Chapter Summaries

Dejan Lu filmed Monica's Hamburgers commercials, won the Ballon d'Or, and used his acceptance speech to announce that he would return to the pitch as the best player. After attending the ceremony and meeting football figures, he brought Buffon in to film a comic commercial for the chain.

• Dejan Lu finished filming a Monica's Hamburgers commercial with Monica, Paolo Maldini, Totti, and Roberto Mancini, then promised Buffon a commercial of his own.
• Dejan Lu, Paolo Maldini, and Redondo traveled to Switzerland for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, where Dejan Lu warned Ferguson about Beckham's online dating.
• Ferguson announced Dejan Lu as the Ballon d'Or winner, and Dejan Lu declared that he would be the best player once he returned to the pitch.
• Dejan Lu and Paolo Maldini attended the UEFA dinner, where they spoke with Ronaldo and Wenger about Manchester United and the rising cost of young players.
• Dejan Lu took Buffon to film a commercial in which Buffon dodged Baggio's penalty to catch a flying hamburger, then ate it despite being scolded.

Dejan Lu returned to Milan after winning the Ballon d'Or and faced Lazio in Rome, where former Roma player Totti endured hostile jeers. Milan took an early lead when Totti scored from Dejan Lu’s through ball and celebrated provocatively in front of Lazio’s supporters.

• Buffon’s Monica’s Hamburgers commercial drew attention, and Dejan Lu discussed the shoot and his new Adidas boots with his teammates.
• Dejan Lu and Milan traveled to Rome, where Lazio fans booed Totti and Sacchi and Zeman traded remarks at a press conference.
• Dejan Lu drew a Pavel Nedved match experience card before Milan’s game against Lazio.
• Milan started the match with Dejan Lu in midfield and Totti up front, while Nedved was assigned to press Dejan Lu.
• Paolo Maldini carried the ball forward and cut it back to Dejan Lu, who sent a through ball to Totti.
• Totti beat Favalli to the ball, scored from near the six-yard box, and taunted the Lazio supporters with his celebration.

AC Milan overwhelmed Lazio as Dejan Lu scored and repeatedly set up Francesco Totti, who completed a hat-trick before combining with Dejan Lu for another goal. Totti ended the chapter celebrating his fifth goal of the match as Lazio struggled to cope.

• Totti taunted the Lazio supporters until Dejan Lu persuaded him to return to the pitch.
• Dejan Lu scored with a close-range scissor kick after Marco Simone headed Paolo Maldini’s cross back to him.
• Dejan Lu dribbled past Paolo Negro and assisted Totti, who pushed the ball into the net.
• Dejan Lu chipped a pass to Totti, who scored his third goal and completed his hat-trick.
• Lazio’s players lost possession and Signori received a yellow card for repeatedly elbowing Albertini.
• Dejan Lu combined with Paolo Maldini and set up Totti for another volley, after which Totti held up five fingers to the stands.

Milan defeated Lazio 6–1 as Totti scored five goals and Dejan Lu orchestrated the attack. After the match, Dejan babysat Chris before attending the World Footballer of the Year ceremony in Zurich, where he began his speech by recounting the unexpected day.

• Totti taunted Lazio’s fans and scored four goals in the first half, while debris from the stands forced Milan’s players to hurry off the pitch.
• Sacchi sent the players back out after halftime, and Dejan Lu helped Milan build a sweeping attack that ended with Totti volleying in his fifth goal.
• Lazio scored through substitute Prodi, but Milan won 6–1; commentary praised Dejan’s influence, and television reports suggested Zeman’s dismissal was likely.
• Totti brought Chris to Dejan’s house, where Paolo Maldini explained that the family needed someone to watch the child while they traveled.
• Monica returned to help care for Chris, and Dejan attended the World Footballer of the Year ceremony in Zurich, opening his speech with the story of his unexpected babysitting duty.

Dejan Lu celebrated winning the Ballon d'Or and World Footballer of the Year awards at San Siro, where he promised to win them again for Milan. The match also marked Filippo Galli's final home appearance before his transfer to Reggina, while Paolo Maldini continued avoiding collecting his son.

• Dejan Lu and The Princess cared for Paolo Maldini's sleeping son, and Dejan learned from the newspaper that Paolo had left the child with them to spend time with Adriana.
• Filippo Galli told Dejan Lu he might transfer to Reggina, then informed his Milan teammates he would leave after the home match.
• Dejan Lu warned Totti away from a woman who admired Beauvoir, and Totti agreed to follow Dejan's advice about potential girlfriends.
• At San Siro, Dejan Lu received the Ballon d'Or and World Footballer of the Year trophies, promised to win them again through his achievements at Milan, and honored Galli before the match.
• Dejan Lu scored against Vicenza before Sacchi substituted him for Baggio, and Milan won 3–0 as Galli made a vital defensive stop and left the pitch in tears.
• Dejan Lu tried to get Paolo Maldini to collect his son after the match, but Paolo slipped away again.

