Recaps

Dejan Lu prepared for Sampdoria’s heavily hyped match against Diego Maradona’s Napoli while avoiding the press’s attempts to draw him into controversy. Roberto Mancini, frustrated by his suspension and by being left out of the news, came up with a plan to give Sampdoria a famous trio of its own.

• Dejan Lu comforted Paolo Verchowod after the boy called in tears about the Berlin Wall falling.
• Dejan Lu and Monica watched coverage of the coming Sampdoria–Napoli match, and newspapers published competing opinions about Dejan Lu and Diego Maradona.
• British reporters asked Dejan Lu to support Peter Shilton’s side of their feud, but Dejan Lu stayed out of it.
• Boskov told Dejan Lu not to comment on Diego Maradona and confirmed that Dejan Lu would start against Napoli.
• Roberto Mancini brooded over his suspension and the press’s focus on Dejan Lu and Vialli, then decided to invent a catchy name for a Sampdoria trio and submit it to newspapers.

Mancini explained that he had defended Dejan Lu because he considered him and Gianluca part of his Sampdoria family, while reporters and tourists swarmed the team ahead of the match. Dejan and Monica struggled with the sudden attention, and Mancini’s televised comments cast himself as Dejan’s guide and big brother.

• Mancini told a reporter that he had defended Dejan because the referee had failed to ensure fairness, then described Dejan and Gianluca as family.
• Dejan Lu found Lanna exhausted after Lanna’s partner had questioned him about chatting with a waitress.
• Dejan Lu and his teammates trained amid crowds of British and German reporters and tourists, who also stopped Pagliuca and Lanna for interviews.
• Monica told Dejan Lu that British reporters had posed as students and harassed her and her roommates, leaving her unable to stay at school.
• Dejan Lu watched Mancini tell reporters that Sampdoria was a family and that he was Dejan’s guide as Dejan developed.

Dejan Lu turned down an Adidas endorsement in favor of pursuing Nike and prepared with Sampdoria for a heavily publicized away match against Diego Maradona’s Napoli. Before kickoff, he drew a Johan Cruyff single-match experience card, leaving him poised to face Napoli with a new advantage.

• Mantovani told Dejan Lu that Adidas wanted to sign him, but Dejan Lu asked him to contact Nike instead.
• Sampdoria traveled to San Paolo Stadium, where Napoli fans taunted the team and chanted for Diego Maradona.
• Boskov warned his players to avoid the fans and instructed them to contain Maradona while giving the ball to Dejan Lu.
• Dejan Lu drew a Johan Cruyff single-match experience card while preparing for the match.

Sampdoria and Napoli began their highly anticipated match at San Paolo Stadium, with both managers setting up to contain the opposing star. Dejan Lu repeatedly broke through Napoli’s defense with Cruyff Turns and Genoa Spins, but the chapter ended before his attack reached its conclusion.

• Maradona dazzled the crowd during warmups, while Dejan Lu dismissed the attention and the players prepared for the match.
• Boskov and Alberto Bigon exchanged greetings before Napoli and Sampdoria revealed lineups designed to target Dejan Lu and Maradona.
• Luigi Agnolin started the match, and Dejan Lu’s early run and cutback created a chance for Salzano that Francini blocked.
• Maradona evaded Pari and passed toward Careca, but Dejan Lu and Lanna stopped the attack before Sampdoria regained possession.
• Dejan Lu drove through Napoli’s midfield, evaded Alemao and other defenders, and combined with Mannini near the penalty area.
• Dejan Lu used two consecutive Genoa Spins to evade Ferrara and Napoli’s defense as Lanna watched in amazement.

Sampdoria and Napoli traded attacks as Dejan Lu and Diego Maradona became the targets of increasingly rough challenges. Dejan Lu finally scored with a quick turn and a shot that ricocheted off the post and crossbar over the line.

• Dejan Lu created an early chance for Vialli, but Giuliani saved the shot after Vialli failed to finish.
• Diego Maradona dribbled past Dejan Lu and several Sampdoria defenders before Pagliuca gathered his tight-angle shot.
• Dejan Lu beat four Napoli players in the penalty area, but his shot struck the post and went out.
• Carezo fouled Diego Maradona from behind, and Luigi Agnolin showed him a yellow card as players from both teams gathered.
• After Pagliuca quickly restarted play, Marco Lanna sent a long ball toward Dejan Lu, who spun past Baroni and shot into the Napoli goal off the post and crossbar.

