Turkish Super Lig Star Striker + Premier League Castaway! Tang Long and Berni Chase a Man Across Borders!
Clearly, Berni's persuasion of Tang Long's return played a significant role.
A few days ago, Berni came to Madrid alone to visit Tang Long's home.
Gracie cooked a sumptuous Italy meal for Berni, who was so moved Berni almost burst into tears. He said:
"Girl, why does your Italy food taste exactly the same as my grandma's? I'd rather believe you're an Italy's daughter."
Gracie smiled gently, looked at Tang Long, and said softly, "Uncle Bei, you don't know, do you? Tang Long has never been able to get used to Spain paella during his years in Madrid. He says he still prefers Italy food, even back when he was in Manchester City."
That dinner, Tang Long maintained his good habit of not drinking a drop of alcohol, while Berni drank one glass after another until he was completely drunk.
He spoke incoherently about his unforgettable time as a professional player at Inter Milan, and even mentioned Tang Long's debut for Inter Milan.
"You've really hit the jackpot! A greenhorn who was just L'Equipe to make up the numbers actually got to substitute for Guarin. Haha, you have no idea what Guarin's expression was like in the locker room. When he heard Mancini say you were going to substitute him, his face turned green in an instant!"
"Of course, you really lived up to expectations! You assisted Icardi in your debut."
"At the time, we all thought you were just lucky and that the assist was a fluke. Now it seems that we weren't good enough and didn't understand your prediction."
Berni rubbed the tomato sauce off his beard with the back of his hand, then stuffed a handful of Italy into his mouth, repeatedly saying how delicious it was.
"Guarin is a good lad. If his father hadn't passed away early, causing him mental health issues and leading to alcoholism, he wouldn't have had to retire four years ago."
Tang Long couldn't help but interject, "So you like drinking too? You drank a lot when you were Inter Milan's goalkeeper, didn't you? You were practically a drunkard."
Berni laughed heartily and downed his glass of red wine in one gulp.
"I just enjoy drinking like this. Anyway, I'm a third-choice goalkeeper, so I'm never going to play. Back then, I was earning 300,000 to 400,000 euros a month, and I could watch the games for free on the bench every day. It must have been God's blessing that such a good thing happened to me."
Tang Long laughed and said, "So you just got lucky."
Berni nodded and said, "I have indeed had a lucky life. After retiring and leaving Inter Milan, I joined the New York Nights band and toured three continents. But one day I suddenly realized that I still prefer playing football to rock music, even if it's just waving a towel and cursing the opponents on the bench, I'm still happy."
His breath, heavy with alcohol, carried a sense of nostalgia for the past.
Tang Long stood with his arms crossed, looking at him. Gracie sat to one side, her hands supporting her head, her elbows propped on the floral table, smiling as she reminisced about the past with the bearded man.
"When I said I wanted to return to football, Chivu was the first to contact me. However, he said that given my current form, I shouldn't even think about being a player. If I wanted to be a goalkeeping coach, I could go to Palermo and work with him."
"I agreed immediately. Since I wouldn't be playing anyway, what's the difference between being a player and a goalkeeper? We're both just watching the game for free from the sidelines, it's the same."
In fact, Berni has been following Chivu ever since he returned to Italy.
From Palermo to Roma, and then to Inter Milan, Berni's role evolved from goalkeeper coach to assistant coach, becoming Chivu's right-hand man.
However, his drinking and smoking habits remained unchanged and even worsened. Although Chivu had some complaints about this, Berni was not a player after all, and the two had known each other for so many years, so he let it go. He only asked that Berni not smell of alcohol on him during training every day.
Berni drank more and more, his face turning redder than a monkey's bottom, and he spoke the truth while drunk.
"Tang, I'm sure you've guessed it, the reason I'm here to see you is to ask you to return to Inter Milan."
"Although you were injured for a whole season, you're only 29 years old and a free agent. You still have a lot to offer if you return to Inter Milan. The fans all remember you and are looking forward to your return. Let's, the old guys, beat Juventus together!"
Upon hearing the words "defeat Juventus," Tang Long's eyes lit up, and he nodded slightly.
Ten years ago, when he played for Inter Milan, Juventus was the Serie A powerhouse in Inter Milan.
Even in the season when Tang Long shone at Inter Milan, winning the UEFA Europa League and the Coppa Italia, he still couldn't shake Juventus's dominance in Serie A.
