Chapter Summaries

Milan fell behind 2-0 to Roma while Dejan Lu stayed on the bench, as Francesco Totti struggled with the home supporters’ abuse and Sacchi’s criticism. After Rossi was injured, Dejan came on and scored immediately, giving Milan a lifeline.

• Rome supporters booed Totti, and Roma took a 2-0 lead through Marco Lanna and Balbo.
• At halftime, Sacchi berated Milan’s players, and Dejan Lu pulled Totti back before he could confront the coach.
• Dejan Lu drew an Anthony Cassano single-match experience card while waiting for Sacchi to make a substitution.
• After Rossi was injured, Gianluigi Buffon replaced him and Dejan Lu came on for Davids.
• Paolo Maldini intercepted a pass and sent the ball forward, and Dejan Lu beat two defenders before scoring from the edge of the penalty area.

Dejan Lu came on for AC Milan against Roma and turned a 2:1 deficit into a 4:2 lead, scoring twice and setting up goals for Baggio and Totti. The chapter ended with Sacchi claiming his substitution plan had never relied too heavily on one player as stoppage time began.

• After Dejan Lu scored, Totti joined him in taunting Roma's furious fans, and play was suspended while order was restored.
• Dejan Lu pressed Lanna, then sent a precise pass to Totti, whose backheel found Baggio to equalize at 2:2.
• Totti lifted a pass over Roma's defense, and Dejan Lu beat Steschek to score AC Milan's 3:2 comeback goal.
• After Totti and Dejan Lu pressed Tommasi, Redondo lofted the ball forward, and Dejan Lu controlled it with his chest before scoring a long-range volley for 4:2.
• As stoppage time approached, Sacchi celebrated the likely victory and insisted that his tactics did not depend too heavily on any one player.

AC Milan defeated Roma after Dejan Lu scored his fourth goal from a spectacular Totti assist, and the match ended with Roma’s fans booing Totti. At the press conference, Bianchi clashed with reporters while Sacchi defended his tactics and denied that Milan relied too heavily on Dejan.

• Dejan Lu pressed Roma’s defenders, then scored his fourth goal after Totti flicked Redondo’s pass over the defense with a back-to-goal Scorpion Kick.
• Sacchi substituted Totti for Locatelli, and Totti celebrated with Dejan Lu and provoked the Roma fans as he left the pitch.
• Locatelli fouled Tommasi shortly after play resumed, and the referee ended the match; Marco Lanna exchanged jerseys with Dejan Lu.
• Dejan Lu reassured Buffon, who hoped Rossi would remain injured long enough for him to earn more playing time.
• Bianchi argued with reporters about Roma’s defeat and substitutions, then walked out of the press conference after they questioned his tactics and the injury to Rossi.
• Sacchi told reporters that using Dejan as a late attacking substitute was part of his tactical plan, not proof that Milan depended too heavily on one player.

Dejan Lu spent a relaxed day with Totti, Buffon, and the Maldini family before AC Milan prepared to face Diego Maradona’s Napoli. Milan took the field at San Siro, where Maradona immediately challenged Dejan and the opening exchange ended with Redondo dispossessing him.

• Dejan Lu refused Buffon’s invitation to go to the seaside, but agreed to join Totti and Buffon after Totti said Francesco expected him to come.
• Dejan Lu met Paolo Maldini and Adriana at Lake Como, then spent the picnic with their family while Totti and Buffon entertained the visiting students.
• Dejan Lu returned to training the next day, and Buffon told him that he and Frey had gone to a bar after Dejan left the picnic.
• Milan beat Gothenburg 3–1 away, then prepared to face Diego Maradona’s Napoli at San Siro; Dejan Lu drew a Scott McTominay single-match experience card and chose to use it on the wing.
• Diego Maradona carried the ball at Dejan Lu in the opening minutes, evaded Dejan’s sliding tackle, and tried to chip a pass forward before Verchowod headed it away.
• Redondo shielded the loose ball from Diego Maradona and knocked him down, prompting Bordin to shove Redondo before Maradona pulled Bordin away.

AC Milan took the lead against Napoli through Dejan Lu, Diego Maradona equalized with a brilliant free kick, and Dejan Lu restored Milan’s advantage with a direct free kick. The chapter left Maradona watching Dejan Lu’s latest goal with visible frustration.

• Baggio sent an indirect free kick into Napoli’s area, and Dejan Lu headed it toward goal before Taliaferro caught it.
• Maradona drove through Milan’s defense, but Baresi and Verchowod stopped Napoli’s attack before Totti launched a counterattack.
• Totti quickly restarted play after a foul, Savićević crossed from the right, and Dejan Lu scored with an airborne side volley.
• Maradona beat Dejan Lu down the flank, won a foul from Paolo Maldini, and scored a spectacular free kick to equalize for Napoli.
• Dejan Lu set up Totti and Baggio’s attack, won a foul near the byline, and scored directly from the resulting free kick to put Milan back ahead.

