Chapter 102: Short winter break
Due to Juventus' 2-0 victory over Brescia in the final game of the first half of the season, they claimed the first-half championship with a two-point advantage, leaving Inter Milan in second place.
After the conclusion of the 16th round of matches, there were only two days left until Christmas, and the second half of the season would resume on January 6th. Typically, Serie A's winter break lasts for about a month, much shorter than that of other leagues.
While other players were busy reuniting with their families and traveling for relaxation during the holidays, Wang Feng was alone in his villa by Lake Como, dedicating himself to extra training. This year, Abel Le Goff was not with Wang Feng but instead went back to France to be with his family.
"I can't always be working during Christmas, Wang. My little daughter hasn't seen me for a long time. She might have forgotten my name," Le Goff said.
Wang Feng had to follow the training plan Le Goff had left behind. Fortunately, he could rely on his senses and wouldn't risk injury due to mistakes during training.
During Christmas, Wang Feng's house was surrounded by bustling activity, with many hotels filled with tourists on vacation. To avoid causing a commotion, Wang Feng rarely went out, as his fame in Milan was well-known.
He remembered last Christmas when he was still in Oostende, Belgium, enjoying delicious seafood. The drastic changes in just a year made him feel like he was in a completely different world.
During New Year's, Wang Feng called his family as usual. His sister Wang Qi's factory was thriving due to ample funding and had become the town's largest enterprise.
Of course, with benefits come disadvantages. Many distant relatives came to seek shelter, and some jealous competitors tried to undermine her, which gave her a headache.
However, his sister, who had been hustling in society for a long time, handled these matters smoothly. She was particularly attentive to Wang Feng's investments, even though he insisted on not needing such clear divisions. Every month, she still transferred a fixed amount of dividends to his account.
Wang Tian, Wang Feng's younger sister, seemed carefree. Her university plans were settled, and without the pressure of the college entrance examination, she only needed to study English and Italian. So, she had already gone wild.
She planned to travel all over the country in the remaining days, with Wang Feng covering the expenses. At first, their mother strongly opposed, fearing for her safety as she was still a minor.
However, after her persuasive arguments and repeated assurances, their mother eventually agreed to her plans, laying down some ground rules, such as reporting her itinerary daily and only visiting major cities, not remote areas.
The family lived contentedly, which was Wang Feng's greatest satisfaction.
The winter transfer window in Serie A opened on the first day of the New Year, and Juventus eagerly began their reinforcement plan. They were in talks with Argentine club River Plate, aiming to sign Dari�� Sandro.
This young talent was dubbed the "New Maradona" and had shown exceptional performances at last year's U20 World Cup. His outstanding ball control and imaginative passing left a deep impression on all scouts.
In addition, Juventus was seeking reinforcements in midfield and defense from various sources. Despite winning the first half of the season, they couldn't afford to be complacent with Inter Milan lurking behind them.
The rest of the "Serie A Seven Sisters" were also actively seeking reinforcements, with Fiorentina being the most eager. They were currently in the relegation zone and needed strong support to stage a comeback in the second half of the season.
Inter Milan was also negotiating two or three reinforcement deals, but whether they could be completed remained unknown. The winter transfer window was short, and with low attention, many players were unwilling to change teams in winter.
After the brief winter break, Inter Milan began to regroup for their battle against Lazio, with Ronaldo returning once again. To make good use of him, Coach Cooper spared no effort in controlling Ronaldo's training workload.
All the returning players were in good physical condition because the holiday was too short. Even with irregular eating and sleeping habits, it wouldn't cause any problems in the short term.
Because Wang Feng had been training extra, his physical condition was undoubtedly the best. Even the experienced team doctor gave him a thumbs up: "Wang, your condition is good enough to play immediately. It's hard to imagine how much effort you've put into this."
On January 6th, Serie A resumed, and the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium came alive once again.
Inter Milan deployed the traditional 3-5-2 formation, with Ronaldo appearing on the bench. Lazio lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, with goalkeeper Peruzzi, defenders Coutho, Nesta, Favalli, and Negro, midfielders Giannichedda, Liverani, Poborsky, and Mendieta, and forwards Crespo and Little Inzaghi.
Little Inzaghi and his brother Filippo Inzaghi both came from the Piacenza club, but their fates were completely different. Filippo quickly rose to prominence and went on to experience spells at Parma and Juventus before making a record-breaking transfer to AC Milan.
Little Inzaghi, on the other hand, was loaned out to Serie B and Serie C clubs for a long time. It wasn't until the 99-00 season when he transferred to Lazio that he finally broke out, helping the team win both the Coppa Italia and the league title.
Little Inzaghi's breakout season coincided with Wang Feng's debut season, which some Italian media found intriguing. However, they didn't confuse the two. Compared to this season's Wang Feng, Little Inzaghi appeared much weaker.
The media paid more attention to the showdown between Crespo and Wang Feng. Last season, Crespo scored 26 goals in the league, winning the Serie A Golden Boot. This season, he had scored 14 goals so far, not as many as Wang Feng's 21, but still had the strength to make a difference.
Furthermore, it was revealed that Lazio's finances had been severely strained since the beginning of the season. They were considering selling Crespo, and Inter Milan was within their considerations. However, with the talented forwards already present in Inter Milan's lineup, Crespo would need to perform even more outstandingly to prove himself.
Ronaldo's return was also reported by the media, but it wasn't as sensational as the first time. Some media even bluntly stated, "Even without Ronaldo, this Inter Milan team is a title contender."
"All of this is thanks to their acquisition of Wang Feng. This young talent, valued at only �20 million, is not even worth mentioning among Serie A's big-name players, but he has performed far beyond his value."
"Even the most loyal Inter Milan fans are no longer clamoring for Ronaldo's return. They have changed their tune and raised Wang Feng's banner. From Wang Feng, we can see unlimited possibilities."
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