Sampdoria and Napoli traded attacks in a tense match, with Dejan Lu scoring an acrobatic goal and Diego Maradona threatening the Sampdoria defense. After halftime, Lanna set up Dejan Lu for another goal, bringing his assist total to six.

• Dejan Lu scored an extraordinary goal from Lanna’s assist, prompting cheers from the away supporters and celebration in York.
• Diego Maradona dribbled past several Sampdoria defenders and forced Pagliuca to make a save before halftime.
• Boskov noticed blood on Dejan Lu’s socks and told him to get checked, while praising Lanna and Pari in the dressing room.
• After the restart, Napoli lost possession, and Lanna carried the ball forward as Sampdoria counterattacked.
• Lanna crossed from the byline, and Dejan Lu volleyed the ball into the goal to give Lanna his sixth assist.

Dejan Lu led Sampdoria to a 4:1 victory over Napoli at San Paolo Stadium, scoring twice as Diego Maradona managed to pull one goal back. After leaving the pitch, Dejan Lu met a young British fan who called him a hero.

• Maradona scored for Napoli after a quick exchange with Crippa, narrowing the score to 2:1.
• Dejan Lu beat Napoli's defenders and lobbed Giuliani from near the edge of the penalty area to make it 3:1.
• Dejan Lu dribbled past Napoli's defense and scored again, extending Sampdoria's lead to 4:1.
• Boskov substituted Dejan Lu, and Maradona watched him leave the pitch while resolving to change himself.
• After showering and changing, Dejan Lu left the stadium and met a British child who said he was Dejan Lu's hero.

After Sampdoria’s victory over Napoli, Dejan Lu befriended Prince Harry during their hotel stay and advised him on handling people around him. Harry’s mother publicly praised Dejan as a friend before the team left for the airport.

• Dejan Lu met Prince Harry at the hotel and reassured him about sending away his bodyguard and his worries about his mother.
• Harry told Dejan Lu about his former bodyguard Mr. Barry’s death and his parents’ troubled relationship, while Dejan advised him to smile and speak carefully around people he disliked.
• Vialli and Roberto Mancini joined Dejan Lu and Harry for breakfast, where Harry introduced himself as Dejan’s friend.
• Boskov led Sampdoria to the airport, and Dejan Lu waved goodbye to Harry as he boarded the team’s coach.
• Harry’s mother faced reporters in the hotel lobby and praised Dejan Lu, saying he was their friend.

Aboard the plane, Dejan Lu gained Staff Mastery and Charming Smile after the system described how his influence shaped Harry’s rise to become King Henry IX. Sampdoria returned to a hero’s welcome as the victory over Maradona sparked worldwide debate and left fans dreaming of a title.

• Dejan Lu received Staff Mastery after his team’s victory and the East German crowd cheered for them.
• The system recounted how Dejan Lu’s influence helped Harry grow into a popular, disciplined figure who eventually became King Henry IX in 2027, then awarded Dejan Charming Smile.
• Newspapers and football legends across Europe and beyond argued over Sampdoria’s victory, Dejan Lu’s performance, and what the match meant for football.
• Sampdoria arrived home to an overwhelming airport welcome, where fans hailed Dejan Lu as a Genoa hero and anticipated the season’s title race.
• Several conspicuous visitors with British accents waved checkbooks among the local fans.

Dejan Lu calmed Sampdoria’s frenzied fans after the team returned from its win and was rested ahead of the Bologna match and the Inter Milan fixtures. As his fame brought a flood of endorsement offers, Roberto Mancini grew disheartened by the attention Dejan received while his own role went unmentioned.

• Boskov sent Dejan Lu to calm the fans at the airport, and Dejan’s speech persuaded them to clear a path for the team.
• Boskov told Dejan Lu he would miss the Bologna match so he could recover for the Italian Super Cup and the upcoming match against Inter Milan.
• Monica told Dejan Lu that reporters and classmates had been pestering her since his win, and Dejan asked her to help review new endorsement contracts.
• Paolo Mantovani warned Dejan Lu not to accept offers too quickly as companies competed to sign him, and Dejan later signed deals with brands including Walkers and Ferrero.
• Sampdoria gained sponsors for its training kits and an airline deal, while Roberto Mancini became dispirited after newspapers praised Dejan Lu and omitted him from coverage.

