Chapter 328: The Noisy Locker Room

"Has the locker room always been like this?"

In the evening, Cafu, Dida, Kaka, and other Brazilian players held a welcome party for Oliveira.

Thinking back to the oppressive atmosphere in the locker room, Oliveira couldn't help but shiver.

Cafu sighed. "It wasn't like this before. A lot has happened lately."

"Is it because of the match-fixing scandal—"

Oliveira stopped himself immediately when he saw Cafu and Dida frowning at him.

"Don't talk about that in the locker room, especially before Suker returns. Things are unstable right now—everyone's holding in a lot of anger. If you want to integrate smoothly, keep a low profile," Cafu said earnestly. "It'll be better for you."

Oliveira nodded, then asked, "Why wait until Suker comes back?"

Kaka smiled. "Because he's our morale booster."

"Morale booster?" Oliveira was confused.

Dida chuckled. "When Suker is around, everyone's happy. It might get noisy, but it won't feel like this. He's away playing for the national team right now, but he should be back soon."

Kaka added, "Suker's a great guy. Try to get to know him—it'll help you."

Dida joked, "Since Suker's been gone, even Gattuso seems lonely."

Cafu laughed. "Ivan probably wishes Suker never comes back."

"That's just an act," Kaka shook his head. "Ivan actually loves that kind of roughhousing."

Oliveira blinked and listened quietly to his fellow Brazilians.

But… why did every sentence revolve around Suker?

"Is Suker that important?" he asked.

He had only been with Milan for a season, so why did it feel like Suker was the team's mascot?

All three nodded in unison."Very important!"

Dida said seriously, "If you want a future here at Milan, here's a piece of advice—don't mess with Suker!"

Cafu added, "Mess with Paolo if you must, but never with Suker!"

"What?" Oliveira was baffled. "Why?"

"Isn't Maldini the captain? Shouldn't he be the one you absolutely shouldn't cross?"

Cafu casually replied, "Because Paolo's patient with the young players. He's tolerant—even if you offend him, he'll let it slide. But Suker's a different story…"

Dida held up his fingers. "He's petty, hot-tempered, loves pranks, and has a sharp tongue… Just don't cross him. If you upset Paolo, he'll forgive you. But if you upset Suker, he will get revenge. And when that happens, both Paolo and Milan will back him up."

Kaka frowned. "He's not as bad as they're making him sound, but yeah… don't mess with Suker!"

The next day, Oliveira headed back to the training base.

After what happened yesterday, he stood outside the locker room, hesitant to go in.

There were clearly many people inside, but it was eerily quiet.

No talking. No communication.

A silence like a black hole that sucked everything in.

Oliveira stood at the door, unsure when to step in.

Just then, he heard footsteps—pa-da pa-da.

He turned to see a black-haired young man stride past him and head straight for the locker room.

The young man gripped the doorknob, which Oliveira had treated like a snake, and flung the door open.

"Good morning!—"

His cheerful voice shattered the silence, and the room quickly livened up.

"Ivan, still got that sour look? You lonely without me and Pirlo around?"

"Piss off!!"

"Why are you yelling? I'll strip your pants off!"

"You dare?!"

"You crippled bastard, watch me!"

Oliveira stood at the door, stunned, watching Suker teasing Gattuso.

The Italian "Butcher" turned red with rage—but couldn't catch him.

The two ran around the table like kids playing tag.

Eventually, Gattuso caught Suker, pinned him to the floor, and tickled him hard.

Moments later, Gattuso stood up, looking much calmer.

Suker got up and walked over to Inzaghi, ruffling Nesta's hair on the way.

Oliveira: "!!!"

Nesta swatted Suker's hand away, but he was smiling?

And then there was Inzaghi…

"Hey, chasing girls again?"

Suker squatted beside Inzaghi, peeking at his phone.

Inzaghi smirked playfully."You think you're the only one? Nineteen-year-old virgin?"

The whole locker room suddenly fell silent.

Everyone stared at Suker with a teasing look.

Truth be told, when your friends catch your weakness, it's torture.

Suker was dumbfounded.

"How do you all know?!"

Inzaghi burst into laughter. "Gisele Bündchen is like a megaphone! Every interview, she brags about how she 'bagged a virgin!' How could we not know?"

Pffft!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

The entire locker room erupted in laughter.

Suker's face turned purple.

"That loudmouth witch! She tells the whole world everything!"

He had no face left.

Suker turned to Kaka, fuming.

"What the hell are you laughing at?! You were even worse than me!"

Kaka solemnly pulled out a Bible. "I'm a believer."

"Believe your ass!"

Suker pounced.

The whole locker room turned into a chaotic playground.

Oliveira stood dumbly at the door.

Yesterday it was like a funeral parlor, and now… what the hell is going on?

Smack!Someone patted him on the shoulder.

He turned to see Maldini winking at him with a smile."Told you—we're a warm and loving family."

Oliveira gave an awkward smile.

Warm and loving or not, one thing's for sure—it's loud.

Suker's return meant Milan's full squad was finally assembled.

That morning, Suker went to the club's medical center for a physical.

By the afternoon, the report was in.

He was in perfect health, no signs of injury.

Ancelotti finally relaxed.

What he feared most was Suker returning injured or hobbling from national duty.

Luckily, Suker was in great shape.

That afternoon, training resumed, and the Milan training ground buzzed with energy.

Mostly because everyone was watching the Suker show.

Lesson learned: never give your friends a handle. Never.

During drills, after Inzaghi scored, he sucked his thumb and coyly asked:

"I wonder what a 19-year-old boy tastes like?"

"You bastard!!"

Pirlo mimicked Gisele."He was wild like a wolf…"

"You're dead meat!!"

Kaka: "I made him a man."

"Motherf—!!!"

Boom!Suker kicked the ball into the distance and stormed at them.

"You three bastards! I'll kill you!"

The three scattered like birds.

"You four stop right there! This is training!" Maldini roared. "No discipline at all—the boss will be pissed!"

He turned to look.

Ancelotti was on the sideline, his assistant whispering something in his ear—then burst out laughing.

Maldini rolled his eyes.

Hopeless.

Suker chased them all over the field. The three suddenly moved with unnatural grace, dodging him in perfect sync.

Gattuso watched with envy.

How do I get Suker to chase me?

It's always him chasing Suker.

Everyone was teasing Suker.

But it was only fair.

He's always the one pranking and teasing others—now it was finally their turn to get back at him.

"For the first game, I'm gonna print 'I was a 19-year-old virgin' on my undershirt," Pirlo declared.

Inzaghi nodded. "Let's add Kaka too—if the three of us score, we'll run to the camera together!"

Gattuso overheard and leaned in.

"Count me in!"

Suker saw the four of them scheming in a corner and rolled his eyes.

Truthfully, he didn't really mind.

He reacted the way he did just to lighten the mood.

Otherwise, everyone would stay gloomy, and that's even worse.

Besides, it wasn't real mockery—just friendly teasing.

So no, Suker didn't take it seriously.

Kaka returned and sat beside Suker, trying to keep a straight face.

He really wasn't good at hiding things—everything was written on his face.

"Finished scheming?"

Kaka lowered his head. "We didn't scheme anything."

Suker snorted.

"What's for dinner tonight?"

See? Changing the topic already.

"Salmon with pasta!"

Kaka: "I want seafood paella—with special sauce!"

Suker: "Ask your wife to make it!"

Kaka fell silent.

"…Fine, salmon and pasta it is."