AC Milan faced Napoli, with Dejan Lu and Diego Maradona trading spectacular free kicks before Milan led 2–1 at halftime. Dejan Lu scored twice more after the break, leaving Milan 4–1 ahead and Maradona disappointed.

• Maradona scored a free kick that echoed Dejan Lu’s earlier goal, but Buffon saved Maradona’s next attempt just before halftime.
• Napoli made two substitutions after the break and began creating counterattacking chances against Milan.
• Baggio struck the crossbar with a free kick, and Dejan Lu scored from the rebound after Ayala headed the ball out of the box.
• Dejan Lu pounced on Altomare’s loose ball and blasted it into the net to extend Milan’s lead.
• Boban and Baggio advanced the ball before Dejan Lu scored again with a powerful long-range shot, making it his fourth goal of the match.

AC Milan beat Napoli 4–2 after Maradona scored a late goal, and Maradona announced that he would retire at the end of the season. Milan remained unbeaten and prepared to face Atalanta after Filippo Inzaghi publicly promoted himself as a potential signing.

• Maradona scored past Buffon in the final minutes, but the referee soon ended the match with AC Milan leading Napoli 4–2.
• At the press conference, Maradona announced that he would retire at the end of the season, while Dejan Lu praised him and defended Franco Baresi.
• The next day, Dejan Lu called Redondo, who said he was going to watch a fashion show.
• AC Milan crushed Gothenburg 9–1, with Dejan Lu scoring six goals, and remained unbeaten as November approached.
• Filippo Inzaghi said he could make good use of chances created by his teammates and suggested AC Milan needed a player like him.
• Before Milan's home match against Atalanta, Totti and Buffon urged Baggio to teach Inzaghi a lesson.

AC Milan traveled to Turin to face Juventus, with Dejan Lu drawing a Johan Miku experience card before the match. Dejan scored in the opening minutes after combining with Baggio, leaving Juventus and Lippi facing an early setback.

• France Football announced a Ballon d'Or shortlist of fifteen players, including Dejan Lu, while the press debated Piero and Zidane.
• Baresi worried about Juventus's recent signings and Van Basten's injury, while Dejan Lu dismissed Totti's confidence about becoming Milan's core.
• At the press conference, Lippi refused to rank Piero and Zidane, while Sacchi said Buffon would keep opportunities despite Rossi's recovery.
• Dejan Lu drew a Johan Miku Single-Match Experience Card, then prepared to face Juventus's Zinedine Zidane.
• Juventus started with Zinedine Zidane and Vieri in attack, while Milan fielded Buffon, Dejan Lu, Baggio, and Totti.
• After Buffon stopped Vieri's early chance, Dejan Lu combined with Baggio and chipped the ball over Peruzzi to put Milan ahead in the third minute.

AC Milan faced Juventus in a tense match, with Dejan Lu guiding the attack and Buffon stopping several dangerous chances. Totti scored a free kick to give Milan a two-goal lead, but Zidane answered with a goal, leaving the match unresolved.

• Juventus struggled to break through Milan’s defense in the first half, while Buffon denied Boksic and Totti learned from Zidane’s quicker passing.
• After the break, Buffon stopped Zidane’s through ball, and Totti raced forward before Borini fouled him just outside the penalty area.
• Dejan Lu let Totti take the free kick, and Totti scored with a low shot through Juventus’s wall.
• Milan pressed harder after Totti’s goal, but Peruzzi cleared Dejan Lu’s pass before Juventus launched a counterattack.
• Zidane received Joković’s long clearance, cut inside past Baresi, and curled a shot into the far corner.

AC Milan defeated Juventus 3–1 after Dejan Lu scored a late solo goal, and he later received a call from Wenger asking for recommendations of promising Italian players. The chapter ended with Dejan Lu considering Wenger’s request.

• Zidane scored for Juventus, but Dejan Lu’s long-range attempt and AC Milan’s pressure kept Juventus on edge.
• Dejan Lu drew defenders away during a corner, while Paolo Maldini’s header went just wide.
• Totti provoked Zidane, and Lippi substituted Zidane for Piero after the two players shoved each other.
• Dejan Lu scored AC Milan’s third goal after a long pass from Albertini and a run through Juventus’s defense.
• AC Milan won 3–1, and Dejan Lu thanked the supporters before returning home and eating with The Princess.
• Wenger called Dejan Lu and asked him to recommend promising Italian players.

