Chapter 211: Pass the Ball to Suker

Inzaghi knew that Suker was just joking.

If this guy really wanted women, with his fame, he could just stroll into any bar in Milan and girls would throw themselves at him.

But so far, he hadn't been to a single bar. During the season, he was incredibly dedicated.

He was just indulging in some playful banter.

The three of them walked together toward the training field.

As soon as Suker entered, someone greeted him.

"Good morning, Suker."

Turning his head, Suker was surprised to see that Shevchenko had taken the initiative to approach him.

"You played great in yesterday's match. My daughter's practically your fan now."

Suker wasn't particularly close with Shevchenko—certainly not like he was with Kaká.

The two barely interacted, more like coworkers than teammates.

So this unexpected approach by Shevchenko caught Suker off guard.

"She even asked me why you don't pass the ball to me—wondering if something was going on between us. Hahaha!"

Shevchenko laughed awkwardly.

Suker grinned.

That's what you think, isn't it?

Although that's what he thought, Suker responded, "Can't be helped. With the foreign player limit, we don't really have the chance to be on the pitch at the same time."

Shevchenko visibly relaxed a bit and smiled, "Exactly what I told her. So, I'm speeding up my EU passport process. I'm really looking forward to some good link-up play between us."

Shevchenko was feeling the heat.

Watching Inzaghi banging in goals left and right, his position as a starter was under threat.

Add to that the issue of trust—while Shevchenko's status wasn't fully undermined, it had certainly been weakened.

At the very least, in the past two matches, he had come on as a substitute—and hadn't scored a single goal.

In contrast, the previously overshadowed Inzaghi had already netted three.

This sense of urgency was growing.

Moreover, Ancelotti seemed ready to hand over offensive control to Suker.

In other words, who scored and how often would depend on Suker's decisions.

In the past, Shevchenko didn't need to care about others' attitudes. If you didn't pass to him, Milan had no goal threat.

But with Suker's arrival, not only had he revitalized Inzaghi, but Kaká's efficiency was rising too.

Both Suker and Kaká could break through and draw fouls, leading to more set pieces.

Pirlo's threat on dead balls was also beginning to shine.

Maldini's overlapping runs and Seedorf's forward surges were all adding to Milan's offensive options.

The firepower bottleneck that AC Milan had struggled with was blown wide open by Suk.

He was like the perfect cog that made this elite machine click into high gear.

Pre-season and these past few games had proven it.

Shevchenko realized he could no longer afford to stay quiet.

If he let Suker fully align with Inzaghi, his own standing would be seriously threatened.

This was a gesture of goodwill from Shevchenko.

Suker understood perfectly.

He held a small grudge against Shevchenko—after all, He had once taken the striker role that should've been his.

But if Ancelotti insisted on using Shevchenko, Suker would still cooperate.

Because if Shevchenko found his form again, AC Milan's Champions League chances would be that much greater.

Suker wanted that Champions League title!

The biggest obstacle, however, remained the foreign player quota.

Kaká, Suker, and Shevchenko already filled the three non-EU slots.

What about starting goalkeeper Dida? What about Cafu sitting on the bench?

To solve the problem, Shevchenko needed to get his EU passport as soon as possible.

With the Champions League approaching, all of Europe's attention was shifting toward the tournament.

The "Miracle of Istanbul" from a few months ago was still fresh in everyone's mind.

For Liverpool, that night was legendary.

For AC Milan, it was a dark, painful nightmare.

No Milan fan wanted to relive that moment. Some even flinched at the mere mention of the Champions League.

Lately, AC Milan had been in great form.

Suk's addition had brought a new energy to their attack.

Two straight league wins, and now they were heading into their Champions League opener.

Diretta Stadio, a program on Italian TV hosted by the "Rossoneri Saint" Crudeli, dedicated its latest episode to covering AC Milan's internal situation ahead of the Champions League.

To that end, they invited former Croatian captain and Milan player, Zvonimir Boban.

Crudeli, the ever-excitable old man, was glowing with energy as he passionately shared his insights and scoops. Fans knew how much he loved showing off his collected tidbits and personal opinions.

This episode's main theme: Suker.

"With a €33 million transfer and the reigning Champions League Golden Boot, Suker is under tremendous scrutiny. But if you've watched him play, you'll be moved by his brilliance—he's like a beautiful butterfly!"

Crudeli's face was flushed with joy, his arms raised as if showing off a treasured jewel to fans through the TV screen.

"Ohhh~~ my God! He makes Milan's football beautiful again! Thump thump thump—that's the rhythm of passing at San Siro! Smooth and elegant! When we defend, Maldini is our bravest warrior!"

"And when we want to attack, counter, or dominate—look! Up front, there's Suker! Pass him the ball!"

Crudeli was like a delighted child, his eyes beaming and brows dancing at the mention of Suker.

Boban, watching the scene, couldn't help but smile.

"Suker has always been a thoughtful kid. Maybe it's because he endured so many hardships in childhood—God gave him a ray of hope."

Boban said, "He's looking great now, but three years ago, you might not have recognized him. He was under 150 cm tall, playing in amateur leagues in Bosnia. Many times, he didn't even have enough to eat—malnutrition stunted his growth!"

"Ohhh, that's such a heartbreaking story!" Crudeli listened intently.

He had heard about Suker's rough childhood, but never realized it was this severe.

"But he persevered. He seized every chance. Starting in the Bosnian Premier League, he entered the professional stage, earned a stable income, and his talent gradually emerged. He kept growing, and last year, he became the focus of all Europe!"

Crudeli nodded, "That's something to be proud of."

Boban said emotionally, "Back when Dinamo Zagreb was pushing to qualify for the Champions League, Davor (Šuker) and I thought it was impossible. But they made it! They fought their way through, and I wondered—what are these kids really after?"

Crudeli stayed silent, hanging on every word.

"Go on! Go on!" Crudeli urged, "I can't wait to learn everything about this kid."

Boban chuckled, "They beat Roma twice in the group stage, drew Real Madrid twice, and had a win and a draw against Leverkusen—made it to the knockout stage, then double-beat Manchester United before falling in the quarter-finals!"

"Even now, it feels like a dream!"

Crudeli nodded furiously in approval.

Finally, he asked, "I heard you were the one who recommended Suker to Milan?"

Boban straightened up proudly, "That's right! At the time, I believed Suker had to go to a big club—and Milan was the perfect fit!"

"Davor wanted to take him to Arsenal. We even had a huge argument about it! But in the end, I won!"

Boban laughed, "I brought a super talent to Milan!"

Instantly, the studio erupted in applause.

Crudeli clapped even harder, "Let's give Boban a big hand! He's a true Milanista, red and black to the core! Look at what he's brought us!"

The clapping became thunderous.

Boban held his head high, basking in the adulation.

After retiring, Boban had always wanted to join Milan's management team.

Suker had become his stepping stone.

The better Suker performed, the greater Boban's achievements seemed—and the more trust fans placed in him.

Eventually, his entry into the management team would become inevitable.

Not just Boban—Milan's sporting director Leonardo also had a stake.

As Suker shined brighter, Leonardo's influence within the club also grew.

With the right credentials, decision-making became easier.

But it all hinged on Suker becoming even better, even more brilliant. So Leonardo often pressured Ancelotti to ensure Suker had a stable starting spot and a central tactical role.

Suker's performance wasn't just down to talent—it was also backed by heavy support from higher-ups and club legends.