Dejan Lu watched Sampdoria struggle against Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup before deciding to enter late, despite Boskov’s concerns about Matthäus’s rough play. With Sampdoria trailing 2–0 in the eighty-sixth minute, Dejan Lu insisted the match was not over.

• Prince Charles praised Dejan Lu and Sampdoria in an interview, while Dejan Lu decided Suzuki should pay him more when he renegotiated his contract.
• At breakfast, Dejan Lu discussed buying a house with Mancini and Federica, then read Matthäus’s boastful remarks about Inter Milan and their title chances.
• Dejan Lu received a pager message from Diego promising to defeat him, then called back but found Diego’s phone switched off.
• As Sampdoria fell behind Inter Milan in the Italian Super Cup, Dejan Lu drew a single-match experience card for Stefan Effenberg and waited on the bench while Boskov held him back.
• After Matthäus headed Inter Milan’s second goal in the eighty-sixth minute, Dejan Lu entered the match without first getting Boskov’s approval and told Mancini that Sampdoria could still win.

Dejan Lu came on late and transformed the final, setting up Sampdoria's first goal before scoring a long-range equalizer himself. Inter Milan were left scrambling to survive the remaining minutes and force extra time.

• Boskov sent Dejan Lu on, and Lanna passed him a free kick near Sampdoria's own box.
• Dejan Lu launched a long pass that Vialli squared for Roberto Mancini to score, making it 2:1 eight seconds after Dejan Lu entered.
• Boskov called Enrico Chiesa to warm up as Inter Milan restarted play and Sampdoria pressed for possession.
• Dejan Lu carried the ball past halfway and struck a shot from distance that beat Zenga and leveled the final.
• Trapattoni ordered Inter Milan to hold on and drag the match into extra time.

Sampdoria completed a dramatic comeback against Inter Milan, winning 4–2 after Dejan Lu created the final two goals in stoppage time. The chapter ended with Paolo Maldini watching the victory and worrying about AC Milan’s upcoming match against Sampdoria.

• Dejan Lu dropped back to defend, then launched a counterattack that let Vialli assist Roberto Mancini for Sampdoria’s 3–2 lead.
• Baresi urged Inter Milan to keep fighting, and Lothar Matthäus drove forward as Inter chased an equalizer.
• Zenga fouled Roberto Mancini during a counterattack and was sent off, forcing Inter Milan to bring on Astutillo Malagò for Lothar Matthäus.
• Dejan Lu curled the resulting free kick into the net, completing Roberto Mancini’s hat trick and securing Sampdoria’s 4–2 victory.
• Paolo Maldini watched Sampdoria celebrate and worried that AC Milan would not be able to defend Milan’s honor in their upcoming match.

After Sampdoria won the Italian Super Cup by scoring four goals in eight minutes, the team celebrated its victory and Dejan Lu answered questions at the press conference. He praised his teammates and defended Mancini, while Trapattoni suggested Inter Milan might have won if they had signed Dejan.

• Sampdoria celebrated its Italian Super Cup victory as Mancini lifted the trophy and the squad posed with Boskov, Mantovani, and Dejan Lu.
• Dejan Lu went to the press conference after Pezzotti told him reporters wanted to speak with him.
• Trapattoni took responsibility for Inter Milan's defeat and said signing Dejan might have changed the result, prompting questions about Inter's German players.
• Boskov ruled out winter signings, and Dejan credited Sampdoria's collective effort for the comeback.
• Dejan praised the royal family’s support for Sampdoria and spoke about the Princess’s charitable work.
• Dejan described Mancini as a refined, compassionate gentleman and said the nickname Mancio suited him despite his earlier red card.

Dejan Lu and Sampdoria shared a Milan shopping trip, then returned to training as Roberto Mancini celebrated his hat-trick with an awkward James Bond act. After Samp drew 1–1 away to Lecce, Antonio Conte approached Dejan Lu as a devoted fan and asked to exchange shirts.

• Dejan Lu admitted to Roberto Mancini that he had deliberately knocked on the wall, then joined him and Monica for a shopping trip in Milan.
• Roberto Mancini appeared in the locker room dressed as James Bond and teased Marco Lanna, until Dejan Lu sent everyone out to train.
• Dejan Lu was rested against Lecce, where Antonio Conte scored before Salzano equalized for a 1–1 draw.
• Antonio Conte ignored Roberto Mancini after the match, told Dejan Lu he admired his motorcycle riding, and asked to exchange shirts with a personal inscription.

