Recaps

After Lu Ming’s funeral, Dejan Lu received a system mission to become brothers with Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi. He tracked down the young Ronaldo in Madeira and set off to meet him.

• Dejan Lu attended his uncle Lu Ming’s funeral, where Old Bianchi urged him to take over the olive oil business.
• The If We're Brothers, Let's Play Football System activated and tasked Dejan Lu with befriending Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi.
• Dejan Lu hired a private detective to locate the future football stars and returned to training with Reggina.
• In October 1988, the detective called to say he had found Ronaldo in Madeira, and Dejan Lu immediately took leave from his coach.
• Dejan Lu flew toward Lisbon and planned to reach Madeira by boat rather than risk flying to its dangerous airport.

After completing his first mission, Dejan Lu struggled to make Cristiano Ronaldo accept him as the boss while preparing to return to Italy. When Cristiano thought Dejan was leaving for good, he tearfully agreed, completing Dejan’s second mission.

• Dejan Lu received the Newbie Gift Pack, which included McDonald's Summoning Technique, CR7's Favor, and God of Motorcycles.
• Dejan Lu learned that he had 22 days left to make Cristiano Ronaldo willingly accept him as the boss or supporting player.
• Dejan Lu met Cristiano Ronaldo and Elma at the beach and tried to convince Cristiano to form an attacking partnership and accept him as boss.
• Dejan Lu told Elma and Cristiano that he was going back, and Cristiano promised to buy him a villa and sports car if he ever went bankrupt.
• Cristiano Ronaldo realized he might never see Dejan Lu again and tearfully agreed to accept him as boss, completing Activation Mission 2.

After returning from Porto Fino with new football abilities, Dejan Lu went back to Reggina and surprised Coach Nevio Scala with his skill. The chapter ended with Scala wondering whether Dejan Lu might really be a genius.

• Dejan Lu said goodbye to Cristiano Ronaldo's family and received the Elegant Genius skill and a twelve-year-old Luís Figo template card.
• Dejan Lu returned to Calabria on January 4, 1989, and learned from a taxi driver that Reggina had been doing well.
• Dejan Lu returned home, listened to radio reports about Lothar Matthäus, and went to Reggina's shabby training ground the next morning.
• Dejan Lu's teammates welcomed him back, and Nevio Scala noted that he was popular in the locker room.
• Dejan Lu beat several teammates with dazzling dribbles, leaving Nevio Scala wondering whether he was a genius.

Reggina’s exhausting trip to Sardinia left them trailing Cagliari 2–0, prompting Nevio Scarla to send Dejan Lu on as a substitute. Dejan immediately volleyed a difficult pass into the net, leaving the match poised for a comeback.

• Dejan Lu bought an R100RS motorcycle and traveled with Reggina to face league leaders Cagliari.
• Fatigue led Reggina to make mistakes, and Cagliari scored twice to take a 2–0 lead.
• Nevio Scarla sent Dejan Lu on as a substitute after Cagliari’s second goal.
• Dejan Lu sprinted onto Maurizio Lagi’s awkward lofted pass and volleyed it from a tight angle into the net.

Dejan Lu helped Reggina come from behind to beat Cagliari with a goal, an assist, and a clever screen on a late corner. After the match, Luigi Riva asked whether Dejan Lu was interested in playing for Cagliari.

• After Dejan Lu scored a spectacular goal, Cagliari rallied and attacked, but Dejan Lu tracked back and trapped Purga against the touchline.
• Dejan Lu returned to the right flank and curled in a cross that Giorgio Lunetti headed into the net, bringing the score to 2–2.
• Ranieri made defensive substitutions, and both teams grew cautious as the match neared its end.
• In stoppage time, Dejan Lu screened Mario Ielpo during a corner, allowing Bagnato to score the winning goal.
• Maurizio Lagi promised to buy dinner for the team, and Scarla praised Dejan Lu's intelligent play.
• Luigi Riva asked Dejan Lu whether he wanted to play for Cagliari.

After Reggina’s derby comeback, Dejan Lu visited Bianchi De Rosso, who warned him that the club lacked money to upgrade its facilities if it was promoted. Dejan proposed publicizing the players’ stories to attract attention and sponsors, giving De Rosso a way to build support for the club without investing more of his own money.

