Chapter 14: Challenging Baldy

  With his father's relief and his mother's tearful eyes, Chu Jiang boarded the plane to Milan, soaring into the sky.

  The news of Chu Jiang going to Inter Milan for a trial did not cause much stir in China.

  Jianghai City Sports Channel did a special program on Chujian, mainly about visiting the International Milan Football School and interviewing Jianghai Chenghua team, but there was little report on Chujian himself. A short news article appeared online with the title "Mysterious Youngster Rushes to Inter for Training, Giant Talks About Asian Strategy", which talked a lot about Inter's ambitions in the Chinese market, but had very little content about Chujian.

  Other media reports were similar in content.

  "A young man who is not well-known goes to Inter Milan for a trial, it's just an Italian trip. Staying in Italy, even staying at Inter Milan? Are you kidding me?" This was the general opinion of most people about Chu Jiang's trial with Inter Milan.

  Twelve hours later, at Malpensa Airport in Milan, Corsi personally picked up Zhu Jiang and Zhan Baoluo to the international training base of AC Milan - Milanello.

  As the car passed through the gates of Appiano, Chu Jiang's mood was somewhat complicated. Here, he would spend two weeks. Whether to become a fleeting guest and brush past high-level football matches or stay in Europe and achieve his own football dreams, everything will be clear after two weeks.

  These two weeks are the most important two weeks since Chu Jiang decided to pursue his football dream! Cheng Long or Cheng Chong, it's all in this one move!

  As Inter Milan's first team is currently away for a warm-up match during the league's preparation period, Appiano Gentile appears quite empty. At this moment, most of those who remain at the training base are young players from Inter Milan and members of the youth team coaching staff.

  The next day, on the training ground of the youth team, a loud whistle suddenly sounded.

  "Hey kids, introducing a new teammate! From China, Chu, an excellent goalkeeper!"

  Among a group of 17 or 18-year-old kids, a middle-aged man wearing sportswear was smiling and pulling along a handsome Oriental boy. The Oriental boy was Chu Jiang, who had just arrived in Appiano. And the middle-aged man was none other than Fulvio Pea, the head coach of Inter Milan's youth team!

  "Can Chinese people play soccer?" a tall boy shouted loudly.

  All that could be seen was that the man had a sturdy build and had several freckles on his face. Although he was about the same age as Chu Jiang, compared to Chu Jiang, he looked like a robust big bear.

  "Haha, Baldy, your opponent has arrived. You won't be jealous that he's stronger than you and stole your position, will you?"

  A rather handsome young man smiled and said.

  His name is Drajner, and he's only 17 years old. Don't look at his young age, this young man has a big reputation. From the Italian national youth team to the national youth team, he is an undisputed main player in each level of the national team. At just 17 years old, he is already the main shooter for Inter Milan's under-20 youth team and was selected for the latest Italian national under-19 youth team. In the eyes of many experts and fans, he will become Italy's top star in the future.

  "Bring it on! A Chinese kid like you thinks he can be my opponent?" said the burly youth named Baldy, disgruntled. He felt humiliated being compared to a player from China by Draenei.

  Bardi, a former player of Serie A team Livorno, is only 18 years old this year. Although he is young, he has already played in the Italian league once for Livorno. As a young goalkeeper, Bardi's potential is astonishing and many people in the football world have high hopes for him, with some even thinking that he will be the ideal successor to famous goalkeeper Viviano. If not, Inter Milan would not have gone to such great lengths to poach him from Livorno.

  In Bardi's view, for an eagle who wants to soar in the blue sky, being compared with a common sparrow is not something worth rejoicing about.

  When they heard Baldy's words, all his teammates burst out laughing. As for Chu Jiang, they didn't think much of him either.

  When it comes to China, the first thing that comes to mind is cheap clothing, Chinese martial arts and Chinese restaurants. No one would think of Chinese football. A team that can barely pass the World Cup qualifiers, how can they attract attention from a strong football country? Although I don't know if Chu Jiang is a national team member or not, even if he was, no one would take him seriously here. You have to understand, among these young people, having a national team identity is nothing special!

  Chu Jiang fell silent for a moment after hearing Baldy's words.

  Before departure, Chu Jiang hastily reviewed some Italian phrases. Although he couldn't speak the language, he could understand a few simple words. Looking at Baldi's disdainful gaze and the indifferent expressions of those around him, Chu Jiang roughly guessed that he was being looked down upon.

  Peia smiled. He couldn't understand why the club would invite a Chinese to try out, but out of respect for Colso and his own professionalism, he should stand up for this young kid at this time.

  Just as Peia was about to scold Baldy, Chu Jiang suddenly stepped forward and pointed at Baldy, who was wearing the goalkeeper's clothes.

  "You, one on one, dare?"