At home, Dejan Lu joked with the Princess about their lucky child and Paolo Maldini’s reluctance to care for him, then prepared to face Sampdoria with Milan. Dejan Lu scored with a scorpion kick after a hectic opening spell, giving Milan the lead.

• The Princess told Dejan Lu she had won Burmese jade in a mall drawing, and he teased her about the prize and her lottery tickets.
• Dejan Lu warned Paolo Maldini to collect Chris after the match, and Paolo reluctantly promised he would.
• Milan welcomed the Sampdoria match with an unbeaten record, while Dejan Lu obtained Roberto Mancini’s single-match experience card.
• Sampdoria’s Montella broke through Milan’s defense, but Paolo Maldini disrupted his attack and Buffon gathered the ball.
• Buffon’s long throw sparked a Milan counterattack, and Dejan Lu’s volley forced Ferron to concede a corner.
• Baggio sent the corner toward the near post, where Dejan Lu broke free and scored with a scorpion kick.

Milan faced Sampdoria in a tense match as Dejan Lu answered Totti’s dismissal and Sampdoria’s free-kick goal with decisive strikes. He scored again before halftime, restoring Milan’s two-goal lead.

• Valeri suggested Dhiene mark Dejan Lu, while Sampdoria restarted play and Buffon stopped Montella’s header before launching a counterattack.
• Totti was sent off after fouling Verón and swearing at the referee, and Dejan Lu comforted him as he left the pitch.
• Buffon saved Mihajlović’s free kick and started a counterattack that ended with Dejan Lu scoring from Baggio’s cross.
• Mihajlović scored from a free kick after Paolo Maldini fouled Verón, narrowing the score and prompting Dejan Lu to promise another goal.
• Dejan Lu and Van Basten combined to break through Sampdoria’s press, and Dejan Lu beat Ferron to make it 3–1.

Milan overwhelmed Sampdoria despite playing against ten men, with Dejan Lu scoring five consecutive volleys before Sacchi substituted him. Dejan Lu left early to comfort Totti, and the two went out to eat while Paolo Maldini’s child remained with him.

• Paolo Maldini decided to leave his child with Dejan Lu, while Totti and Buffon traded insults in Milan’s dressing room at halftime.
• Sacchi replaced Van Basten with Davids, and Dejan Lu scored a volley after intercepting a pass and combining with Baggio.
• Dejan Lu scored again on a counterattack after Paolo Maldini launched a long pass, making it his fifth consecutive volley of the match.
• Sacchi substituted Dejan Lu for Reiziger, then sent him back to the dressing room to keep Totti company after Totti’s red card.
• Dejan Lu and Totti showered, changed, and went to a Turkish restaurant, where Totti worried about how the papers would portray him and Paolo Maldini.

Dejan Lu and his friends made a short film mocking Paolo Maldini for leaving his son with them, and the Maldini family eventually picked the child up. Milan continued its unbeaten league run, then traveled to Madrid, where Atlético Madrid chairman Jesus Gil provoked the team before their match.

• Dejan Lu recruited Totti, Buffon, and Redondo to film a short parody of Paolo Maldini forgetting his son while enjoying time with his wife.
• After seeing the film and receiving Dejan Lu's bill, the Maldini couple came to collect Christian and invited Dejan Lu and The Princess to dinner.
• Milan beat Bologna 2–0 and remained 18 points ahead of Juventus at the top of Serie A.
• Jesus Gil repeatedly boasted that Atlético Madrid would end Milan's unbeaten run, angering the Milan squad during their stay in Madrid.
• Before the match at Calderon Stadium, Baresi and the other Milan players vowed to beat Atlético Madrid, and Dejan Lu drew a lottery after changing.

Milan fell behind to Atletico Madrid before Dejan Lu came off the bench and changed the match. He scored twice in quick succession, leaving Milan ahead as Atletico Madrid struggled to contain him.

• Juan Esnaider scored from Delfil Gili's cross eight minutes into the match, giving Atletico Madrid an early lead.
• At halftime, Sacchi told the Milan players he would bring on Dejan Lu if their attack failed to improve.
• After Baggio was injured in the 67th minute, Dejan Lu replaced him and began directing Milan's attacks down the left.
• Dejan Lu equalized with a powerful shot past Jose Molina six minutes after entering the match.
• Davids won the ball after Atletico Madrid restarted play, and Milan quickly launched another attack.
• Dejan Lu dribbled past Atletico Madrid's defenders and scored again from close range, putting Milan ahead.

