Average Age 29.8! The Old Boys Welcome Their First Serie A Match of the Season!
Tang Long's return to Inter Milan was like a boulder thrown into a lake, instantly creating ripples across the Apennine Peninsula and triggering a series of remarkable chain reactions.
First, 32-year-old Argentina striker Icardi also donned the blue and black jersey again amidst the wave of returning home.
This striker, who had left behind both glory and controversy at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally planned to retire in the Turkish Super League and spend the rest of his life peacefully and warmly with his new model girlfriend on the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul.
The warm Mediterranean breezes seemed to have long since extinguished his ambitions for the top league, until the news of Tang Long's return came like a thunderbolt.
His former teammate in the youth team, who had created countless scoring opportunities for him with his magical passes, had returned to where his dream began.
Icardi gazed at his slightly weathered face in the mirror, his fingers gently tracing the scar on his left eyebrow.
Those are marks left from the fierce battle against Lazio.
Memories flooded back: that noisy summer of 2014, when he had just arrived and didn't even know who Tang Long was...
During the unpleasant contract renewal dispute in 2015, when he left the team in a huff, he blocked everyone's numbers, including Tang Long's.
At that moment, he clutched his Inter Milan training jersey tightly, as if he could feel the embossed texture of the "Inter" lettering on the jersey—the warmth of home.
Inter Milan fans were overjoyed at Icardi's return.
Although the two sides had a falling out during the 2014-15 season due to agent Wanda's greed, time has long since faded the animosity.
When Icardi returned from his loan spell after his divorce from Wanda and reclaimed Nerazzurri with a series of crucial goals, the San Siro stands were already resounding with chants of "Mauro! Mauro!"
Alberto, a longtime fan, wiped away tears at the season ticket counter. "Ten years ago, we didn't have the money to keep him here, but now we've finally waited for him to come home."
Yes, ten years ago Inter Milan was in a financial slump and had to watch this talented striker continue his nomadic journey;
Now, Tang Long's return brings not only nostalgia, but also hope for the revitalization of the once-powerful family!
After Icardi joined the team, fans were most looking forward to his reunion with Tang Long.
This duo, once dubbed the "Blue and Black Twins" by the La Gazzetta dello Sport, haven't played together in an official match for a full decade.
On social media, fans unearthed an old video from ten years ago: Tang Long deftly flicked the ball with his heel in midfield, turned, and then delivered a precise through ball, which Icardi sprinted forward to slot into the far corner.
"Are their chemical reactions still happening?"
In a poll conducted by the Corriere dello Sport "La Gazzetta dello Sport," over 85% of fans chose "unwavering belief."
Ranocchia's retirement and subsequent comeback have given fans a much-needed boost.
The veteran captain, born in 1988, suddenly announced his comeback just half a month after retiring, adding a sense of composure and depth to the Nerazzurri's locker room.
On the training field, the ice packs on his knees spoke of the ruthlessness of time, but his eyes remained as sharp as a hawk's.
During scrimmages with young players, he would suddenly stop the game and personally demonstrate how to use his body to block shooting angles. "Defense isn't about brute force; it's about using your brain to anticipate your opponent's next move."
This native Italy has the blue and black blood in his bones, just as the fans say, "As long as Ranocchia is still here, the soul of Inter Milan will remain."
Tang Long, leveraging his influence in international football, successfully persuaded left-back Robertson, who was at odds with Liverpool, to join the team.
A transfer fee of 16 million euros is considered a reasonable price in today's transfer market, but what is even more impressive is Tang Long's persuasiveness.
I still remember back in Manchester City's training ground, when 21-year-old Robertson would always surround Tang Long, asking him for advice on defensive techniques. The Scotland lad's humility and hard work left a deep impression on Tang Long.
Now 31 years old, Robertson is one of the top left-backs in the Premier League, and his long passing accuracy and ability to travel back and forth are coveted by countless teams.