Dejan Lu and Roberto Mancini took their Genoa teammates to Milan to buy motorcycles after the squad caught the riding trend. The team enjoyed choosing their bikes, while Dejan Lu realized his influence could make him more valuable to motorcycle brands.

• Monica told Dejan Lu that major brands had begun inviting her to model, and he praised her beauty over breakfast.
• Roberto Mancini arrived and invited Dejan Lu to join him and several teammates on a trip to Milan to buy motorcycles.
• Dejan Lu teased Roberto Mancini about bringing a parent, and Monica encouraged the men to go have fun.
• Roberto Mancini explained that Conte had likely sparked the team's interest, while Dejan Lu considered how his popularity could improve his endorsement fees.
• The Genoa players arrived in Milan and enthusiastically tried motorcycles, and Dejan Lu told Roberto Mancini to enjoy the process of choosing one.

Sampdoria prepared to face AC Milan as both teams fielded their strongest lineups. Dejan Lu drew a single-match experience card for peak Kaká before the match began.

• Photos of Sampdoria's players riding motorcycles appeared in British newspapers and prompted motorcycle manufacturers to promote their brands.
• Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, and Van Basten discussed how difficult Dejan Lu would be to defend against, while Rijkaard dismissed the threat.
• At Luigi Ferraris Stadium, Boskov instructed Sampdoria to watch AC Milan's Dutch players closely and insisted the team pass to Dejan Lu.
• Dejan Lu drew an experience card for Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite's 2006–2007 Champions League semifinal performance against Manchester United.
• Sampdoria and AC Milan announced their strongest starting lineups before entering the tunnel, where Maldini introduced himself to Dejan Lu and praised his style.

Dejan Lu led Sampdoria against Milan, probing their formidable defense with clever passes and movement. Sampdoria created several chances, but Milan repeatedly shut them down, and the match remained unresolved.

• Roberto Mancini gave Dejan Lu the captain's armband before Sampdoria took the field against Milan.
• Dejan Lu won the coin toss and chose which side Sampdoria would defend before the match began.
• Dejan Lu launched a counterattack that ended with Vialli's shot blocked by Baresi and cleared by Maldini.
• Milan countered after a corner, and Tassotti struck a powerful shot that bounced back into the penalty area.
• Dejan Lu switched positions and passes to pull Milan's defense toward the right flank, but Costacurta and Ancelotti stopped Sampdoria's attack with a foul.

AC Milan took the lead against Sampdoria, but Dejan Lu stayed patient and exploited a counterattack to equalize with a long-range shot from beyond the halfway line. The match was level as Sacchi’s defense was stunned by Dejan’s unexpected strike.

• Dejan Lu told Attilio Lombardo to attack Milan’s right side and tire Costacurta and Tassotti before he moved forward.
• Van Basten finished Milan’s coordinated attack with an overhead kick to put his team ahead.
• Paolo Maldini stopped Dejan Lu’s counterattack, and Pagliuca saved Van Basten’s shot after the striker beat Sampdoria’s offside trap.
• Dejan Lu and Marco Lanna pressured Rijkaard into losing the ball, and Pari sent a through pass to Dejan Lu.
• Dejan Lu evaded Tassotti’s sliding tackle and fired from more than forty meters, beating Andrea Pazzali and equalizing.

Dejan Lu helped Sampdoria hold off AC Milan before scoring a decisive counterattacking goal in the rain. The chapter ended with Ferraris Stadium celebrating him as Captain Dejan.

• Cruyff noted Dejan Lu’s expanded shooting range as AC Milan’s defenders struggled to contain Sampdoria’s threats.
• AC Milan played cautiously after Dejan Lu’s long-range goal, and neither side scored before halftime.
• Dejan Lu told Chiesa he had conserved his energy while waiting for AC Milan to tire, then joked with his teammates in the dressing room.
• After the restart, rain made the pitch slippery, and Roberto Mancini’s corner kick mishap gave AC Milan a chance to counterattack.
• Pagliuca stopped Van Basten’s attack and launched the ball forward, allowing Dejan Lu to race past Tassotti and evade Baresi and Rijkaard.
• Dejan Lu beat Andrea Pazzali with a shot into the net, and Ferraris Stadium hailed him as Captain Dejan.

