Recaps

After Dejan Lu rescued a mother and son from a fire, he returned home to comfort Monica and joined Roberto Mancini, Federica, and Monica for dinner as news of his heroism spread. By dawn, European newspapers and officials had praised him, the Pope had invited him to the Vatican, and a mysterious late-night caller had worried about him.

• Dejan Lu helped the injured family’s father and slipped out of the hospital disguised in borrowed clothes.
• Dejan Lu returned home, where Monica tearfully embraced him, and Roberto Mancini and Federica joined them for dinner.
• The Pope praised Dejan Lu’s courage on television and said the Vatican would invite him and Sampdoria to visit.
• Roberto Mancini’s embellished account of Dejan Lu’s rescue aired on television, while Monica worried that reporters would harass her at school.
• Dejan Lu received a tearful late-night call from an unnamed woman, and Monica reacted jealously as the caller fell asleep on the line.
• European newspapers celebrated Dejan Lu’s rescue, Barcelona and Real Madrid were linked with him, and Mayor Merlo said Dejan would receive a medal and might be called Saint Dejan.

Dejan Lu and Monica traveled to Rome, where they spent an evening with young Totti before visiting Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti at Palazzo Chigi. Andreotti discussed Dejan’s reported mafia connections, then invited them to meet the waiting reporters.

• Monica took Dejan Lu to Rome, where Totti showed them around Campo dei Fiori and Dejan asked him to play for Samp, but Totti refused to leave Rome and upset his father.
• Dejan Lu told Totti that he had learned from teammates, describing Giuseppe Pari’s cautious choices when passing from the backfield.
• Monica and Dejan Lu went to Palazzo Chigi, where Giulio Andreotti welcomed them and explained the symbolic importance of taking photographs at the residence.
• Andreotti discussed Dejan Lu’s reported ties to the Calabria mafia, and Dejan said the British press had already scrutinized his uncle’s olive-oil earnings.
• Andreotti invited Dejan Lu and Monica to meet the reporters waiting in the courtyard.

Dejan Lu received two major Italian honors for saving a family and answered questions about his actions, motorcycle safety, and the Genoa mayor. After returning home with Monica, he reflected on politics and football, while Bernard Tapie faced a debate over Adidas's plans for Dejan Lu.

• Andreotti awarded Dejan Lu the Star of Italian Merit and the Grand Cross with Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
• Dejan Lu told reporters he would remain with Sampdoria, praised Ferguson, urged young people to ride motorcycles safely, and challenged Merlo to address Genoa's safety failures.
• Dejan Lu and Monica left Rome, returned to Genoa, and declined Roberto Mancini's invitation to spend Christmas with his family.
• Dejan Lu wondered whether Italy's honors also reflected China's influence and concluded that football and players could not escape politics.
• Bernard Tapie joined Adidas executives debating whether to recruit Dejan Lu with a buyout offer and company shares.

Dejan Lu spent Christmas with Monica, then returned to training as Sampdoria prepared for the end of 1989. After Sampdoria drew with Cremonese, Boskov canceled the team’s holiday and assigned Chiesa to clean the first team’s boots.

• Vialli delivered teammates’ Christmas gifts to Dejan Lu and talked with him about marriage and staying out of the spotlight.
• Vincenzo Mantovani delivered gifts from his grandfather, and Dejan Lu sent black tea back for Paolo.
• Dejan Lu and Monica celebrated Christmas together, and Sampdoria’s players returned to Genoa after the holiday.
• Sampdoria drew with Cremonese on December 29 without Dejan Lu in the squad, and Boskov canceled the team’s holiday.
• Chiesa complained about extra training and listed his wishes, so Boskov assigned him to clean the first team’s boots for a month as snow began to fall.

Sampdoria beat Lazio 2–0 after Roberto Mancini scored twice while Dejan Lu warmed up but never entered the match. Afterward, Marco Materazzi asked Dejan Lu to let him join Sampdoria and play alongside him.

