Icardi Is Getting Desperate, Only Tang Long Can Understand Me!

In the end, the match concluded with Inter Milan securing a massive 4-1 home victory over their opponents!

After Icardi was substituted off, Bonazzoli came off the bench and managed to pick up a goal.

It happened in the 88th minute, when Guarin unleashed a high-quality 30-meter long-range strike that forced a fumble from the Chievo goalkeeper.

Bonazzoli was in the right place at the right time, easily tapping the ball into the net.

Having scored his first goal for the Inter Milan first team, Bonazzoli, much like Guarin, took off his shirt to celebrate and was promptly shown a yellow card.

In the final few minutes, the minds of the Inter Milan players had already flown off to their Christmas holidays.

In their eyes, the Chievo players running on the pitch were practically their wives, parents, children, or girlfriends waiting for them during the break.

With the entire team relaxed, Inter Milan conceded a consolation goal to Chievo.

The post-match press conference.

Unsurprisingly, Mancini brought Guarin to the press conference venue.

Arriving at the door, Mancini smiled and gestured for Guarin to enter first.

As soon as Guarin walked in, the room erupted into thunderous, sustained applause!

Clap, clap—

Clap, clap—

All the reporters stood up to applaud Guarin!

Every camera lens was aimed directly at him.

Guarin's mind went blank; he hadn't experienced a scene like this in a very long time.

The last time was back in 2012, when he won the UEFA Cup with Porto.

"Am I the first Inter Milan player to score a hat-trick this season?"

"I am honored. As a midfielder, I am not as close to the goal as the strikers, but I utilized my strength in long-range shooting. This is the result of hard training, and of course, it wouldn't have been possible without the guidance of Mr. Mancini."

"Why were you left out of the squad for the previous two matches?"

"The team doctor has already said enough; I don't want to repeat it here, nor do I want to explain away rumors. I had a thigh injury, but I have fully recovered now and am at 100% competitive fitness. I am grateful for the coach's trust."

"What about the celebration where you tapped your chest and pointed to the ground?"

"I want to declare to all Inter Milan fans here that I am proud to wear the Nerazzurri jersey. I will fight for the honor of this club until the very last moment, even if I only have one leg left!"

"What is your relationship with Icardi?"

"That's strange, why ask this question all of a sudden? My relationship with him is very good. My relationship with every Inter Milan teammate is rock solid; we share a bond like warriors, an unbreakable friendship."

"Can you reach the UEFA Champions League next season?"

"There are only three UEFA Champions League spots in Serie A right now, and that is a reality we had to face at the start of the season. We fell behind at the start, but we are chasing now. Our hearts are in it, and the team is on the right path under the leadership of Mr. Mancini."

"How do you rate Tang, and what is your relationship with him?"

"He is a very talented young player. As I said before, my relationship with all my teammates is very good."

Guarin's answers were watertight.

Mancini, sitting beside him, wore a satisfied smile.

Mancini truly couldn't be more satisfied!

The team had not only achieved a wonderful three-game winning streak, breaking the embarrassing curse of failing to win three consecutive league games that had persisted since the era of his predecessor, Mazzarri;

At the same time, Inter Milan's position in the standings had climbed to 7th place.

Just three rounds ago, they were sitting in 9th.

Now, the Nerazzurri were only 9 league points away from 3rd-placed Lazio.

Nine points—the distance of three matches.

Mancini still had 25 league games left.

This league specialist had plenty of confidence to face the difficulties head-on and chase down his competitors.

The winter break was finally arriving, and the players could relax and go on vacation.

But Mancini was not relaxing!

At the press conference, looking at the dense crowd of reporters, his thoughts had already flown to the transfer market.

"A mere 10 million euros—what kind of player can I even get with that..."

"Bullshit!"

It was absolute bullshit!

Look at that hypocritical look on Guarin's face at the press conference, saying he has a great relationship with everyone?

He is a complete and utter hypocrite!

