In the lonely summer of 1995, the Football Association, which had a heavy bureaucracy, was restless. After receiving Aldrich's recommendation letter, the Italian Football Association not only scorned it, but even leaked it to the media, leaking Millwall's recommendation letter intact.
As a source of entertainment throughout Italy.
Aldrich read the news published in "Corriere dello Sport", which included many Italian football commentators' disparagement and ridicule of the unknown English club.
In fact, the young echelons of national teams in various countries have always been selected from within the country. This is understandable. After all, the range of players that coaches inspect is not as large as that of the entire Europe or even the world. It is natural for players who are outstanding in domestic youth leagues to be selected into the youth echelons of the national team.
.
Aldridge is also nicknamed by Italy as a blind man who sits in a well and looks at the sky.
They believe that Aldridge has never seen Italian football at all. They think that he has a few Italian players and thinks they are talented. He also recommends these players to enter the national team. It is simply ridiculous.
After reading the report, Aldridge 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 that
I don’t care about the fuss about football talent. The Italian League is the best league in the world today, and I don’t deny it. But it does not mean that Europe will still be dominated by Italy in ten years. Please forgive my honesty: in my team
Not only is there the future backbone of the Italian national team, but also the future European champion and world champion. I don’t think we can reach an agreement today, but my sincerity will not diminish. Millwall’s door is open to Daniele DeRo at any time.
The West is open, and finally I just want to say one thing: Daniele stays in Rome, he can become a loyal star, but when he comes to Millwall, I believe that the day he retires, there will be countless championship trophies, because I am
Working hard with this goal. Goodbye."
After saying that, Aldrich and Andrew stood up and left. Old De Rossi's face suddenly became solemn as he watched them leave, looking at his son thoughtfully.
After walking out of the cafe, Andrew scratched his head and said, "How was your talk? It feels like the talk has collapsed."
He didn't understand Italian and was confused by the whole process just now.
Aldridge said casually: "It's not that the talks have collapsed, because there was no room for negotiation from the beginning. It doesn't matter, De Rossi is only 13 years old. I firmly believe that before he turns 18, Millwall will definitely have someone better than Roma."
Attractive place.”
"Going to Brescia now?"
"Um."
Before going to Brescia, Millwall Club had 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 for Brescia at the end of last season and did not attract the attention of the major Italian clubs.
The transfer intention of 1 million pounds was finally settled at a transaction price of 1.5 million pounds, and Aldridge planned to come in person to discuss personal treatment with Pirlo.
There is a very important factor: Pirlo is a second-generation rich man. It is difficult to impress him just based on the amount of money in 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 organizing midfielder!
Even though Nedvěd also has good organizational skills, he also has the characteristics of rapid breakthrough. From the overall perspective, Aldridge needs a commander in the midfield, so that his midfield offensive system has both
The pass has the ability to tear open the defense line, and has the sharp knife to break through the defensive chain. In the offensive mode, it can shoot left and right.
In Brescia, Aldridge met with Pirlo. The 16-year-old second-generation rich man seemed a little confused. He had just signed with the team last year and was suddenly sold. It would be difficult for him to understand that he was born into wealth.
The importance of £1.5 million to a small team.
Pirlo, who comes from a merchant family, is obviously used to big scenes. When he faced Aldrich and Andrew alone, he did not show any stage fright and was calm and composed without any pretense.
"Andrea, is it okay to call you this? Well, okay, have you heard of Millwall?"
Pirlo shook his head candidly, 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 does not seem to belong to the Premier League."
"No, we won the First Division championship last season, 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 this important to us?"
If you are interested, I hope to recruit you into my account."
Aldridge did not look down on Pirlo because of the age gap. In football, there is no age gap. Whether a player or a coach, strength is everything.
Pirlo cheered up and nodded to indicate to Aldridge that he could continue.
Aldrich had no way of knowing what he was thinking in his heart, but he had to be 100% sincere.
"This is the list of players in my team. It includes their information and performance data from last season. I joined Millwall last season and am the boss and head coach. So, first of all, Millwall
Mir will be a stable club for a long time to come. 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, Mir
Wall is an ambitious club. We will not be satisfied with surviving in the Premier League for a long time. I want to build the team into the best team in England. After conquering England, then Europe! And, for the entire European competition.
To rule for a long time! If I 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 world. Yes, Millwall has no heritage and no history. The past hundred years or so have been 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."
Aldridge has always been inspirational. Pirlo is obviously unfamiliar with such impassioned words in the dogmatic Italian football world, but he has obviously been greatly impacted mentally.
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 Aldridge, who was so confident. At least, Millwall was really young.
He paid special attention to the Italian players in the team. In addition to Luca Toni, Gattuso, Materazzi, and Gianluca Zambrotta all played more than ten or even twenty times. The coach of each game
The ratings and comments are all concise and detailed.
Pirlo is not averse to playing football abroad. In fact, he is a bit rebellious. Even though he is a rich second generation, his family has always opposed him making a living playing football.
"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 stir up 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."
Aldridge smiled and nodded. In fact, Baggio's characteristics can be divided into two parts. Before 1995, Baggio was extremely fast and sharp, with erratic movement and dribbling. After 1995, Baggio grew older as he got older.
Big and slow, but the overall situation is stronger, and football wisdom is reflected in organizational ability.
Aldrich took out his tactical notebook from his briefcase, circled the position of the forward midfielder on the simple football field frame, and said, "Is this the position you play in the club?"
Pirlo nodded.
"Did you encounter any problems?"
Pirlo hesitated for a moment and whispered: "The coaches said I can be Baggio, but I simply can't dribble and break through like no one else. The closer I get to the penalty area, I sometimes feel confused. More
All the energy is focused on how to get rid of the defender."
Aldrich nodded and said: "That's right, Andrea, you can't become the second Baggio. You will never be able to. Your own characteristics are the biggest obstacle that restricts you from copying Baggio, and this is something you can't do even in your lifetime."
Change."
Pirlo's eyes were a little dim. In fact, he was self-aware, but he couldn't reach Baggio's speed, let alone the speed of man and ball.
"But you can be the only Pirlo! You are not the second Baggio, you are you, Andrea Pirlo! If you stay in Brescia, you will only slowly improve in the attacking midfielder position, and I will
I will give you a bigger stage, maximize your characteristics, and let you do what you are best at on the court, and I will never force you to do something you can't do."
Aldrich has sincere eyes, which he can guarantee with his personality.
Like many of the players on his team, those players quickly warmed to his belief that Aldridge would never force them to do something they couldn't do.
He never lets Stam think about the ball at his feet at the back, nor does he ask Makelele to take on more offensive tasks in addition to defense. Schneider does not have the ability of Pires to cut in and score long shots.
, Aldridge never criticized him harshly or asked him to improve, allowing Schneider to just drown in physical confrontation in the penalty area.
The talent and characteristics of the players are there. It is the coach's responsibility to combine players with different characteristics into a whole. It is enough for the coach 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 you can't blame the players for not having the ability, you can only blame the coach for the lack of vision and level.