• Dejan Lu watched Sampdoria face Lazio and noticed Giuseppe Materazzi on the opposing side’s bench.
• Boskov told Dejan Lu to warm up, but Mancini scored before Dejan Lu could enter the match.
• Mancini scored again from Vialli’s cross, and Sampdoria won 2–0 without using Dejan Lu.
• Boskov told reporters Dejan Lu had a muscle strain and praised Mancini’s performance.
• Mancini teased Dejan Lu after the match, then Dejan Lu gave his shirt to a fan and guided Mancini toward the tunnel.
• Marco Materazzi approached Dejan Lu and said he wanted to join Sampdoria to play with him.

Sampdoria signed Marco Materazzi after Dejan Lu helped him reconcile with his father, while Lothar Matthäus’s remarks fueled anticipation for another clash with Inter Milan. Dejan Lu then led Sampdoria to an early lead at San Siro and scored a powerful free kick, leaving the match underway with Inter Milan already trailing 2–0.

• At lunch, Dejan Lu encouraged Matracci to join Sampdoria, then persuaded Old Matracci to approve his transfer and give his son advice.
• Lothar Matthäus’s comments about Sampdoria stirred controversy, and Dejan Lu played only briefly in Sampdoria’s wins over Bari and Ascoli before Marco Materazzi joined the youth team for ten thousand dollars.
• Before Sampdoria’s match at San Siro, Dejan Lu drew an experience card for Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo and switched flanks to disrupt Inter Milan’s defensive plan.
• Dejan Lu beat several defenders in Sampdoria’s first attack, and Vialli scored after Roberto Mancini’s shot was blocked.
• Dejan Lu repeatedly troubled Inter Milan’s defenders, nearly scored directly from a corner, and then beat Zenga with a long-range free kick to make it 2–0.

Sampdoria overwhelmed Inter Milan 5-2, with Dejan Lu starring before being substituted. At training the next day, Marco Lanna revealed that his former girlfriend and a man claiming to be her cousin were demanding money, and Dejan Lu and the team prepared to confront them.

• Boskov's Sampdoria dominated Inter Milan, and Dejan Lu scored to make it 3-0 before Roberto Mancini added another goal from his cross.
• Matthäus was injured, and Boskov substituted Dejan Lu and sent Chiesa on as Sampdoria went on to win 5-2.
• Roberto Mancini complained that noise from Dejan Lu's apartment kept him awake and said he and Federica planned to move.
• At training, Marco Lanna told Dejan Lu that his former girlfriend and a supposed cousin were demanding eighty thousand dollars from him.
• Lanna refused to pay, and Dejan Lu joined Roberto Mancini and the Sampdoria players as they headed to confront the people threatening him.

Dejan Lu led Sampdoria’s first team to confront the men blackmailing Marco Lanna and secured a promise that they would leave the club alone. Afterward, a system notification showed a fanciful future in which Lanna became a successful author and bought Sampdoria, and Dejan gained a new combat skill.

• Pezzotti told Boskov that Sampdoria’s first team had gone with Lanna to settle a score, and Boskov gathered club staff and weapons to follow them.
• Lanna led the players to a seaside bar, where Dejan Lu and the team confronted the bartender and waited for Mahdiyeh to arrive.
• Dejan Lu gave Mahdiyeh a check and warned him to keep his people away from Sampdoria and its associates, and Mahdiyeh promised to do so.
• Dejan Lu drank too much vodka, returned home, and woke later to find Monica asleep beside him.
• Dejan Lu read a system notification describing Lanna’s imagined future as an influential author and Sampdoria owner, and he acquired the Fist of the Tough Guy skill.

Dejan Lu reassured Mantovani that he would stay at Sampdoria, then joined the team for its Cup Winners' Cup semifinal against Monaco. After Monaco survived his blistering counterattack with help from the post, Dejan scored with a spectacular strike while facing away from goal, giving Sampdoria the lead.

• Dejan Lu spent the day off with Roberto Mancini and Sampdoria's teammates at Dossena's house, where Virgil asked him for advice about a girl and ideas for a comic.
• Newspaper reports spread the story of Sampdoria confronting extortionists, and Careca thanked Dejan Lu for drawing attention to mafia harassment of players.
• After recovering from a training injury, Dejan Lu told Mantovani he had no interest in joining Real Madrid and promised to stay at Sampdoria.
• Sampdoria traveled to Monaco for the Cup Winners' Cup semifinal, where Dejan Lu narrowly missed scoring on a fast counterattack when his chip hit the post.
• Dejan Lu controlled Invernizzi's pass with his back to goal and scored with a powerful shot that dipped under the crossbar.