I really can't understand what Mr. Mancini is thinking. That kid was clearly frozen out, so why was he suddenly brought back into the fold?

Does Mancini not care about his own authority anymore? How can he establish any prestige by doing something like this! I don't accept it!

During the winter break, inside a quiet bar in Milan.

Icardi and Ranocchia were having a few drinks.

He kept complaining to the Inter Milan captain about his dissatisfaction with Guarin.

Icardi was born in Rosario, Santa Fe Province, Argentina, and holds dual citizenship in Argentina and Italy.

Ranocchia was born in the small town of Assisi in the province of Perugia, Italy.

Coincidentally, Icardi's ancestors were descendants of Italians who emigrated from that very town of Assisi to Argentina to seek their fortunes after World War I.

Tracing their roots, the two could be considered half-fellow countrymen.

Even Icardi's Italian carried a slight accent from the Perugia province.

"Mauro, there's no need to be so impatient. Isn't it just that Guarin didn't pass you the ball a few times?

You've scored 11 goals in 13 Serie A matches; the Serie A Golden Boot will be yours sooner or later, so why bother bickering with that reckless Colombian!"

Icardi appeared extremely anxious.

"Captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has already scored 20 goals in La Liga, double what I have. If I don't score more, how can I catch up to him! And then there's Lionel Messi, who has also scored 17!"

Ranocchia paused with his glass, swirled it, and looked at his young Argentine brother with interest.

"You want to win the European Golden Shoe?"

"I do, why wouldn't I! Tang told me that I could win the European Golden Shoe!"

"Hahahaha, how old is Tang? You actually believe his words? He's just teasing you."

"...So you don't trust me?"

"Mauro, of course I trust you, but don't be too hasty. First, stabilize your position on the Serie A top scorer list. Luca Toni, the veteran at Verona, has also scored 8 goals, so you should focus on securing the Serie A Golden Boot first!"

"That's exactly why I need to score more! You saw the last match; I was in a better position, so why did Guarin refuse to pass to me and try to do it all himself? He's too selfish, I don't like him!"

Ranocchia set down his glass, his blue eyes flashing with the profound depth unique to Italian men.

"Mauro, we are friends, but as your captain, I need to remind you of something.

Guarin scored three goals in the last match and helped us achieve a three-game winning streak. This is an achievement I never saw in the year and a half I played under Mazzarri. From that perspective, Guarin has indeed helped the team."

Icardi remained indignant. "But my goals can also help the team! Besides, Mancini had already frozen Guarin out, and then suddenly brought him back—isn't that just slapping his own face?"

Ranocchia smiled dismissively.

"As long as the team wins, who can slap Mancini's face? Mauro, if you look at the problem from Mancini's perspective, he did nothing wrong, because he won. When you win, everything you do is right."

Icardi's expression suddenly darkened.

"That means he slapped my face! Captain, why are you speaking up for the South American Faction? I thought you hated them; the sun must be rising in the west today!"

"I don't like them, but I am the captain, and I have to be responsible for the whole team. You need to understand me, Mauro. Being the captain of Inter Milan is the hardest job of any club in Italy. Perhaps one day when you become captain, you will understand."

Ranocchia looked a bit displeased.

Icardi paused, then downed a large glass of dark beer in one gulp.

Bang!

He slammed the glass onto the table, startling the bartender passing by, who turned to look at him.

"Then who understands me? I'm a striker; I'm born to score goals. Tang Long is the only one who understands me! I'm going to find Mancini; I must get Tang Long on the pitch. He's the one who likes passing to me the most!"

Ranocchia scratched his head, looking at the 21-year-old Icardi and his naive, fearless expression. He swallowed the scolding he had been about to deliver.

"Sigh, you little fool. If you go find Mancini, just wait to be dropped from the squad list.

For the sake of you being my brother, I'll point you in the right direction—don't go to Mancini, go talk to Mr. Zanetti!"