Chapter 81: New environment and training
Early the next morning, Wang Feng ran to Pinetina for training. Without a doubt, he was the first person to arrive. As he warmed up on the exercise equipment, Javier Zanetti and other players entered, chatting and laughing.
Zanetti introduced Wang Feng to the other teammates, who warmly welcomed his addition. There was no sense of disdain or hostility, confirming Hector Cooper's words that Inter Milan was indeed an inclusive club, and the atmosphere in the locker room was harmonious.
The first teammate Wang Feng got acquainted with in the new team was Marco Mazzarri, who had also just transferred to Inter Milan this year. He had an outgoing personality and was very curious about Wang Feng, so the two of them talked for a long time.
"What do you think of Serie B? But winning the Europa League championship must be great. I envy you for achieving so many honors at such a young age. When I was your age, I was still struggling in an amateur team," Mazzarri said.
Wang Feng modestly replied, "It's just luck. Genk happened to lack forwards, so I got my chance."
Then the two discussed Mazzarri's career. He joined Serie B team Perugia at the age of 22, but due to a dispute between his father and the head coach, he had no place in the team and was loaned to a Serie C team, Carpi.
After two years in the Serie C club, just when Mazzarri was about to give up, he was spotted by a scout from the English Premier League club Everton and brought to England. However, he couldn't adapt to the pace of the Premier League at all. Coincidentally, when Perugia's head coach was sacked, he was able to return to Perugia a year later.
Then he helped Perugia successfully promote to Serie A, scoring 12 goals last season, setting a record for the most goals by a defender in a Serie A season. He caught the attention of Inter Milan, and transferred to the Nerazzurri for �8 million.
"Scoring 12 goals as a defender, it's really impressive," Wang Feng exclaimed.
Proudly, Mazzarri patted his chest and pointed to his head, saying, "My heading is a lethal weapon. Last season, Perugia successfully avoided relegation because of my crucial headers."
Heading had always been a weak point for Wang Feng. Although he barely passed after persevering in training, compared to his threat with his feet, it was still insufficient. So, he decided to consult Mazzarri for heading techniques, and Mazzarri readily agreed, as long as Wang Feng treated him to a few meals, the issue of heading would be on him.
As they chatted on, Mazzarri suddenly whispered to Wang Feng, "Do you think he'll come? I mean Ronaldo."
Wang Feng shook his head. The "Alien" Ronaldo had been absent for a whole season since he was injured in April last year. His current injury status was still unclear, and it was unknown if he would join the training camp.
Just then, two figures appeared at the door of the gym. The players gradually put down their exercises, and some of Inter Milan's old players even applauded.
The two were none other than head coach Cooper and number 9 Ronaldo!
Ronaldo's physique was somewhat plump, obviously still not fully recovered from his injury. He smiled as he walked into the training room, saying, "Many familiar faces have left us, and many new faces have joined. Welcome!"
With that, he hugged each player one by one, exchanged brief greetings. When it was Wang Feng's turn, he hugged the young player tightly and then said, "Wang, I've seen your games before. Your talent and skills are amazing. I absolutely believe that you can shine in Serie A. Welcome to join us."
"But you must be careful of rough tackles on the field. You know, for players, nothing is more frustrating than injuries."
Wang Feng looked at the talented superstar in front of him, who had been troubled by injuries. He couldn't help but feel a little sad. If it weren't for injuries, he might have become an even greater presence.
Wang Feng felt extremely fortunate about his physique. Coming to the aggressive Serie A, exemption from severe injuries was his greatest reliance.
Under the coach's arrangement, formal training began. Ronaldo's injury had not fully healed yet, so he could only do recovery exercises on the side. The others, led by Zanetti, carried out regular training exercises.
Seeing Ronaldo adapting to his body earnestly but awkwardly, the players of Inter Milan trained with utmost discipline. They were all filled with determination to redeem themselves this season and were meticulous in meeting the requirements of the coaching staff.
Wang Feng adapted well to this environment. Initially, he thought that with the romantic nature of Italians, training might not be too strict, and he would need to train hard on his own. However, the training atmosphere at Inter Milan was excellent.
As they interacted more, Wang Feng's understanding of his Inter Milan teammates deepened gradually.
Besides intense training, the players also found other ways to relax. Zanetti, Cordoba, and Vieri liked playing golf, and since the training base was close to the golf club, they often went there together in their spare time.
Initially, they invited Wang Feng to join them, but after playing once, Wang Feng found no interest in this slow-paced sport. Instead, he was more attracted to the lakeside barbecue organized by Sergio Conciao.
On weekends, Conciao, Mazzarri, and others would bring their families to barbecue and play by Lake Como. Although Mazzarri looked like a playboy, he was actually very faithful. Daniela, who had been with him since their impoverished days, was always by his side.
Conciao was the real playboy, often bringing different companions. He would joke about introducing girlfriends to Wang Feng, which left him speechless. It seemed like he would encounter a flirtatious teammate every time, like Renee.
The players of Inter Milan had a very good impression of Wang Feng. Despite being hailed as a teenage prodigy before the transfer and then being heavily criticized afterward, Wang Feng left everyone with the impression of being diligent, serious, and humble.
He didn't have the arrogance and haughtiness of a young prodigy, nor the frustration of being belittled. Interactions with Wang Feng were refreshing, and Mazzarri commented, "Wang doesn't seem like an eighteen-year-old, but more like a middle-aged person who has experienced the vicissitudes of life. How do I put it, mature beyond his years?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Feng was at a loss for words. He had toned down his temperament a bit, but how did it turn into being mature beyond his years?
He also applied to the club to allow his personal trainer, Abel Le Goff, to work together with the club's trainers to devise his training plan. Because he wanted to further improve his physical fitness and combat abilities, which were crucial weapons in Serie A.
After communication with the club's medical team, this plan was approved. However, similar to his time at Genk, they also decided to conduct regular comprehensive examinations on Wang Feng to prevent training-induced injuries.
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