Dejan Lu dominated the first half against Monaco, scoring a hat trick as Sampdoria built a 3–0 lead before Weah pulled one goal back. Monaco found more attacking rhythm late in the half, but Dejan Lu remained a constant threat as the teams went into halftime with Sampdoria ahead 3–1.

• Wenger and Weah admired Dejan Lu’s abilities, and Weah asked Diaz to pass him the ball more often.
• Dejan Lu outran Monaco’s defenders on a counterattack, but Etori collected his delivery into the box.
• Dejan Lu dribbled past Petit and Sonor before scoring into the far corner, then completed his hat trick with a backheel past Etori.
• Monaco’s players argued after Dejan Lu’s third goal, while Boskov protested to the fourth official.
• Weah scored for Monaco after Toure sent Diab into the box, making the score 3–1.
• Dejan Lu beat Valeri to a long pass and nearly scored again, while Petit realized Dejan had distracted him with talk about joining Sampdoria.

Sampdoria beat Monaco 4–2 in the first leg after Dejan Lu scored a spectacular goal, and Arsène Wenger praised him while Boskov guarded against a possible attempt to poach him. Back in Genoa, a sleepless Roberto Mancini struggled through the aftermath of Dejan Lu’s noisy hotel night, then joked with him at home.

• Boskov prepared Chiesa to replace Dejan Lu in the second half, but Dejan Lu scored a stunning goal from Dossena’s long pass just before halftime.
• Verchowod accidentally scored an own goal in the second half, and Sampdoria won 4–2; Wenger praised Dejan Lu at the press conference, making Boskov wary.
• Mannini teased Verchowod about the own goal on the bus, while Pagliuca offered to help at Dejan Lu’s planned hamburger shop opening.
• Dejan Lu had a visitor in his hotel room, and the noise kept Roberto Mancini awake through the night.
• After returning to Genoa, Dejan Lu helped Mancini out of the bathroom when Mancini fell asleep on the toilet and suffered a cramp.
• Dejan Lu stayed home to draw, and he teased Mancini after Federica mentioned that more foreigners and tourists had come to Genoa because of him.

Dejan Lu appeared on television, returned to Genoa, and helped Sampdoria win its first Serie A title after Vialli scored late against Cesena. He celebrated with his teammates and later visited Boskov’s home with Monica, where Boskov welcomed them with food, rakija, and a Soviet song.

• Dejan Lu met Nicole Kidman at a Rome hotel before going to the television station, where he discussed Sampdoria, Roberto Mancini, his rescue, and Koreans’ claims about Christmas.
• Dejan Lu returned to Genoa as Sampdoria beat Lecce 1-0, and he discussed buying a house with Roberto Mancini before accepting Boskov’s invitation to visit his home.
• Sampdoria fans filled Genoa for the match against Cesena, and Boskov brought Vialli on late while Dejan Lu remained on the bench.
• Vialli scored the decisive goal, and Sampdoria secured its first Serie A title as Dejan Lu celebrated with his teammates and the fans.
• Dejan Lu and Monica visited Boskov’s family, met his grandson Ivan, and shared dinner and rakija with Boskov before he began singing a Soviet song.

Dejan Lu’s friendship with Boskov earned him a powerful boxing skill in a vision of Boskov’s future, while Sampdoria finished its league season and prepared for the Cup Winners’ Cup final. At Virgil Dossena’s birthday gathering, Dejan Lu learned about Virgil’s dream watch and arranged to give him one as a fake contest prize.