  These few simple Italian words may not be spoken in a standard way, but they are said with great determination!

  Quiet!

  Astonishing silence!

  Just now still full of contempt and disdainful laughter Apiano, at this moment is pin drop silence.

  "This guy must be crazy! Baldi is our main goalkeeper, for crying out loud! At his age, there are only a handful of people in the whole of Italy who dare say they're stronger than him. And this yellow-skinned kid actually dares to challenge Baldi? God, did I just hear that right?"

  In the silence of the crowd, Chu Jiang alone picked up the football at the edge of the field and walked onto the training ground, placing the ball in an area about 30 meters away from the goal. Standing in front of the ball, Chu Jiang pointed to the goal and shouted to Baldy.

  "Hey big guy, over there!"

  Everyone was petrified at once.

  "What's going on here? Oh heaven, oh earth, come out and take a look at God! The goalkeeper is personally taking the penalty kick, does he think his inside is a forward?"

  Everyone was left speechless by Chu Jiang Lei's words, even Baldy had his mouth agape for half a day and couldn't close it...

  Peya coughed awkwardly, and in his football career, he had never seen such a strange scene. Just as he was about to step forward to stop it, Peya was suddenly pulled back by someone.

  "Mr. Colso, why are you blocking me?" Peia asked in a puzzled tone, "Is that kid being fooled by Baldy? Even if it's a challenge to Baldy, I can designate a player to take the penalty kick, no need for him to do it himself? The goalkeeper is coming to shoot, isn't this nonsense?"

  As today was Chu Jiang's first training session, as Chu Jiang's mentor, Kors also accompanied him to the training ground.

  Unlike Pei'a, Korsuo has some understanding of Chujiang.

  This young Chinese kid always brings unexpected surprises to Korsak, and this time is no exception. Although he doesn't know why Chu Jiang chose such a challenging way, Korsak still decides to help him out.

  Facing Peia's profound and mysterious smile, Korsuo said: "Don't rush to conclusions, let's see first."

  "Hey, Baldy, are you chickening out?" Colso shouted loudly with a grin, "Don't you hurry to guard the gate?"

  "Haha!"

  The boys burst out laughing all at once.

  "Baldi, you coward, if you don't dare to go on stage, just say so!"

  "Baldi, want me to go and guard the gate for you?"

  ……

  Although they are all outstanding among their peers, after all, they are still a group of children. They like to join in the fun, like to make a fuss, and even like to see people lose face on the spot, this is their nature. Because of their good relationship with each other, they often joke around with Bardi, and they are not afraid that he will cause them trouble.

  A group of people started teasing, and Baldy's face turned bright red in an instant.

  "Who says I'm afraid! Go ahead and go, who's afraid of whom! I don't believe that stupid kid can kick the ball into my goal! Screw you!"

  Baldi stormed towards the goal, his eyes fixed on Chu Jiang, filled with anger. In his opinion, today's loss was all because of this inexplicable foolish kid.

  "Bardie, if you lose, don't come back to see me!" Dragneiro shouted loudly with a smile. At this time, he still didn't forget to tease his good friend.

  "Damn it! If he scores one more goal, I'll eat the ball! However many goals that little brat can score, I dare to eat that many!" Baldi shouted fearlessly.

  For their conversation, Chu Jiang didn't understand a single sentence. But watching Baldy walk towards the goal, he knew that the big guy had accepted his challenge.

  "What I'm afraid of is that you won't accept it!" Chu Jiang finally swallowed the tranquilizer.

  At a distance of 30 meters, without a human wall, this kind of positioning ball is equivalent to a weakened version of a free kick. Since Chu Jiang has a 20-point free kick attribute, the long shot that the system recognizes him as also reaches 20. The double 20 attributes give Chu Jiang not only beautiful arc balls but also powerful and forceful shots.

  "Come on, you little stinker, let me show you grandfather's power!"

  Baldi stood in front of the goal, shouting and waving his arms wildly.

  Looking at the imposing Baldy, Chu Jiang was unexpectedly calm, without revealing the flustered expression that Baldy had hoped for.

  Facing the goal and football, Chu Jiang felt a kind of wonderful feeling from his heart. The primary free kick skill seemed to give him a more direct sense of kicking the ball when taking the main free kick.

  "If we kick it like this, it will definitely go in!"

  Smooth start, stable acceleration, right foot forward, powerful shot!

  "Boom!"

  The football flew into the top right corner of the goal like a shell that had been fired from a cannon, with almost no spin.

  No cheers, no screams, just a ball nestling in the net. Valdes stared back in disbelief, he hadn't even had time to make a save.

  The first ball is in!

  The boys all quieted down, staring straight at the football lying in the goal. The scene before their eyes completely overturned their understanding of this Chinese goalkeeper.

  "Really in?" They were still in a daze for a while.