Dejan Lu discussed Arsenal’s recruitment approach with Wenger, then joined Totti and Redondo in mistakenly suspecting Buffon of having an affair before visiting Lorenzo Buffon’s family. As the Milan derby approached, Dejan Lu drew a single-match experience card for Recoba and prepared to face Inter Milan.

• Dejan Lu told Wenger that recruiting very young Italian players and scouting Dutch talent could help Arsenal, while Wenger’s French connections gave him strong options.
• Totti called Dejan Lu to report that Buffon was supposedly seeing an older woman, so Dejan Lu and Redondo followed Totti to investigate.
• Dejan Lu discovered that Buffon was visiting relatives and spent the evening with Lorenzo Buffon, hearing stories about his football career and athletic family.
• Inter Milan chairman Moratti promised to keep investing in star players, while Hodgson and Cruyff sparred publicly over the importance of the derby.
• Before Milan’s November 24 derby against Inter, Dejan Lu drew a single-match experience card for Álvaro Alexander Recoba Rivero, and both teams entered a roaring San Siro.

AC Milan overwhelmed Inter Milan in the Milan Derby, with Dejan Lu scoring twice and Totti adding a solo goal after the match began. Inter Milan struggled to respond as the chapter left Milan leading 3-0 and Van Basten frustrated by his lack of a goal.

• The Milan and Inter Milan starting lineups were announced before Stefano Braschi started the derby at San Siro.
• Dejan Lu scored from 56 meters just eighteen seconds after kickoff, stunning Pagliuca and giving Milan the lead.
• Dejan Lu doubled Milan’s lead with a flick past Anthony Pagani and a chip over Pagliuca.
• Inter Milan’s players struggled to build attacks as Milan pressed and controlled the match.
• Totti evaded Berti’s tackle and scored from outside the box, putting Milan 3-0 ahead while Van Basten remained scoreless.

AC Milan crushed Inter Milan in the derby as Dejan Lu and Totti repeatedly broke through their defense. After Dejan Lu scored again in the second half to make it five goals for himself, he gestured for a substitution.

• Totti scored a solo goal as AC Milan surged ahead, and the first half ended with the team leading 5–0 after Dejan Lu scored twice.
• Moratti watched Dejan Lu dominate and resolved to make a huge bid for him at the end of the season.
• AC Milan’s players joked about schoolwork and their children in the dressing room during halftime.
• Dejan Lu and Totti pressed Inter Milan after the break, and Dejan Lu dribbled through defenders before scoring his fifth goal of the match.
• Dejan Lu gestured toward the touchline for a substitution after seeing Pagliuca’s exhausted expression.

AC Milan defeated Inter Milan 7–0 in the derby, with Dejan Lu scoring five goals and giving an assist before attending a press conference with Sacchi. After the match, Dejan worked on a manga story and then heard that Beckham had met an Italian girl online and wanted advice about sending her money for a plane ticket.

• Dejan Lu left the pitch to cheers, and Van Basten later scored Milan’s seventh goal against Inter.
• Sacchi defended Milan’s team performance at the press conference, while Hodgson and Zanetti addressed Inter’s heavy defeat.
• Dejan Lu told reporters he had come off early because he felt unwell and promoted Monica’s Hamburgers while praising Moratti.
• Dejan Lu sketched a manga plot involving a brainwave device, Pokémon, and Archer before going to bed after two in the morning.
• Beckham called Dejan Lu to explain that he had met an Italian girl online and ask whether he should send her money for a plane ticket.

Dejan Lu investigated Beckham’s online girlfriend and discovered that she had lied about her identity and circumstances. After Dejan told Beckham the truth, Beckham wondered whether Maria had lied because she feared being hurt again.

• Beckham told Dejan Lu that Maria was a struggling student from a family with a failing vineyard, and Dejan offered to investigate before helping her financially.
• Dejan learned that Redondo had also heard from Beckham, while Totti mocked Beckham for sending money to someone he had never met.
• After Milan’s 6–1 win over Piacenza, Dejan, Redondo, Totti, and Buffon drove to Brescia and found Maria running a café.
• Dejan discovered that Maria was thirty-two, divorced with three children, had a high school education, and had lied about her family background and identity.
• Milan finished the Champions League group stage with a 3–0 win over Rosenborg and beat Reggina 3–0 before preparing to face Sampierdarenese.
• Dejan told Beckham the truth about Maria, and Beckham asked whether she might have lied because she was afraid of being hurt again.