• Dejan Lu helped the drunken Boskov home, and the system showed him a future in which Boskov became a legendary boxer and earned Dejan Lu the Yugoslav Fist skill.
• Sampdoria drew 0-0 with Milan and then beat Cremona 3-0, ending the league season and turning its attention to the Cup Winners’ Cup final against Anderlecht.
• Dejan Lu and his teammates attended Virgil Dossena’s birthday party, where Dossena gave Virgil a hunting rifle instead of the watch he wanted.
• Virgil told Dejan Lu about a Casio watch giveaway, and Dejan Lu later asked Kumatani Gensuke to buy the watch and deliver it as Virgil’s prize.

Sampdoria traveled to Gothenburg for the Cup Winners’ Cup final against Anderlecht as Dejan Lu dealt with media attention, encouraged his teammates, and drew a Cristiano Ronaldo experience card before kickoff. The match began with Anderlecht probing Sampdoria’s defense, while Dejan Lu beat his marker and delivered a rabona cross that was eventually cleared.

• Dejan Lu and Sampdoria’s families flew to Gothenburg, where he spent time with Cristiano Ronaldo and reassured Verchowod about the final.
• At the press conference, Dejan Lu rejected rumors of a move to Real Madrid and argued with a Spanish reporter over his refusal to join the club.
• Before kickoff, Dejan Lu drew a Cristiano Ronaldo single-match experience card and showed off his skills during warmups.
• Sampdoria and Anderlecht announced their starting lineups, and the referee started the Cup Winners’ Cup final at 7:15 p.m.
• Anderlecht built an early attack, but Pari tackled Jankovic and Dejan Lu escaped Gudjohnsen’s marking to join Sampdoria’s move down the right.
• Dejan Lu beat William Cruyff with a stepover and a sudden stop, then sent a rabona cross into the penalty area before Anderlecht cleared the ball.

Dejan Lu led Sampdoria’s attack in the Cup Winners’ Cup final, scoring repeatedly as Anderlecht struggled to contain him. After Sampdoria built a commanding lead, Dejan celebrated another goal in front of the opposing fans.

• Dejan Lu broke through Anderlecht’s defense on an 80-meter counterattack and scored the opening goal.
• Dejan Lu set up Roberto Mancini for Sampdoria’s second goal after controlling Carboni’s long pass and flicking it into space.
• Boskov punched Musonda and Kosi after they tackled Dejan Lu, earning a red card and leaving Pezzotti in charge.
• Dejan Lu scored a falling-leaf free kick to give Sampdoria a three-goal lead.
• Dejan Lu repeatedly dribbled past Anderlecht defenders, hit the crossbar, and then scored with a long-range left-footed shot before celebrating with “Siuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!”

Sampdoria routed Anderlecht 7–0 to win the 1989–1990 European Cup Winners' Cup, with Dejan Lu scoring four goals and assisting three more. After celebrating the treble, Dejan defended Boskov at the press conference as the coach faced questions about striking an Anderlecht player.

• At halftime, Boskov praised Sampdoria's first-half performance and urged the players to stay cautious against Anderlecht.
• Pagliuca launched a quick throw to Dejan Lu, who set up Roberto Mancini's header for Sampdoria's fifth goal; Pezzotti then substituted Salzano for Chiesa.
• Chiesa scored from Dejan Lu's cross to make it 6–0, and Dejan later scored from long range before Invernizzi replaced him at 7–0.
• Sampdoria celebrated winning the Cup Winners' Cup and completing a treble, while Dejan received his medal and underwent a drug test.
• At the press conference, Boskov accepted responsibility for striking an Anderlecht player and said he would not appeal a suspension; Dejan praised Boskov and said he wanted to build success with Sampdoria rather than join a bigger club.

After Sampdoria celebrated its treble with a huge Genoa parade, Dejan Lu promoted Monica's Hamburgers by telling fans he had hidden treasure there. The story left the players joking that the lucky customers would find Roberto Mancini's IOU in their burger boxes.

• After the team landed in Genoa, Dejan Lu calmed the excited crowd and sent the players toward their buses, while Monica made Roberto Mancini pay for a box of chicken wings.
• Dejan Lu read a system notification warning that Ferguson was dissatisfied with his public appearances and telling him to help Monica start a business; Roberto Mancini then told him the title parade had been arranged for Sunday.
• Dejan Lu read that Azeglio Vicini planned to call up Roberto Mancini, and the television showed players and managers praising Sampdoria after its Cup Winners' Cup victory.
• On May 13, Dejan Lu and Roberto Mancini joined Sampdoria's bus parade through Genoa as fans cheered the treble winners.
• At Piazza Ferrari, Dejan Lu directed fans to Monica's Hamburgers by claiming his treasure was hidden there, then revealed that the supposed prize was Roberto Mancini's IOU.

