Chapter 311: One of Our Own!

Words : 1460 Updated : Oct 13th, 2025

July 15, 2006. The World Cup had ended five days ago. Italy lifted the most prestigious trophy in international football — the FIFA World Cup. At the most difficult moment in Italian football history, it was a moment of rebirth, a final glorious honor. In the final match between France and Italy, it marked the end of Zidane's national team career... And also allowed Italy to successfully claim the World Cup crown. The excitement of winning the World Cup was still spreading throughout Italy and the world. But in Milan, two very different moods emerged. Inter Milan fans were celebrating wildly, thrilled by the World Cup win. But for AC Milan fans, though they too were happy, they couldn't fully immerse themselves in the celebration. Just look at Juventus! Seven main players had transferred out all at once. Ibrahimović, Emerson, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Vieira, Mutu, and Thuram. The departure of these seven players was bound to inflict severe damage on Juventus. Not to mention rising stars like Srna were also scrambling to escape the club. It could be said that next season, Juventus would face an uphill battle even in Serie B. Although AC Milan hadn't fallen to that level, transfer turmoil was still stirring. For example, there were rumors of Shevchenko's departure. Names like Pirlo, Rui Costa, and even Suker and Kaká were also circulating in the media. Recently, every day had been tormenting for AC Milan fans. They stayed glued to their TVs, watching just one particular program each day. It was a special 24-hour live broadcast show launched by Milan called "Live Coverage: 24 Hours." The show was hosted by Aldo Serena and Tiziano Crudeli, taking shifts every 12 hours. In front of the camera, there was only a single telephone. The two on-duty hosts would talk occasionally, sometimes fall silent. And Milan fans watching on TV shared the same anxiety as the hosts. In the footage, Crudeli's beard had grown scruffy, his hair seemed even whiter, the wrinkles on his face deeper. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he might fall asleep at any moment. But he fought off the fatigue, constantly glancing at the telephone on the desk. That damned phone had been sitting there for three days — without ringing once. Berlusconi had promised them: As soon as there was news, he would call this number immediately. But three days had passed... and still, not a single ring. Crudeli and the fans watching waited in agony for that damned phone to ring. Finally, the piercing sound of the phone shattered the silence. Crudeli reacted instantly — surprisingly fast for his age. He reached out and grabbed the receiver, though it slipped a bit as he fumbled it to his ear. "You should put it on speaker!" Aldo Serena reminded him from the side. But Crudeli didn't respond — he just listened intently. Soon, Crudeli lowered the phone, looking as if he had lost all strength. Aldo Serena quickly pressed the speakerphone button. From the phone came the voice of AC Milan president, Silvio Berlusconi. "Just as I said, apart from Andriy, everyone else has confirmed their intent to stay!" Upon hearing this, fans on-site and watching at home were overcome with complex emotions. They were relieved that most players chose to stay. But it was heartbreaking that Andriy Shevchenko had ultimately decided to leave. "We did everything we could to keep him, but Andriy was firm in his decision. We have no choice but to respect it." "Paolo is willing to play for another two years. We believe he's not ready to retire just yet." This made fans feel even more emotional. Everyone knew Maldini's form was declining. His willingness to stay was purely because the club was in a difficult spot — it needed someone to hold the fort. Suddenly, Berlusconi said: "But before I go on, I want to emphasize something. We're grateful to all the players who chose to stay — they are all good Milan boys — but in my heart, I am especially thankful to Suker." Berlusconi spoke with emotion: "He's a good kid. Many people decided to stay only after July 13th, when Milan was confirmed not to be relegated. But Suker, during a conversation with Paolo on July 1st, already said, 'I'm willing to stay and play in Serie B with you.'" The slumped Crudeli suddenly leaned forward: "Suker said... he'd stay and play in Serie B with us?" Berlusconi nodded and confirmed: "Yes, that's exactly what he said. And at that time, Milan hadn't yet avoided relegation. Everyone understands the weight of that statement — and he didn't demand any raise or financial compensation for it!" Crudeli blurted out: "No! You can't do that — you must give him something. My God! He made such a sacrifice — we can't let him do that for nothing." Berlusconi smiled: "Exactly. So we've decided to offer Suker a new contract — one that pays him the maximum salary allowed in Serie A. "Gentlemen, next season, Milan will still be Milan!" Upon hearing this, Milan fans erupted into cheers. Crudeli clenched both fists in joy, roaring with excitement. Though Shevchenko had left, most players stayed. More importantly, core young players like Suker and Kaká chose to stay. That alone was phenomenal news. That night, the news of Milan's core players staying spread like wildfire. At the same time, Suker's sentence — "I'll stay and play in Serie B with you"— became the hottest topic. At a time when star players were fleeing Serie A in droves, this phrase from the young prodigy Suker held enormous weight. Suker's popularity among Milan fans soared. In just one day, all stores in Milan selling club kits sold out of Suker's No. 99 jersey. He was completely sold out. Milan fans used this gesture to show their support. Suker's statement resonated deeply with the Milan faithful. In just one year since joining, Suker's status within Milan rose rapidly. Just like he said: "It's easy to offer help when things are good — but helping during hardship is what truly counts!" And now, Suker's gesture of support during tough times had gained him the love and recognition of the Milan fanbase. Especially in online discussions and TV interviews, Milan fans were now eager to express their love for Suker. Previously, no matter how well Suker performed, he had only been with the team for a short time — fans liked his play, but he wasn't considered "one of their own." If he made mistakes, they would still criticize him. But now, things were different. They liked Suker as a person. Poor performance? Give him time to adjust. Bad results? Was that Suerk's fault? No matter what, Milan fans now saw Suker in a different light. "One of our own!"This was the purest form of recognition. In fact, after Shevchenko's departure, Suker instantly became Milan's biggest star. In terms of fan support and trust, he even surpassed Shevchenko's former status. At the same time, Ancelotti made an announcement: In the new season, with Rui Costa's departure, the iconic No. 10 jersey would be given to Suker. Ancelotti's stance was clear. Next season, Suker would no longer be a supporting player or a playmaking option — he would become the true attacking core. Suker would replace Shevchenko as Milan's attacking centerpiece. The Calciopoli scandal was finally winding down. Juventus had been relegated and would play in Serie B next season. AC Milan avoided relegation but was docked 30 points. Still, this didn't affect Milan too much. They were Champions League winners, so they retained their qualification. In the new season, Milan would start with -8 points, a further punishment. The storm had passed. Milan had managed to keep most of its core players. But there was still one major headache. Many of the transfers Ancelotti had planned before the scandal fell through. Even as Champions League winners, the players who had once clamored to join Milan had now all vanished. The Italian league's appeal in the transfer market had taken a massive hit. Ancelotti was forced to settle for bargain players, hoping they could at least plug some gaps. He had no illusions about strengthening — just stabilizing the squad would suffice. But the real challenge was this: Only the starting XI was usable. With departures like Shevchenko and Rui Costa, compared to last season's star-studded bench... This year's Milan squad would suffer badly from the strain of competing on multiple fronts.

Chapter 311: One of Our Own!

Comments (0)