• Reggina’s young players celebrated their comeback in Rome, while Giovanni Capasso kept checking his pager and a teammate teased him about getting married.
• Dejan Lu told Bagnato he had turned down Riva’s offer to join Cagliari because he did not want to move to another team that would still be in Serie B.
• The next morning, Old Bianchi summoned Dejan Lu and explained that Reggina’s facilities needed investment if the team was promoted.
• Dejan Lu suggested that De Rosso use newspaper stories about the players to raise Reggina’s profile and attract sponsors or investors.
• De Rosso embraced the publicity plan as a way to promote both the club and his reputation without committing more of his own money.

After Dejan Lu saw praise for his performance on television, Gianni Rivera watched him play at Luigi Riva’s invitation and recognized his talent. Riva showed Rivera glowing profiles of Dejan, leaving Rivera impressed and considering secretly recommending him to AC Milan.

• Dejan Lu watched a television roundup that praised his goal and suggested Serie A scouts might soon take notice.
• Luigi Riva brought Gianni Rivera to watch Dejan play, and Rivera initially complained about traveling to a Serie C match.
• Rivera studied Dejan’s movement and passing, judged him talented but raw, and admitted he had more strengths than weaknesses.
• Riva showed Rivera a newspaper profile describing Dejan’s hard work, good reputation, low salary, and loyalty to Calabria.
• Rivera read a magazine featuring Dejan on its cover and learned of his reported connection to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and director Tinto Brass.

Dejan Lu tried to divert attention from himself by anonymously writing flattering stories about his Reggina teammates, while scouts continued to watch him. Rivera urged Milan to sign Dejan, but Galliani dismissed the idea because the club reserved its foreign-player slots for established stars.

• Dejan Lu wrote anonymous articles praising Bagnato, his teammates, and Bianchi to redirect publicity away from himself.
• Reggina maintained first place after its comeback against Calabria, and scouts from Italian clubs watched Dejan Lu play.
• Rivera visited Galliani at Milanello and showed him a Reggina match featuring Dejan Lu.
• Rivera predicted Dejan would become Italian football’s best midfielder and urged Milan to sign him.
• Galliani refused, saying Milan signed established stars, and Rivera stormed out warning that Galliani would regret it.

Reggina won the Serie C title and secured promotion, while Dejan Lu completed a system mission that gave him new skills and tasked him with transferring to a major league. He traveled to Milan for his first commercial endorsement and encountered a young woman he recognized.

• Reggina defeated Cagliari in the final round, winning the Serie C title and promotion as fans and players celebrated at Granillo Stadium.
• Dejan Lu asked Giuseppe Bagnato about next season, and Bagnato said a director wanted him to play himself in a film about his experiences.
• Dejan Lu returned home and received the King of Brothers, Learn from Each Other's Strengths, and Star of Yuanmeng skills after completing his mission.
• The system assigned Dejan Lu a new mission to transfer from Catalonia and remain in one of the four major leagues, and he considered Italy or England as possible destinations.
• Dejan Lu flew to Milan for a Ferrero advertisement and met director Luca Bigazzi, then noticed a young woman arriving at the hotel.

Dejan Lu and Monica Bellucci rode from Milan to Genoa, sharing a spontaneous day of danger, laughter, and flirtation. After Monica said she was missing home, Dejan Lu agreed to take her back, but they stopped at a hotel for the night.

• Dejan Lu told Monica Bellucci he wanted her to seize opportunities rather than regret them, and she enjoyed spending time with him.
• Dejan Lu sped through Via Padova with Monica on his motorcycle, and Monica knocked an attacker down with her helmet when two men blocked their path.
• Dejan Lu and Monica reached Genoa, sat by the sea, and joked and flirted as he handed out burgers and drinks to curious tourists.
• Monica told Dejan Lu she was missing home and asked him to take her back, and he agreed while teasing her about meeting her father.
• Dejan Lu parked his motorcycle outside a hotel because it was too late to return to Milan.

Dejan Lu met with Gianni Rivera, who urged him to wait for a chance to join AC Milan, but could not promise him a place. As Dejan considered other leagues, Sampdoria owner Paolo Mantovani offered him a spot on his team.