Dejan Lu’s hamburger shop opened to enormous crowds, and he used the launch to promote his business while Sampdoria players helped serve customers. As the season ended and the transfer window approached, he backed Fernando Redondo as a signing and discussed singers for the Pokémon anime, ending by asking Kumatani Gensuke about Sachiko Kamachi.

• Dejan Lu’s shop drew fans from across Italy with its promotions, while Roberto Mancini and other Sampdoria players worked as guest staff and Mancini discovered he had become the shop’s clown mascot.
• Dejan Lu told RAI reporter Luisa Beccaria about his plans for quality, expansion, and advertising, then predicted Italian teams would win the European finals.
• Juventus beat Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup final, AC Milan won the European Cup, and Roberto Mancini, Vialli, Verchowod, and Pagliuca made Italy’s World Cup squad while Pari and Dossena missed out.
• Dejan Lu encouraged Dossena after his omission, teased Virgil at the shop, and told coach Boskov to pursue Fernando Redondo as a future midfield replacement.
• Dejan Lu discussed Pokémon anime singers with Kumatani Gensuke and asked whether he knew Sachiko Kamachi.

Dejan Lu traveled to Rome, met Beckenbauer and the Italian national team, and beat Baggio in a free-kick contest while encouraging the young Totti. At the opening ceremony of Italia '90, Dejan Lu rode his motorcycle into San Siro and rescued a loose ball with a deft display before sending it toward the World Cup trophy.

• Dejan Lu told Chernov to keep Marco Lanna from spending all his time frying chicken at the hamburger shop.
• Andreotti invited Dejan Lu to Rome, where he met Beckenbauer and turned down an offer to play for Bayern Munich.
• Dejan Lu visited the Italian national team camp with Totti and won a free-kick contest against Baggio.
• Dejan Lu practiced free kicks and dribbling with Totti, while Vicini promised to select Totti if he scored three free kicks in front of him during a future visit.
• At the Italia '90 opening ceremony, Dejan Lu rode his motorcycle into San Siro, recovered a ball jolted loose by the landing, and sent it toward the World Cup trophy display.

Dejan Lu watched Argentina lose to Cameroon, enjoyed an encounter with Natasha Kinski, and then traveled to Japan to receive manga awards for Pokémon. After returning to Milan exhausted, he found Monica performing a magic trick that revealed Harry's mother at the door.

• Nizola welcomed Dejan Lu back to San Siro, where Dejan met director Coppola and watched Cameroon defeat Argentina.
• Dejan Lu and Natasha Kinski slipped away from the box, and he later returned home to find Monica waiting for him.
• Dejan Lu drove a taxi around Milan before Kumatani Gensuke persuaded him to travel to Tokyo for manga award ceremonies.
• Dejan Lu accepted the Shogakukan Manga Award for Pokémon and praised Fujiko F. Fujio in his speech.
• Dejan Lu returned to Milan and fell asleep, but Monica woke him with a trick that revealed Harry's mother at the door.

Dejan Lu signed a record contract with Sampdoria, helped Italian officials capture the fugitive Lonnie Biggs, and advised Vichini to prepare Pagliuca for a penalty shootout against Argentina. Italy followed that advice to reach the World Cup final, while Dejan also learned of Redondo’s arrival at Sampdoria.

• Dejan Lu accepted a two-million-dollar contract from Mantovani without requesting extra clauses.
• Dejan Lu drove Vichini to Milanello, recommended Pagliuca for a possible shootout, and warned that Italy’s attack might struggle against Argentina.
• Dejan Lu recognized Lonnie Biggs from the passports in a lost handbag, called Giulio Andreotti, and subdued Biggs when he came to retrieve it.
• Dejan Lu received a new passing skill and a mysterious luck notebook, then learned that Redondo had arrived and agreed to meet him.
• Vichini benched Baggio and used Pagliuca in the shootout; Pagliuca saved penalties as Italy eliminated Argentina and advanced to the final.