Milan faced Atletico Madrid in a rough match, and Dejan Lu scored a hat trick to give Milan a 3–1 lead. After Simone brought him down late in the game, a confrontation broke out, and Dejan Lu stayed on the ground clutching his ankle.

• Redondo celebrated Dejan Lu's goal in front of Simone, while Jesus Gil blamed Real Madrid fans for Atletico Madrid's poor performance and planned to condemn them to reporters.
• Atletico Madrid repeatedly attacked Milan's right flank and used rough fouls, while the referee's lenient calls increased tensions between the teams.
• Sacchi decided to warm up Savićević as Dejan Lu took heavy attention from Atletico Madrid's defenders.
• Dejan Lu beat Caminero and Gili before curling a shot into the far corner to complete his hat trick and put Milan 3–1 ahead.
• After Simone brought Dejan Lu down near the halfway line, players from both teams rushed into a confrontation, and Totti spat on Simone.
• Dejan Lu curled up on the grass, clutching his ankle and pressing his forehead into the turf.

After Milan beat Atletico Madrid 3–1, Dejan Lu pretended to be injured so Simone would take the blame and Totti would avoid worse punishment. He planned to return after missing two matches, while Milan prepared to defend its unbeaten record without him; Diego Maradona called from outside the hospital to ask for help getting past reporters.

• Dejan Lu staged an injury after a late clash with Simone, and the referee let play continue until Milan won 3–1.
• Dejan Lu told Sacchi that he was fine, but Milan’s players and staff treated the injury as serious while Paolo Maldini and Sacchi criticized Atletico Madrid and the referee at the press conference.
• After an examination, Dejan Lu told Sacchi he would rest for a week and return after the match against Roma, and Baresi resolved to protect Milan’s winning record in his absence.
• Totti learned that his spit on Simone’s face could earn him a suspension, while Dejan Lu’s teammates visited him in the hospital.
• The Princess and Monica brought Dejan Lu newspapers and drawing supplies, and he read reports about the match before Diego Maradona called from the hospital entrance asking for help evading reporters.

Dejan Lu secretly met Diego Maradona, recovered from his hospital stay, and reunited with Totti, promising to start a clothing business together. Milan beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 to advance, while attention shifted to Diego Maradona’s final home match against AC Milan in Napoli.

• Dejan Lu disguised himself to leave the hospital and met Diego Maradona, who was relieved to learn Dejan Lu could play their upcoming showdown.
• Diego Maradona discussed retirement and coaching with Dejan Lu over a meal, then left after confirming Dejan Lu was not truly injured.
• UEFA announced suspensions for Simone and Totti, and Milan beat Bologna narrowly in the Italian Cup semifinal first leg while Dejan Lu remained absent.
• Dejan Lu left the hospital and encountered Totti at a restaurant, where Totti described growing apart from his old friend Paolo Marazzo.
• Dejan Lu and Totti decided to start a clothing business together, joking about names and products as The Princess drove them away.
• Dejan Lu returned to Milan but did not train fully, then watched from the bench as Milan beat ten-man Atletico Madrid 2-0 and advanced 5-1 on aggregate.

Milan traveled to Napoli for a highly anticipated match between Dejan Lu and Maradona, whose career was nearing its end. After Maradona and Dejan Lu faced reporters, Dejan drew a single-match experience card for Pelé as Milan prepared for the game.

• The Italian Football Federation announced that Collina would referee the match, while Pelé, Ferguson, and other football figures gave their predictions about Maradona and Dejan Lu.
• During Milan’s final training session, Dejan Lu encouraged Totti to rely on his own style and combinations, and Tardelli announced the starting lineup.
• Milan traveled to Napoli, where fans begged for Maradona to win; Dejan Lu and Paolo Maldini agreed that Milan could not deliberately give away the match.
• At the press conference, Maradona discussed retirement and admitted he might regret never beating Dejan Lu, while Dejan Lu praised Maradona and placed him among football’s greatest players.
• After returning to the locker room, Dejan Lu drew a single-match experience card for Pelé from the 1959 Santos tour match against Inter Milan.

Dejan Lu captained AC Milan against Diego Maradona’s Napoli in Maradona’s final official match against him. Milan pressed aggressively from kickoff, and Dejan Lu scored after a rapid counterattack to give his side an early lead.

• Baresi handed Dejan Lu the captain’s armband, and the teams emerged to a packed San Paolo Stadium honoring Maradona.
• Dejan Lu and Maradona agreed not to take it easy on each other, and AC Milan won the coin toss for its choice of ends.
• Napoli kicked off, but Dejan Lu led Milan’s press and forced Baldini into a mistake that won Milan a corner.
• Baggio’s corner found Totti, whose header struck the post before Albertini’s follow-up shot deflected off Totti and went out.
• Tagliaferri restarted play with a long pass toward Maradona, but Dejan Lu won the aerial duel, exchanged passes with Totti, beat Napoli’s defenders, and scored past Tagliaferri.

