Chapter 107: Duel of fate
When Inter Milan narrowly defeated Torino 1-0 at home, another highly anticipated match also came to an end. AS Roma welcomed Fiorentina, who were second from bottom, at home.
Fiorentina, fighting desperately, displayed astonishing strength. In the 17th and 34th minutes, forward Gomez and defender Di Livio scored for the visitors, leading Fiorentina 2-0 ahead at one point in the home match for Roma.
However, Roma staged a comeback in the second half, with the "Prince of Rome," Totti, stepping up. He scored twice to help the team eventually draw level with their opponents.
However, securing just one point clearly didn't satisfy the Romans, as the gap between Inter Milan and Roma in the league standings narrowed to just two points. After the match, some angry Roma fans were reluctant to leave the Stadio Olimpico, protesting against the club's poor performance by singing team songs together.
Meanwhile, league leaders Juventus maintained their stable form, securing a 3-0 away victory against Lecce. Trezeguet scored twice, and Nedved contributed a brilliant direct free kick goal.
On the top scorers' list, Wang Feng's lead was significant. He had scored 23 goals so far this season, while the second-placed Trezeguet had only scored 16 goals.
Winning the Golden Boot in his debut Serie A season would indeed be a reason for celebration. However, Wang Feng was more eager to help the team win the league title. Inter Milan's last league title dated back to 1989, and not even Ronaldo's joining could bring this long-awaited honor to the team.
Inter Milan's opponent for the UEFA Europa League knockout stage had been decided: Paris Saint-Germain from Ligue 1. This news quickly spread through the media of both countries.
An article in the French newspaper "Le Parisien" called it a "fateful encounter," pointing out: "PSG chose Ronaldhino over Wang Feng. Although the transfer values of the two players differ, it adds a dramatic element to this matchup."
"Some stubborn PSG fans still believe the team should have invested heavily in Wang Feng instead of Ronaldhino."
"As the league progresses, Wang Feng has been in great form at Inter Milan, not only challenging for the Golden Boot but also helping the team stay in contention for the title."
"While Ronaldhino's performance has been somewhat lackluster in comparison, with only five goals in the Ligue 1 so far, PSG is only ranked fifth on the table, basically losing the chance to compete for the league title."
"However, fans who have watched PSG matches must have a deep impression of this 22-year-old. He possesses extremely delicate footwork on the field, like an elf on the pitch. No one can deny that he could become the spokesperson for Samba football after Ronaldo."
"If he can help PSG eliminate Inter Milan, he can completely prove himself, win over the PSG fans, and shake off the shadow of being Ronaldo's substitute."
PSG chairman Laurent Pimpernel denied the "substitute" rumors in an interview: "Wang Feng is indeed an outstanding player, and his performance in Serie A has already proven that. There's no need to elaborate on this."
"But Ronaldhino is by no means a substitute for anyone. He's also an excellent player we've been admiring for a long time, and we firmly believe that he will become the core of PSG, leading the team to unprecedented success in the league and even in European competitions. He is our future!"
Although the club publicly supported Ronaldhino, the players were not in good spirits. Realistically, the draw for the UEFA Europa League couldn't have been worse for PSG. Inter Milan's strength was much higher than PSG's, and with the media attention on Wang Feng and Ronaldo, the pressure on the team was immense.
In Paris, at the Parc des Princes, PSG would face Montpellier in the 24th round of the league. This match would determine whether PSG could progress further and secure a valuable spot in the Champions League.
On the morning of the match, after finishing breakfast, Ronaldhino briefly skimmed through the newspapers of the day and found that all the news was analyzing the UEFA Europa League clash between PSG and Inter Milan.
Obviously, the Parisian media were not optimistic about the PSG-Inter Milan matchup. Furthermore, their words subtly implied a derogation of Ronaldhino and admiration for Wang Feng. Many reports suggested that PSG should have signed Wang Feng instead.
This season, Ronaldhino's performance undoubtedly justified his price tag, but it didn't change the negative public opinion surrounding him. The media always liked to compare him with Wang Feng, finding the secret to boosting their sales. Fans enjoyed reading these "provocative" reports.
As long as he remained at PSG, the media would never stop hyping up the comparison between him and Wang Feng.
A while ago, when he and Grimes went to the nightclub, they were accidentally photographed by paparazzi and appeared on the front pages of major newspapers the next day. All reports condemned him, saying how hardworking Wang Feng was and how they had never seen him indulging in Italian nightlife, while Ronaldhino not only lacked skills but also had a bad attitude, indulging in revelry and neglecting the game.
This almost created a psychological shadow in his mind. He had not dared to go to the nightclub with Grimes in recent times, but rather stayed at home bored, consoling himself with wine and good food.
Fortunately, the club was not influenced by external reports and had a great trust in nurturing him. They not only gave him enough playing time but also granted him unlimited shooting rights.
For Ronaldhino, apart from the annoying "comparison" issue, none of the other conditions at PSG were satisfactory. The stages of the top five leagues, high salaries, bustling urban life, and being the attacking core of the team - he had achieved all of them here.
However, this was just the starting point for him, definitely not the end. According to reliable information from his agent, PSG's finances were getting worse year by year, so he didn't know when he wouldn't be able to stay here anymore.
"Next time, I must be more cautious in choosing a team." He silently thought to himself.
While Ronaldhino was lost in thought, Grimes walked over and sat down beside him, took the newspaper from his hand, threw it aside, and said, "Buddy, now is not the time to read these. The only thing you need to do is to perform in tonight's game and fiercely counter those slanders."
In the evening's match, both sides fought neck and neck, and the score remained 0-0.
In the 80th minute, PSG launched a swift counterattack. Ronaldhino received the ball in midfield, dribbled directly towards the opponent's half, and used elegant footwork to bypass three defenders in a row before calmly shooting past the goalkeeper.
After scoring, Ronaldhino excitedly hugged Grimes and danced. The commentators on the scene couldn't help but marvel, "Easily bypassing three defenders and scoring, Montpellier's defense crumbled before Ronaldhino's samba-like dribbling."
Ultimately, with this brilliant goal, Paris Saint-Germain defeated Montpellier, climbing to fourth place in the standings, just one step away from securing a Champions League qualifying spot.
Believe the media, which likes to watch the excitement, should calm down a bit now.
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