Chapter 386: Exclusive Glory

Post-Match Press Conference

Ancelotti looked at the reporters with a smile and said:

"Torino indeed gave us a lot of trouble. We struggled to find the right opportunity to score, but Suker helped us solve that problem. He's a reliable guy—that's why I chose him."

"Suker's performance is beyond question. Whether on the pitch or in daily life, he's a humble person, always willing to make sacrifices for the team."

"Suker himself said that Torino is a very strong team, and that he needed to give his all against them."

This statement softened the stern look on Torino's head coach's face.

Ancelotti continued to praise Suker.

He believed Suker was the best player he had ever encountered.

His performance was trustworthy, and he always managed to bring victories to the team.

For a head coach, Suker was someone you could completely rely on.

After finishing the interview, Ancelotti walked lightly, even humming a tune—obviously in a good mood.

Suker looked better and better in his eyes.

He thought he should give Suker some serious praise—his performance was simply fantastic.

As soon as he opened the locker room door, he could already hear Suker's voice:

"Did you see my dribble?"

"Torino? They're nothing! I'm the king!"

Suker stood shirtless in the center, showing none of the humility Ancelotti had just described to the media.

Nostrils flared, full of swagger.

His teammates laughed—it was the Suker they were used to.

Suker's confidence always had a way of inspiring them.

"Ahem!"

Ancelotti cleared his throat.

Suker turned around and shouted, "Boss!"

Ancelotti nodded. "Sit down."

Suker obeyed and sat.

Ancelotti paused for a moment. "Be a bit more humble."

Suker blinked.

"I was humble! I didn't even bring up that volley!"

Kaká: "That's because it didn't go in. If it had, no way you wouldn't mention it."

Suker: "No seafood paella for you anymore!"

Kaká: "…"

Ancelotti sighed quietly and clapped his hands to get everyone's attention: "Upcoming match schedule is packed. Training will be adjusted—starters will have reduced training time, only substitutes will maintain full sessions."

Upon hearing this, Suker and Kaká looked toward veterans like Maldini.

To be honest, in the second half of the season, those veterans were clearly starting to lag behind.

The intense schedule and matches were draining their energy. With regular training, they wouldn't be able to hold up much longer.

Ricardo Oliveira volunteered.

He wanted to train more.

Ancelotti immediately said, "You can train more."

Oliveira: "…"

Suker leaned over to him.

"Practice your dribbling. It's about changing pace. In the next Milan derby, if you get the chance, go past Srna and make him your background prop. If you succeed, I'll treat you to a meal."

Oliveira looked surprised. "Isn't Srna your national teammate?"

"Yeah," Suker nodded.

"You two not on good terms?"

"No, we're good friends."

"Then why make me dribble past him?"

"Just do it. Don't worry about me—completely humiliate him!" Suker grinned.

A few days ago, Srna had a beautiful baby daughter and wouldn't stop bragging.

It was time to humble that show-off dad.

Before the Next Champions League Match

There were two league games—home and away—against Chievo and Palermo.

AC Milan won 1–0 against Chievo and lost 0–1 to Palermo.

In the Palermo match, the opponent parked the bus. Milan pushed for a goal but came up short.

Suker came on at the 65th minute but couldn't break the deadlock like he usually did.

In stoppage time, Palermo used a string of fouls and long balls, scoring a brutal goal through their tall striker.

Milan suffered their first league defeat!

Their 25-match unbeaten streak ended. Understandably, the team was frustrated.

But it also showed the older defenders were running out of steam.

Cafu and Maldini were aging.

Nesta's form was unstable.

Simic was always more of a backup player, a puzzle piece.

New winter signings like Simunic and Oddo hadn't fully adapted yet.

This season, Milan had to compete on three fronts (Champions League, Serie A, Coppa Italia).

It was a tough run.

But a loss is a loss—they had to focus on the next game.

For Suker, the Champions League was the real battleground!

That afternoon, the Milan sky was a clear blue. Suker sat on the lawn in his yard.

He juggled a ball with his right foot. Beside him, his silly dog Luna stared at the ball, itching to pounce but wary of Suker, so she stayed crouched.

"Go fetch!"

Suker kicked the ball far.

Luna shot out, wildly chasing it with her butt in the air, wrestling with the ball happily.

"Stupid dog," Suker muttered with a grin.

"Luna's smart! Stop calling her that," Gisele Bündchen scolded as she handed him a glass of juice.

Suker took it and asked, "Not working lately?"

Gisele had been at home for nearly two weeks.

"Taking a break." She shrugged. "I'm leaving in three days."

"And don't forget to walk the dog," she added.

Suker: "I'll have someone do it."

"Can't you take her yourself? Bond with her a bit?"

"I don't have time! This dumb dog sleeps in and stays up late—exactly when I'm supposed to train."

Gisele chuckled helplessly.

Luna was a great dog—aside from being a lazy sleeper and… loving to eat poop.

"By the way, you've got more endorsement offers lately."

Suker waved her off: "I told Zorancic to reject them."

"Rejected? A few of them looked good."

"Doesn't matter." Suker shook his head. "Business is business. It's just support. My main job is still being a professional footballer. Endorsements raise my profile, sure, but I'm not trying to be a celebrity or model."

Beckham was the most commercially successful player.

His looks and style kept him rich long after retirement.

But his standing in football history suffered.

Suker believed if Beckham had focused more on his game, he could've reached legendary status.

Not that Beckham wasn't successful.

It's just that Suker had different priorities.

He liked money.

But he also craved glory—and wanted to enter football's pantheon, maybe even chase the title of "The Best."

Everything Suker did—endorsements, media exposure—was to lay the foundation for bigger football honors.

After all, in today's commercialized football world, staying in the shadows meant missing out on everything.

So Suker boosted his visibility, built his brand, but never ignored his football performance.

In fact, he prioritized football even more.

Marketing was important, but so was backing it up on the pitch.

Lately, media coverage and discussions about Suker were everywhere.

It was all part of the buildup.

Everything was paving the way for the Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year.

Yes!

Suker had decided to go for those awards.

While Milan still had its golden days…

While veterans like Maldini were still performing their swan song…

Suker wanted to soar!

At first, Suker thought about sharing the honors with Kaká.

But that guy was too inconsistent—brilliant one moment, invisible the next.

Suker no longer felt like sharing.

If Kaká wasn't pulling his weight and still showing off, why should he split the credit?

Ballon d'Or, FIFA World Player of the Year—he wanted them both!

Suker was selfish.

If he could claim all the glory, he wouldn't share it.

Especially now that Kaká wasn't even doing that much.