Milan and Napoli traded goals in a fiercely contested match, with Dejan Lu assisting Totti through an improvised bicycle-kick pass before Maradona answered with a solo goal. The chapter ended with Maradona celebrating Napoli’s equalizer and insisting that no one could defeat him at San Paolo.

• Dejan Lu celebrated wildly after scoring early, while Maradona urged Napoli to regroup and began directing their attack.
• Maradona repeatedly challenged Dejan Lu, but Milan’s defenders stopped Napoli’s attacks and Buffon punched away Turini’s cross.
• Dejan Lu halted play when Colonnese went down injured, then later controlled Baggio’s long pass and sent a bicycle-kick pass into Totti’s path for a volleyed goal.
• Maradona rallied Napoli after Milan scored, and Napoli won possession as Turini intercepted Albertini’s pass.
• Maradona dispossessed Baggio, launched Aglietti forward, then received Baldini’s header and dribbled through Milan’s defense to score.
• Maradona celebrated Napoli’s equalizer as he ran back toward the center circle, determined not to yield at San Paolo.

AC Milan led Napoli 2–1 at halftime, and Dejan Lu helped maintain pressure after the break. Totti scored from Dejan Lu’s turn and flick, leaving Milan further ahead as Napoli struggled to contain their attack.

• Dejan Lu dribbled past several Napoli players and sent a cutback into the box, but Turini blocked Totti’s shot with his back.
• Maradona’s attack was stopped by the halftime whistle, with Milan leading Napoli 2–1.
• During halftime, the Milan players joked and discussed investments while Tardelli urged them to hydrate and avoid eating too much.
• Baggio crossed from the right early in the second half, but Colonnese blocked the ball before Redondo could shoot.
• Dejan Lu curled a shot toward the far corner, forcing Tagliaferri to push it over the byline.
• After Milan recovered Napoli’s clearance, Baggio lofted the ball into the box, and Dejan Lu’s turn and flick left Totti unmarked to score.

Milan dominated Napoli, but Dejan Lu scored a solo goal before Maradona answered with a stunning free kick from near the corner flag. The chapter ended with Maradona celebrating his goal as if he had won the world.

• Maradona continued creating chances for Napoli, but his teammates failed to convert them as his stamina began to fade.
• Nicola Caccia replaced Aglietti, and Dejan Lu dribbled past several Napoli defenders before scoring; Colonnese was sent off for a foul during the play.
• Maradona rejected the suggestion that he come off and led another Napoli attack, winning a free kick near the corner flag after Paolo Maldini fouled him.
• Maradona curled the free kick toward the near post, and Buffon failed to keep it out as the ball bounced into the goal.
• Maradona leaped over the advertising boards and celebrated wildly.

Maradona lost his contest with Dejan Lu as Milan defeated Napoli, and the two agreed to face each other again as coaches someday. Back in Milan, Dejan Lu spent time with Totti and Buffon before the team drew lots for community visits and planned a performance at an orphanage.

• Maradona left the pitch to applause after Milan extended its lead, and Dejan Lu encouraged him to pursue coaching so they could compete again.
• Totti scored for Milan, Sacchi substituted Dejan Lu, and Albertini scored late as Milan completed the victory over Napoli.
• After the final whistle, Maradona and Dejan Lu exchanged shirts and promised to meet again as coaches.
• Dejan Lu went roller skating with Totti and Buffon, who teased Totti over his common name and inability to name Albanian names.
• Tardelli assigned Milan's players community visits by drawing lots, and Dejan Lu, Totti, and Baresi drew the orphanage while Buffon drew the nursing home.
• Baresi suggested performing a fairy tale for the children, and Paolo Maldini joked that he and Totti would look like Romeo and Attila.

Dejan Lu helped Milan’s players prepare a community visit and supported Davids with new sports glasses before Milan’s unbeaten run continued against Fiorentina. Juventus’s loss to Roma mathematically secured Milan the Serie A title with nine rounds remaining, and Baresi believed the team still had more to win that season.

• Dejan Lu proposed that Milan’s players perform The Tortoise and the Hare at an orphanage, and the team later entertained the children with football, hamburgers, and a costume show.
• Dejan Lu left sports glasses for Davids, who began wearing them at training and considered asking permission to use them in matches.
• Milan defeated Fiorentina 4–0 at San Siro while Juventus drew with Roma, leaving Milan 28 points ahead with nine rounds remaining.
• Aldair scored for Roma, Juventus lost, and Milan clinched the Serie A title with nine rounds left in the season.
• Dejan Lu and Baresi lifted the trophy together, while Baresi reflected that the league title was not the end of Milan’s 1996–1997 campaign.