Dejan Lu scored a spectacular late solo goal to seal Sampdoria’s 3–1 win over AC Milan, after first showing sportsmanship when Van Basten fell injured. After the match, Dossena learned that his son had called a demolition company about destroying his school, prompting the school to plan a home visit.

• Dejan Lu’s opening goal left Baresi and Milan’s defenders stunned, but Baresi urged his teammates to regroup and defend.
• Dejan Lu stopped an attack after noticing Van Basten had fallen, and Sacchi sent Diego Fuser on as Van Basten left the pitch.
• Boskov strengthened Sampdoria’s defense as AC Milan pressed for an equalizer, but Dejan Lu broke away from a corner and scored after an eighty-meter run to make it 3–1.
• After the final whistle, Dejan Lu exchanged banter with Paolo Maldini and his Sampdoria teammates.
• Dossena borrowed Roberto Mancini’s phone and learned that his son had called a demolition company about destroying his school, leading the school to arrange a home visit.

Dejan Lu and his teammates gathered at Dossena’s home to meet Virgil’s teacher and principal, then spent the afternoon joking and talking over a barbecue. The gathering ended when Marco Lanna arrived in tears after his girlfriend broke up with him.

• Dossena hosted Dejan Lu, Mancini, Vialli, and Lombardo, hoping they would help encourage Virgil to take school seriously.
• Silvia Ricci and Principal Conte visited and discussed Virgil’s poor attention in class and his talent for drawing comics.
• Principal Conte praised Dejan Lu and declared his confidence that Sampdoria would win the Cup Winners’ Cup before drinking too much and leaving with Silvia Ricci.
• Dejan Lu reassured Lombardo that the team accepted him as he was, and Lombardo thanked him.
• Marco Lanna arrived on his motorcycle and announced through tears that his girlfriend had broken up with him.

After Marco Lanna cried over his breakup, Dejan Lu and the Sampdoria players watched a terrible motorcycle movie and slipped away to avoid comforting him. At home, Dejan watched AC Milan players discuss the match, where Van Basten praised Dejan as the better player.

• Marco Lanna cried as he told the players that his girlfriend had broken up with him after accusing him of slacking while helping her move.
• Dejan Lu and the others left Lanna with Lombardo, then watched Street Fury at Dossena's house and discussed motorcycle manufacturers seeking Sampdoria players as spokesmen.
• Dejan Lu and his teammates sneaked out the back to avoid Marco Lanna, then Dejan returned home and waited for Monica.
• Dejan Lu watched interviews in which Paolo Maldini recalled challenging him to go out after a loss, Baresi praised his dribbling, and Van Basten said Dejan had played better.

Boskov gave Dejan Lu injury leave before Christmas, but Kumatani Gensuke kept him busy drawing at home while he waited for the holiday. After Sampdoria secured their break with a 4–1 win over Cesena, Dejan Lu went shopping with Mancini and found a building engulfed in flames.

• Boskov sent Dejan Lu for a medical examination and then granted him injury leave until after the break, despite Mancini’s objections.
• Dejan Lu returned home, where Kumatani Gensuke arrived to have him draw; Monica later suggested they buy their own place to avoid disturbing the neighbors.
• Sampdoria beat Cesena 4–1 away on December 16 and secured their Christmas break.
• Dejan Lu complained about having to ride in the cold as he and Mancini went shopping by motorcycle.
• On their way back from the store, Dejan Lu and Mancini saw a roadside building erupt in a raging fire.

Dejan Lu used his motorcycle to rescue an unconscious mother and child trapped in a burning building, leaping between rooftops with them strapped to his bike. He escaped the fire and raced toward the hospital, leaving the stunned onlookers and reporters behind.

• Dejan Lu and Roberto Mancini arrived at a large fire, and Dejan learned that residents might still be trapped inside.
• After spotting signs that someone remained in the burning apartment building, Dejan ordered Mancini and two bystanders to bring his motorcycle to a nearby rooftop.
• Dejan knocked Mancini aside, used wooden planks as a ramp, and leapt his motorcycle into the burning building.
• Dejan found an unconscious mother and child, strapped them to himself, and rode them onto the roof before leaping to another building.
• Dejan rode off an awning to reach the street safely, then sped toward the hospital with the mother and child.