• Monica Bellucci waited for Dejan Lu to wake, then learned that Gianni Rivera wanted to meet him about AC Milan.
• Dejan Lu and Monica waited in their hotel restaurant until Rivera arrived and praised Dejan as a future AC Milan star.
• Dejan Lu asked Rivera how AC Milan would make room for him, and Rivera admitted he could only try to change the foreign-player rules and promised a chance within two years.
• Dejan Lu exchanged contact information with Rivera and saw him off, while Monica said she would accompany Dejan abroad and return to studying law.
• Paolo Mantovani introduced himself to Dejan and invited him to join Sampdoria, saying Rivera's effort to recruit him showed his talent.

Dejan Lu and Monica met with Sampdoria chairman Paolo Mantovani, who offered Dejan a three-year contract and helped arrange their move to Genoa. Dejan signed for Sampdoria, agreed to leave the number ten shirt to Roberto Mancini, and prepared to look for a home while manager Vujadin Boskov was away.

• Paolo Mantovani offered to help Dejan Lu sell his Reggio Calabria assets and find a place to live in Genoa.
• Mantovani took Dejan and Monica to a law firm, where Monica reviewed Dejan's three-year contract and noticed its signing bonus.
• Dejan asked to convert the signing bonus into a transfer fee for Reggina, and Mantovani agreed.
• Dejan signed the contract and chose not to ask for Roberto Mancini's number ten shirt.
• Mantovani welcomed Dejan to Sampdoria and said he would take the couple to look at houses the next day.

Dejan Lu settled into an apartment in Genoa with Monica and visited his neighbor and new Sampdoria teammate Roberto Mancini. After the two couples shared dinner, Dejan Lu discovered that his completed mission had activated a mysterious event for the start of the league season.

• Mantovani arranged an apartment for Dejan Lu and Monica next door to Roberto Mancini, and Monica began decorating their new home.
• Dejan Lu visited Mancini with a bottle of wine, met Federica, and invited the couple to dinner.
• Federica recognized Dejan Lu from a gossip magazine, and Mancini challenged him to prove Mantovani had judged his talent correctly.
• Dejan Lu returned home with Monica, and the four of them ate together at Carmine while Mancini warmed to his new teammate.
• Dejan Lu checked the system and saw that his mission was complete, a mysterious event would begin when the league started, and his season would be evaluated for rewards.

Dejan Lu spent the day riding with Mancini and Vialli, then recruited a paparazzo to help publicize Monica Bellucci and her future business plans. The story left Dejan Lu turning the media attention around to create a potential source of income for Monica.

• Dejan Lu visited Mancini, rode motorcycles with him, and teased him about his reserved nature and reputation for devotion.
• Dejan Lu and Mancini picked up Vialli, who quickly warmed to Dejan Lu and enjoyed riding in the sidecar.
• After dropping Vialli off, Dejan Lu told Mancini about his friends in Reggio Calabria and joked about Mancini's claims of devotion.
• Dejan Lu approached the paparazzi outside his apartment and offered them money and contact details to publish stories and take candid photos of Monica Bellucci.
• Dejan Lu planned to use the publicity to promote Monica as a beauty and build support for her future menswear brand.

Dejan Lu faced doubts over Sampdoria’s gamble on him, but Mantovani reassured himself that the young player intended to stay. After arriving late to his unveiling ceremony, Dejan and Monica made a dramatic motorcycle entrance before the packed stadium.

• Newspaper reports questioned Sampdoria’s decision to sign Dejan Lu, while Rivera blamed Galliani for rejecting him and Monica received a new fashion endorsement.
• Mantovani worried that AC Milan might poach Dejan Lu, but Dejan had no intention of leaving, so Mantovani arranged an unveiling ceremony in late June.
• Dejan visited Lippi and later watched The Shining with Monica, who stayed awake talking with him until nearly dawn.
• Dejan and Monica woke late and rushed to Luigi Ferraris Stadium as the crowd grew impatient at the delayed unveiling.
• Dejan rode a motorcycle onto the pitch and skidded to a stop before Mantovani and Boskov, while Monica removed her helmet and apologized for their lateness.

Dejan Lu made a dramatic entrance at Sampdoria’s presentation ceremony, then asked to demonstrate his football skills by taking on one hundred fans. The chapter ended with Paolo Mantovani and Boskov stunned by his challenge.