Over the years, Juventus has maintained absolute dominance in Serie A, with fans saying, "Serie A is the most boring league, since Juventus is always the champion!"
Berni continued, "Look, your little brother Bonazzoli is back, Santon is now the youth team coach, and that Dimarco, wow, he's getting stronger and stronger, he can hold his own on the left wing now."
"Most importantly, Mr. Chivu is now Inter Milan's head coach, you know? His first year at Inter Milan was incredibly difficult. If it weren't for his Inter Milan status at Inter and their ninth-place finish in Serie A this season, he would have been sacked long ago!"
"Since Real Madrid has no intention of renewing your contract, you might as well go back to Inter Milan and help Mr. Chivu out. He really needs an experienced veteran like him to keep things in order."
Tang Long nodded slightly, lost in thought.
Berni's words were not without merit.
For me, Inter Milan is a good choice.
Despite suffering a serious knee injury, the veteran's career can be extended well in Serie A, a league with a slower pace and a strong emphasis on tactics.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a good example.
After joining Juventus from Real Madrid in 2018, Cristiano Ronaldo scored 101 goals in 134 games over three years, conquering Serie A. However, after returning to Manchester United, his goal-scoring efficiency declined sharply.
When Tang Long left Inter Milan, he envisioned his career path at the end of the season. "Half a season is really too short. If I ever return to Serie A, I won't join any team other than Inter Milan."
This also touches on Tang Long's feelings for Inter Milan!
Here, he met Chivu and Berni, two lifelong friends who greatly helped him in the early stages of his football career;
He also met Ranocchia and Bonazzoli, two future teammates at Manchester City. These two had been teammates with Tang Long for three and a half years, coming from Inter Milan to Manchester City.
Guarin, Handanovic, Nagatomo Yuto, Podolski, and others also joined Premier League teams from Serie A in 2015, maintaining a harmonious relationship with Tang Long as opponents on the field and friends off the field.
Tang Long, 29, is now a free agent and is at a crucial crossroads in his career.
At this time, his former employer extended an olive branch, and Tang Long did not want to refuse.
He wants to give his mentor Chivu a hand and also wants to prove himself again at Inter Milan —the club where his professional career began.
"Gracie, would you like to come and live with me in Milan?" Tang Long asked his wife.
Although the couple had never had children, after getting married, Tang Long would no longer be alone, and he needed to consult Gracie on this matter.
Gracie's answer was straightforward and full of humor.
"Why don't you ask Mr. Chivu if he'd like to go back to his old job as a team doctor? I've been a housewife for several years now, and I really miss the days when I was working."
Tang Long was stunned. Before he could react, Berni spat out a mouthful of old wine.
"Oh dear, don't scare me, you've sobered me up completely."
"The UK Prime Minister's daughter is coming to work as a team doctor here, hahaha, you can come if you're interested!"
Gracie laughed and quickly explained that she was joking, adding that she had forgotten her professional knowledge after being out of work for so many years, and that she was willing to go to Milan with her husband to take care of him.
Tang Long nodded with satisfaction when he saw that Gracie had expressed her opinion.
Tang Long is deeply grateful for his wife's unwavering support of his career over the past five years.
"Uncle Bei, I'm willing to return to Inter Milan, but you have to bring both of them back as well," Tang Long stated his conditions.
"You said, as long as you're willing to come back, I'll even get you Lionel Messi!" Berni rubbed his hands excitedly; now he was truly sober.
Tang Long said, "Icardi, Guarin."
Berni exclaimed, "Icardi is a possibility. He plays for Galatasaray in the Turkish Super Lig now and is the top scorer this season. His skill level is still at least 60-70% of his peak. But Guarin, why are you looking for him? He retired a long time ago. Back then, not to mention Tottenham Hotspur, even EFL Championship wouldn't consider him. Sigh, we haven't been in touch for many years. I heard that he now spends his days drinking with childhood friends in the Colombia slums. He's squandered almost all the money he earned in his career, and his mental state is extremely low. He's completely ruined. I reckon he can't even run a kilometer, let alone play football."
Berni stopped mid-sentence when he saw Tang Long's determined gaze.
"Alright, since you've set the conditions, I'll get on with it. I'll go to Turkey tomorrow, then to Colombia. Just wait for my message at home."
Tang Long waved his hand and said to Gracie, "Help me pack some clothes. I'm leaving with Uncle Bei tomorrow."