Dejan Lu welcomed Fernando Redondo to Sampdoria and watched Italy win the World Cup, with Roberto Mancini and other players crediting Dejan for helping the team. As the transfer market shook up Serie A and Roberto Baggio was sold to Juventus against his wishes, Dejan discovered that Roberto Mancini had begun turning their friendship into an ever more grandiose legend for future generations.

• Dejan Lu met Redondo, welcomed him to Sampdoria, and accompanied him to buy a motorcycle in Milan.
• Dejan Lu watched Italy defeat Germany 1–0 in the World Cup final after Paolo Maldini scored in the 119th minute, and Roberto Mancini and Pagliuca publicly credited Dejan with helping the team.
• Dejan Lu celebrated Italy's title with the players, then advised Reggina to strengthen sensibly as a newly promoted club.
• Juventus bought Roberto Baggio from Fiorentina for a world-record fee without consulting him, provoking angry protests from Fiorentina fans and leaving Baggio stunned.
• Roberto Mancini defended Baggio's character, while Dejan Lu's system recounted how Mancini's version of their friendship grew into an elaborate tale passed down through Dejan's family.

Lanna lost his job at a fried chicken shop, then joined Sampdoria for their season opener and Champions Cup campaign. After Dejan Lu defended Baggio publicly and Sampdoria drew Red Star Belgrade, Dejan scored the opening goal in their first-leg match.

• Chernov fired Lanna after he insulted a customer, and Lanna went to an empty beach to practice long passes.
• Sampdoria beat Fiorentina 3–0, and Dejan Lu told reporters that Fiorentina had forced Baggio to transfer to Juventus.
• The Champions Cup draw paired Sampdoria with Red Star Belgrade, and the team prepared for the first leg in Genoa.
• Lanna's long pass helped Dejan Lu create an early threat, and Dejan scored after dribbling past Red Star defenders.
• A woman called out to Lanna after the goal, and he reflexively replied that he was Marco.

Sampdoria struggled against Red Star Belgrade’s patient passing, and Prosinečki equalized with a free kick just before halftime. After Red Star pressed early in the second half, Dejan Lu juggled the ball forward and scored an astonishing long-range chip, leaving Sampdoria ahead again.

• Dejan Lu opened the scoring early, but Red Star Belgrade controlled possession and repeatedly tested Sampdoria’s defense.
• Dejan Lu created several dangerous attacks, while Pagliuca and Sampdoria’s defenders stopped Red Star’s chances at the other end.
• Prosinečki scored from a free kick near the end of the first half to make it 1–1.
• Boskov told Sampdoria to defend more in the second half and bring on Fernando Redondo to pressure Red Star’s attackers.
• After Red Star threatened with an early corner, Dejan Lu juggled the ball forward, evaded Joković, and scored with a remarkable chip from the edge of the penalty area.
• Dejan Savićević praised Dejan Lu as the strongest Dejan.

Sampdoria defeated Red Star Belgrade 4:1, with Dejan Lu and substitute Fernando Redondo leading the attack. After the final whistle, Boskov and Lanna faced the press, and the next day’s headline unexpectedly claimed Dejan Lu was in a “cliff-like decline.”

• Redondo replaced Lombardo and strengthened Sampdoria’s defense and buildup, prompting Petrović to send Sabanadzovic on to help contain Dejan Lu.
• Redondo created several chances before scoring with a long-range shot after a combination involving Lanna and Dejan Lu.
• Dejan Lu scored again from Redondo’s late cutback, giving Sampdoria a 4:1 win over Red Star Belgrade.
• Romero wrote a fabricated report criticizing Dejan Lu, while Savićević exchanged shirts with him after the match.
• Boskov brought Lanna to the press conference, where Petrović credited Dejan Lu with deciding the match and Lanna faced questions about a fraud scheme targeting him.
• La Gazzetta dello Sport’s next-day front page claimed that Dejan Lu had begun a cliff-like decline.