• Dejan Lu arrived at the stadium on a motorcycle with Monica riding behind him, thrilling the crowd and drawing attention from the media and players.
• Dejan Lu threw his helmet into the stands, where a young fan caught it, while motorcycle dealers recognized the publicity opportunity.
• Dejan Lu praised Paolo Mantovani and Sampdoria in a speech, then joined Monica in leading the crowd in the club song.
• Dejan Lu used Strengths and Weaknesses and received a Ronaldinho single-match experience card.
• Dejan Lu asked Paolo Mantovani to bring one hundred fans onto the field, promising that he would lose if any of them took the ball from him.

Dejan Lu joined Roberto Mancini and Pagliuca in a three-versus-fifty-one exhibition match at Luigi Ferraris Stadium. He dazzled the crowd with his dribbling and scored, leaving Boskov convinced the new number seven would become an important player.

• Boskov and Mantovani reduced the fan team to fifty supporters and brought Roberto Mancini, Pagliuca, and Nushiali back onto the pitch.
• The fans crowded around the players before Boskov started the match, with Nushiali guarding their goal.
• After Roberto Mancini passed him the ball, Dejan Lu evaded the first defenders with a backheel and then dribbled through the crowd using feints and flashy tricks.
• Dejan Lu drew the fans toward Roberto Mancini, advanced into the penalty area, and passed to him when Nushiali charged out.
• After Roberto Mancini's shot rebounded off Nushiali, Dejan Lu faked a shot and scored with his left foot.
• Boskov applauded Dejan Lu's performance and decided the new number seven would become an important member of the team.

After Dejan Lu’s dramatic unveiling made him and Monica the talk of Genoa, he settled into life with Sampdoria and visited Pietro Verchowod with Roberto Mancini. The chapter ended with Dejan considering whether he might try making children’s comics.

• Dejan Lu left Sampdoria’s unveiling ceremony with Monica, while Roberto Mancini admitted he envied the attention Dejan had received.
• Television reports praised Dejan’s motorcycle entrance, and Monica asked whether he would be interested in becoming a Fiat spokesperson.
• Monica wondered whether she should study finance, and Dejan told her to choose what made her happy and enjoy her life.
• Roberto Mancini took Dejan to Pietro Verchowod’s house, where teammates struggled to assemble a children’s magazine craft kit.
• Chiesa suggested Dejan might draw comics, and Dejan explained what made children’s comics appealing before considering the idea himself.

Dejan Lu sketched a Pokémon comic outline and imagined using the franchise to make money from Nintendo. The chapter ended with Suzuki Group negotiating to hire him as an endorser, while Mantovani pushed for a much higher fee.

• Dejan Lu drew Pokémon characters and outlined a story about Sun Xiaochuan, Archer, and Dr. Zhang, then decided the comic could help him earn money from Nintendo.
• Roberto Mancini and Paolo Mantovani visited Dejan Lu with Tarumoto Koji from Suzuki Group.
• Tarumoto Koji offered Dejan Lu a Suzuki endorsement with a base fee of five hundred thousand RMB.
• Mantovani argued that Dejan Lu's popularity and effect on motorcycle sales justified a fee comparable to Michael Jordan's, and cited competing motorcycle brands.

Dejan Lu signed a lucrative endorsement deal with the Suzuki Group and used money from the sale of Reggio assets to discuss buying a home with Monica. As he bonded with Sampdoria teammates before the season, Boskov decided Dejan needed his mentality tempered amid his sudden fame.

• Dejan Lu agreed to a one-year, $200,000 endorsement contract with Suzuki, including appearance fees, performance bonuses, and promotional support.
• Dejan Lu told Monica the Reggio assets had sold for about $420,000, and Monica suggested asking her father to help buy a house.
• Dejan Lu continued drawing his comic and planned to meet more teammates; he later brought Roberto Mancini to Verchowod's house, where the players played Dungeons & Dragons.
• Boskov reviewed newspapers featuring Dejan Lu and asked assistant coach Narciso Pezzotti how the club should handle the young striker.
• Boskov decided Sampdoria should temper Dejan Lu's mentality so he would not be carried away by media and fan praise.