Dejan Lu returned to Genoa with Milan to face Sampierdarenese, discussed his former club and his relationships with Roberto Mancini and other former teammates, and drew a Ruud Gullit single-match experience card. The chapter ended as the teams prepared to play, with Roberto Mancini declaring that only one Roberto ruled the Apennines.

• Dejan Lu and Milan traveled to Genoa, where Sampdoria and Sampierdarenese fans cheered him and Redondo.
• Dejan Lu joined Sacchi and Ancelotti at a press conference, where Roberto Mancini defended him against questions about owning shares in Italian clubs.
• Dejan Lu named Sampierdarenese as his former club, and Roberto Mancini agreed that it was Genoa’s true heir.
• Sacchi explained to Dejan Lu how Fabio Capello and Carlo Ancelotti had each inherited different aspects of his coaching approach.
• Baresi offered Dejan Lu the captain’s armband, but Dejan Lu declined before drawing a Ruud Gullit single-match experience card.
• Dejan Lu greeted former Sampdoria teammates, while Roberto Mancini declared that there was only one Roberto in the Apennines.

AC Milan faced Sampierdarenese in a match featuring many former Sampdoria teammates, and Ballack gave the hosts an early lead. Dejan Lu answered with a powerful equalizer from over forty meters, leaving Sampierdarenese’s goalkeeper terrified as the match continued.

• Dejan Lu agreed to make Baggio a hamburger-shop spokesperson after Baggio insisted he could do it without pay.
• AC Milan and Sampierdarenese announced their strongest lineups, and Collina started the match at the Ferraris Stadium.
• Sampierdarenese kept possession early, and Ballack scored with a low shot from outside the box to put the hosts ahead.
• Dejan Lu beat several defenders with bursts of speed and crossed for Van Basten, but Sampierdarenese cleared the ball.
• Baggio advanced under pressure and passed the ball back toward the center, where Dejan Lu struck from over forty meters and scored off the underside of the post.

Milan and Sampierdarenese traded attacks as Buffon repeatedly denied Bierhoff and Mancini, while Dejan Lu set up Totti to score. Sampierdarenese pressed for an equalizer late in the half, but Buffon kept Milan ahead as the chapter ended.

• Buffon made a sharp save to stop Bierhoff's header, earning Baresi's praise.
• Dejan Lu defended in midfield, and Matracci caught him offside after Totti sent a clever chipped pass.
• Buffon blocked Ballack's volley and stopped Mancini and Toni during a dangerous follow-up attack.
• Dejan Lu broke forward and delivered a cross that Totti slid in to score for Milan.
• Totti earned a yellow card for pulling down Mancini, and Buffon saved Mancini's free kick.
• Buffon denied Bierhoff's close-range diving header after Sampierdarenese attacked again late in the half.

Milan defeated Sampierdarenese 3–1 after Buffon repeatedly denied their aerial attacks and Dejan Lu assisted Van Basten’s late goal. The chapter ended with Dejan planning a Monica’s Hamburgers advertisement featuring Roberto Mancini, Baggio, and Totti.

• Baresi urged Buffon to stay at Milan by promising he could become captain, while Paolo Maldini resented the familiar pitch.
• Milan’s players joked about Christian Maldini’s education and future before Baggio asked Dejan Lu when he would sign.
• Ancelotti brought Brian Roy on, and Dejan Lu beat him before Totti’s apparent assist for Van Basten was ruled offside.
• Sampierdarenese repeatedly threatened Milan with long balls, but Buffon made several crucial saves against Toni and Bierhoff.
• Dejan Lu broke forward in the 87th minute and crossed for Van Basten to score, then Sacchi substituted him as Milan won 3–1.
• Dejan Lu returned home and planned a Monica’s Hamburgers advertisement featuring Roberto Mancini, Baggio, and Totti as a singing group.

Dejan Lu secured Roberto Baggio as a free spokesperson for Monica's Hamburgers, and Baggio began preparing to act in commercials while his family joined Dejan Lu's circle. After Milan's crushing victory, Dejan Lu filmed a star-studded hamburger commercial ahead of the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

• Dejan Lu told Monica that Roberto Baggio had agreed to endorse her hamburgers without a fee, and Baggio went home to study acting in preparation for the work.
• Dejan Lu and Monica signed Baggio, and their families spent time together while Valentina bonded with Dejan Lu and Redondo joined them for lunch and an amusement park visit.
• Dejan Lu read praise for Gianluigi Buffon in the papers, then scored seven goals in the first half of Milan's final match of the year as his teammates set him up repeatedly.
• Dejan Lu assembled Paolo Maldini, Roberto Mancini, Totti, and Baggio to film a Monica's Hamburgers commercial, which ended with the group endorsing the restaurant in awkward Chinese.