but my sincerity will not diminish, the door of Millwall is always open to Daniele Dero West is wide open, I just want to say one thing at the end: Daniele stays in Rome, he can be a loyal star, but he comes to Millwall, I believe the day he retires, there will be countless championship trophies, because I am I'm working hard with this goal. Goodbye.

After saying that, Aldrich and Andrew got up and left. Old De Rossi, who watched the two leave, suddenly looked solemn and looked at his son thoughtfully.

Walking out of the cafe, Andrew scratched his head and said, How are you talking? It feels like the conversation has collapsed.

He couldn't understand Italian, and he was at a loss for the whole process just now.

Aldridge said casually: It doesn't mean that the negotiation has collapsed, because there was no room for negotiation at the beginning. It doesn't matter. De Rossi is only 13 years old. I firmly believe that before he is 18 years old, Millwall will definitely have more power than Roma. attractive place.

Going to Brescia now?

Ok.

Before going to Brescia, the Millwall Club has submitted a transfer intention of up to 1 million pounds to the opposing club: to acquire Brescia's 16-year-old player Andrea Pirlo.

At this time, Pirlo only played once on behalf of Brescia at the end of last season, and did not attract the attention of the major Italian giants.

The transfer intention of 1 million pounds was finally fixed at a transaction price of 1.5 million pounds, and to discuss personal treatment with Pirlo, Aldridge planned to come in person.

There is a very important factor: Pirlo is a rich second generation, and it is difficult to impress him only by the amount on the contract.

Even though Aldridge's team already has many offensive and defensive midfielders, he still lacks the most critical piece of the puzzle in the tactical system: a master-level organizational midfielder!

Even though Nedved has good organizational skills, he also has the characteristics of fast breakthroughs. From the overall perspective, Aldridge needs a commander in the midfield, so that his midfield attack system,

Not only has the penetrating power of passing the ball to tear through the defense, but also has the sharp knife to break through the defensive chain. In the offensive mode, it can be left and right.

In Brescia, Aldridge met with Pirlo. The 16-year-old rich second generation seemed a little dazed. He had just signed with the team last year and was suddenly sold. It may be difficult for him who was born to be rich to understand. The importance of £1.5 million to a small team.

Pirlo, who was born in a merchant family, was obviously used to big scenes, facing Aldrich and Andrew alone, without showing any stage fright, calm and undisguised.

Andrea, is it okay to call you that? Well, yes, may I ask, have you heard of Millwall?

Pirlo shook his head frankly, and then added: I have seen some news about Millwall in the newspapers these days. I know that it is a club in London, and it doesn't seem to belong to the Premier League level.

No, last season we won the first division championship, and in two months, Millwall will usher in the Premier League. Andrea, first of all, I want you to understand what kind of club is right You are interested, and I hope to recruit you into my account.

Aldridge did not underestimate Pirlo because of the age gap. In football, there is no age gap. Whether it is a player or a coach, strength represents everything.

Pirlo cheered up and nodded for Aldrich to continue.

Aldrich has no way of knowing what kind of thoughts he has in his heart, but he must show 100% sincerity.

This is the list of players in my team, which includes their information and performance data of last season. I joined Millwall last season. I am the owner and head coach. So, first of all, Millwall Mill will be a stable club for a long time to come, and the team will not have a negative impact on the team due to management turmoil and changes in the coaching staff. This is the basis for the long-term development of a club in my opinion. Secondly, Mill Wall is an ambitious club, we will not be satisfied with long-term survival in the Premier League, I want to build the team into the best team in England, after conquering England, then Europe! And, for the whole European arena Long-term rule! If you want to quantify this ambitious goal, then I can explain it as: surpassing Real Madrid, which has won five consecutive championships, and Liverpool, which has won four titles in seven years, I want Millwall to become the European football team in the fastest time. The well-deserved king of the altar. Yes, Millwall has no background and no history. The past hundred years are blank, boring, and even unbearable to look back on. But those are just good news for me. In this way, I can create An era that belongs entirely to me and does not need to be compared with others, Andrea, I hope you will become a part of Millwall and leave your glorious figure in this history.

Inspiring is Aldridge's hand. Pirlo is obviously unfamiliar with such impassioned rhetoric in the dogmatic Italian football world, but he has obviously been greatly impacted ideologically.

He was stunned for a moment, and when he lowered his head to open the document in his hand, he had a strong impression of the swearing Aldridge. At least, Millwall was really young.

He paid special attention to the Italian players in the team. Except for Luca Toni, Gattuso, Materazzi, and Zambrotta all played a dozen or even more than 20 times. Group ratings and comments are also concise and detailed.

Pirlo is not disgusted with going abroad to play football. In fact, he is a bit rebellious. Even though he is a rich second generation, his family has always opposed him playing football for a living.

Andrea, let's talk about you. What expectations do you have for your future position and role on the football field?

Seeing that Pirlo was silent, Aldrich took the initiative to provoke a topic.

Pirlo frowned slightly and said: To be honest, in Brescia, the coaches said that I have the potential to become the next Baggio.

Aldrich nodded with a smile. In fact, Baggio’s characteristics can be divided into two parts. Baggio before 1995 was extremely fast and sharp, with erratic running and dribbling. Baggio after 1995 grew older. Big, the speed is slow, but the overall situation is stronger, and the football wisdom is reflected in the organizational ability.

Aldridge took out his tactical notebook from his briefcase, circled the position of the front midfielder on the simple football field frame, and said, Is this the position you play in the club?

Pirlo nodded.

Have you encountered any problems?

Pirlo hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: The coaches said that I can become Baggio, but I can't do his dribbling breakthrough like no one. The closer I get to the penalty area, I sometimes feel confused. More The focus is on how to get rid of the defenders.

Aldrich nodded and said: That's right, Andrea, you can't become the second Baggio, you will never be able to, and your own characteristics are the biggest obstacle that restricts you from copying Baggio, and this, even if you spend your life, you will not be able to become the second Baggio. Change.

Pirlo's eyes were a bit gloomy. In fact, he has self-knowledge, but Baggio's speed, he can't achieve it, let alone the speed of the combination of man and ball.

However, you can be the only Pirlo! You are not the second Baggio, you are you, Andrea Pirlo! You stay at Brescia, you will only slowly improve in the midfielder position, and I will Give you a bigger stage, maximize your characteristics, let you do what you are best at on the court, and I will never force you to do what you can't do.

Aldrich's eyes are sincere, and he can guarantee this with his personality.

Like many players on his team, those players quickly convinced him that Aldridge would never push them to do something they couldn't do.

He will never let Stam think about the ball at his feet on the back line, nor will he ask Makelele to take on more offensive tasks besides defense. Schneider does not have the ability to score long shots from Pire , Aldridge never criticized him, or asked him to improve, so that Schneider was obsessed with physical confrontation in the penalty area.

The talent characteristics of the players are there. How the coach combines players with different characteristics into a whole is the responsibility of the coach. It is enough to do the best within the player's ability. If it is beyond the player's ability, if If the coach insists on demanding it, then the players can't be blamed for their incompetence, but the coach's lack of vision and level can only be blamed.