Boskov kept Dejan Lu out of Sampdoria’s matchday squads to protect him from media attention, even as the team struggled to score. After Sampdoria lost to Ascoli, Boskov finally agreed to consider using Dejan, with Inter Milan next on the schedule.

• Boskov told Pezzotti to leave Dejan Lu out of the squad, while Dejan settled into the team’s friendly atmosphere during summer training.
• Sampdoria opened the season with a 2–0 win over Lazio, but Dejan stayed home and discovered the system’s Lucky Taxi event.
• Galliani questioned Dejan’s talent in the newspapers, and Boskov reassured Dejan that he would play when the time was right.
• Sampdoria drew 0–0 with Bari, then lost to Ascoli after Borislav Cvetković scored twice in the second half.
• Boskov asked for Dejan to warm up, then reluctantly nodded when Pezzotti proposed including him in the squad against Inter Milan.

Inter Milan and Sampdoria prepared for their upcoming match as Dejan Lu finally earned a place in Sampdoria's squad. The chapter ended with Monica celebrating the news by cooking breakfast for Dejan Lu.

• Lothar Matthäus dismissed Dejan Lu, while Zenga warned Inter Milan that Sampdoria had several world champions.
• Giovanni Trapattoni wondered whether Boskov would risk including Dejan Lu against Inter Milan.
• Alex Ferguson questioned Manchester United's tactics and asked Archie Knox to obtain a recording of the Sampdoria match.
• Boskov's assistant named Dejan Lu in Sampdoria's squad, and his teammates celebrated and promised to choose a restaurant after the match.
• Monica cooked Dejan Lu breakfast and placed a rose on the table, explaining that she had borrowed it from Roberto Mancini's roses for Federica.

Sampdoria fell behind Inter Milan when Lothar Matthäus scored a spectacular long-range free kick, prompting Boskov to bring on Dejan Lu at halftime. Dejan Lu stunned Inter’s defense with a solo run and scored, leaving the match level as play continued.

• Dejan Lu drew an Arjen Robben experience card before Sampdoria faced Inter Milan at Luigi Ferraris Stadium.
• Inter Milan dominated the physical opening exchanges, and Lothar Matthäus scored from more than forty meters in the 39th minute.
• Boskov sent Dejan Lu on at the start of the second half in place of Giuseppe Dossena.
• Dejan Lu beat Berti, Matthäus, and Bergomi on a long dribble, then nutmegged Bergomi and shot the ball into the goal.

Dejan Lu stunned Inter Milan by dribbling past Bergomi twice, then helped Sampdoria disrupt Lothar Matthäus’s attack. Inter tightened its defense around him, and Sampdoria’s next move broke down near the touchline.

• Dejan Lu dribbled past Bergomi twice, prompting Paolo Rossi to praise his close control and Brehme to warn Bergomi that the young player was dangerous.
• Roberto Mancini celebrated with Dejan Lu and traded insults with Lothar Matthäus, while Dejan defended Sampdoria as a team.
• Trapattoni ordered Brehme and Bergomi to defend Dejan Lu together on Inter’s right flank.
• Dejan Lu tracked back to slow Matthäus, allowing Cerezo to recover and win the ball.
• Brehme slid in and kicked the ball away after Dejan Lu received Mancini’s long pass near the touchline.

Dejan Lu scored a late winner against Inter Milan after their defense concentrated on marking him, giving Sampdoria a 2–1 victory in his Serie A debut. The chapter ended with the stadium celebrating and Bergomi promising to watch Dejan Lu closely in future matches.

• Inter Milan brought on Giuseppe Baresi to man-mark Dejan Lu, but his presence helped pin Matthäus in place and created space for Sampdoria’s attack.
• Sampdoria’s late attacks failed to score, while Inter Milan threatened on the counter and Pagliuca punched away Baresi’s cross.
• Pagliuca’s clearance fell to Pellegrini, who sent a precise through ball to Dejan Lu on the right.
• Dejan Lu beat Bergomi and Brehme with his pace and footwork, then lifted the ball over Zenga to score the winning goal.
• Luigi Agnolin blew the final whistle, and Sampdoria celebrated their victory over Inter Milan.
• Bergomi exchanged shirts with Dejan Lu and vowed not to give him the same opportunities in their next meeting.