Chapter 253: Late bloomer
After the end of the game, the Colombian defender appeared somewhat despondent, standing with his hands on his hips and staring blankly ahead, seemingly still immersed in the regret of his mistakes.
Zanetti approached him and said, "Ivan, stop dwelling on the past. Let's focus on the future. Come on, let's go back to the locker room and rest."
Cordoba, coming back to his senses, nodded and began walking towards the sideline. However, he felt a twitch in his right leg, which had prevented him from keeping up with the opponent's forward during the game.
Zanetti quickly noticed this and asked for details. After learning about his feeling, he said, "I had a similar feeling during last year's Champions League final, and then I got injured. You should let the team doctor take a look at you."
The two returned to the locker room and immediately called for the team doctor. After a check-up, the doctor said, "This is a muscle injury caused by overexertion. You need to be hospitalized for treatment." Cordoba frowned, not expecting to be injured at this time. "How long do I need to be absent?" he asked.
"It will probably take at least a month. I will report to the coach and the management. Once we're back in Milan, I'll take you to the hospital," replied the doctor before hurrying out.
"Damn it!" Cordoba pounded the chair in the locker room. "Maybe you should have reported your physical condition to me earlier so I could arrange rotations better." Mancini walked in and said, "After returning to Pinetina, everyone will undergo a detailed physical examination!"
Cordoba lowered his head in shame. He had indeed been too stubborn, which was partly due to his personality and experiences, resilient and unwilling to admit defeat.
Cordoba debuted in 1995, just a year before Colombia, led by "Golden Lion" Valderrama and "Black Hurricane" Asprilla, was favored by everyone in the World Cup in the United States.
But primary defender Escobar's own goal against the United States led to the team's elimination in the group stage, a huge upset. Even more terrifying was that Escobar was shot dead by gang members after returning home.
For a time, Colombian football fell to its lowest point, and domestic defenders were all on edge, fearing a similar fate. At the time, Cordoba was only 19 years old. He bravely chose Escobar's No. 2 jersey and debuted as a defender.
After establishing himself at Medellin's Atletico Nacional, Cordoba was called up to the national team. At the time, the atmosphere within the team was bad, with no one willing to take the lead except for him, a newcomer. He took on the responsibility at the 1997 Copa America against strong opponents.
Although Colombia did not achieve good results in the end, his performance was recognized by everyone. He was noticed by San Lorenzo in the Argentine league, brought to Argentina, and bought by Moratti for �16 million two years later.
At the time, it was seen as a huge sum, compounded by his short stature of 1.73 meters, which caused dissatisfaction and questioning among many Inter Milan fans. However, Cordoba quickly won them over with his outstanding performance.
With first-class physical fitness and a fearless spirit, he was a rare talent among all Serie A defenders, excelling in positioning, dueling, speed, and jumping ability. Even Ronaldo once said that the defender he least wanted to encounter was Cordoba.
So he could openly disdain Cannavaro, the captain of the Italian national team. Clearly, their abilities were similar, so why did he earn so much more money than me?
Many domestic fans watched Inter Milan's games and saw Cordoba's fierce expression and merciless defense and tackles. Thus, they gave him a domineering nickname - "Living Yanwang" (King of Hell).
However, this "Living Yanwang" looked fierce but was actually very kind-hearted. Not only did he establish a foundation to help children in his hometown of Rio Negro, but he also regularly participated in charity fundraising and charity matches.
After returning to Milan, Cordoba was taken to the hospital, while Wang Feng and others silently prayed for his speedy recovery. Inter Milan needed him!
On September 26th, in the fifth round of Serie A, Inter Milan encountered Fiorentina at home. Since buying their leading star Toni from Palermo, the "Purple Lily" had been performing astonishingly this season, jumping straight to fifth place in the league from last season's relegation zone.
All this was attributed to Toni's breakthrough. So far, Wang Feng had scored six goals, leading the top scorers list, with Toni trailing behind with four goals.
This 28-year-old Italian player had finally reached the peak of his career. His experience was deeply explored by major media outlets. He had been lingering in lower leagues for years until he rose to Serie A with Palermo at the age of 26, demonstrating his talent. He scored 50 goals over two seasons, truly a late bloomer.
Many media outlets predicted that Toni would become a strong competitor for the Serie A Golden Boot. This honor had been dominated by Wang Feng for four years, and even the European Golden Boot had been continuously held by Wang Feng for four years.
After the game started, Fiorentina, led by Toni, took the initiative and launched a fierce attack against the Nerazzurri. Samuel, who replaced Cordoba this season after transferring from Real Madrid, had not yet fully adapted.
In the 17th minute, Toni continuously dribbled in front of the penalty area, successfully deceiving the Inter Milan defense and seizing the opportunity to shoot from long range, piercing the home team's goal first! Truly a top striker in his prime! Wang Feng, who hadn't had time to defend, couldn't help but sigh. With his keen sense of the game and delicate technique, seizing fleeting opportunities was his specialty, wasn't it?
A sense of competitiveness rose in his heart, and in the 33rd minute, he responded. It was an Inter Milan counter-attack, Wang Feng dribbled the ball into the frontcourt, facing two defenders.
He first raised his right foot as if to shoot, causing one defender, Uifalusi, to extend his foot to block. But when the raised foot landed, the force was small, changing the shot to a feint, shifting the ball to his left foot, and then using the toe to flick the ball to the left, evading Uifalusi's defense.
Facing another defender, Viali, he used the same method. Feinting with the left foot and actually flicking the ball with the right foot, the ball then came to the right foot. With no obstacles in front of him, Wang Feng shot with his right foot, equalizing the score, 1-1!
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The fans in the stands only saw Fiorentina defenders Uifalusi and Viali rashly trying to block, but they failed to intercept the ball. Instead, they allowed Wang Feng to seize the opportunity and score.
Only the three of them in the situation understood the danger and the technical content involved. Wang Feng's body posture and shot preparation were all real. If the Fiorentina defenders hadn't moved to block, it would have been a real shot.
Uifalusi and Viali didn't dare to gamble on not intercepting, so they made the most appropriate defense. But what followed was what set Wang Feng apart from other forwards. He was able to instantly dissipate the force, turning a powerful shot into a gentle flick. This level of control was jaw-dropping.
At halftime, the score remained tied, but the overall strength of Inter Milan gradually took the upper hand in the second half. In the 67th minute, Inter Milan attacked in the frontcourt, and Ribery sent the ball to Wang Feng's feet inside the penalty area.
With his back to the goal, Wang Feng stopped the ball. At this time, Viali, who was defending him, was pressing against him and secretly pulling his shirt, preventing him from turning around.
So he had to take the ball outside the penalty area. The approaching Dainelli tried to intercept, and both players kicked the ball with force, causing it to rise into the air. Seeing this, Wang Feng jumped up, lifted his right leg, and hit the ball with the back of his right foot before the Fiorentina player could head it.
Bicycle kick! The ball went straight to the lower right corner of the goal, and goalkeeper Lupatelli watched helplessly as it rolled into the net.
2-1! Inter Milan eventually reversed Fiorentina, securing the final victory. Wang Feng continued to lead the top scorers' list with 8 goals, ahead of Toni's 5 goals.
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