"I know you're unhappy at Liverpool," Tang Long told Robertson on the phone. "The pace of Serie A is more suited to a tactical player like you, and," he said sternly, "We need a fighter like you to rebuild Inter Milan."
At this moment, Robertson was on the rooftop of his villa, watching the sunset over Liverpool Harbour outside his window. Recalling the night he was booed by the fans at Anfield, he finally nodded slightly.
When he first put on the blue and black jersey and touched the Snake Spirits team emblem on his chest, a sense of mission, both strange and familiar, welled up in his heart.
Tang Long's return was like a hurricane, completely igniting Inter Milan's football market!
Before the season even started, 60,000 season tickets were sold out, setting a record for the club in nearly 20 years.
Staff at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza are working overtime to check the safety features of every seat – this behemoth, which can hold 78,000 to 79,000 spectators, is about to usher in its most exciting season yet.
Massimo, a long-time employee at the ticketing center, remarked with emotion, "The last time I saw a scene like this was during the treble-winning season in 2010, when Mourinho was still Mourinho manager!"
The booming transfer market has given Inter Milan's management confidence, and they continue to have faith in head coach Chivu, allowing this young coach, who has risen through the ranks from youth team assistant coach, to continue in charge.
Chivu's office is filled with tactical boards and player analysis reports, the most eye-catching of which is a chart analyzing key matches in Tang Long's career.
"He's like a sophisticated football computer," Chivu said at the press conference. "Our task is to build the most suitable system for him so that his talent can fully blossom."
On the tactical level, Chivu decided to make minor adjustments to the original 3-5-2 formation, changing it to a 3-4-1-2 formation, moving Tang Long to the attacking midfield position, which is the position he was most proficient in when he debuted at Inter Milan.
On the training field, Tang Long stood in the center circle, his eyes scanning the positioning of each of his teammates.
Calhanoglu's accurate long passes, Barella's pressing and coverage, and Dimarco's overlapping runs all unfolded smoothly under his orchestration.
The competition among the four forwards – Lautaro Martinez, Marcus Thuram, Bonazzoli, and Icardi– is extremely fierce.
After each day's training session, they would practice shooting, the sound of the ball hitting the net echoing throughout the room.
Icardi was always the last to leave. He practiced shooting from different angles in front of the goal, and the name "Icardi" gleamed in the sunset on the back of his sweat-soaked jersey.
"I want to prove that at 32, I can still fight alongside Tang!" he told reporters accompanying the team.
In defense, the attacking prowess of Dumfries and Augusto was a perfect match for Tang Long's through balls.
During a training match, Tang Long suddenly spotted Dumfries making a forward run in midfield and delivered a surgical through ball that pierced the defense, allowing the Netherlands to break through at high speed and score with a shot.
Chivu excitedly pumped his fist on the sidelines, quickly jotting down notes in his notebook. "The Don-Deng connection has a very high success rate and can be used as an important offensive weapon."
We cannot overlook local players such as Darmian, Ranocchia, and Bastoni, who serve as a bridge between the club and its fans.
After each training session, Ranocchia would stay on the sidelines to sign autographs, take photos with young fans, and patiently answer their questions. "This is more than just a job," he said, touching the team badge on his chest, "It's our belief."
Inter Milan also has a special presence – 36-year-old Armenia veteran Mkhitaryan, who was Tang Long's teammate at Manchester City.
When the two reunited in the locker room, Mkhitaryan gave Tang Long a warm hug without hesitation, his stubble brushing against Tang Long's cheek. "I never thought that ten years later, we would be fighting for the championship together again."
Mkhitaryan's career is legendary; his agile dribbling and accurate passing have allowed him to maintain his place in the midfield.
Although he understood that Tang Long's return might reduce his playing time, he was still the first to arrive at the training ground every day and diligently completed each set of physical training exercises.
"What could be better than being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with old friends at the end of your career?" he said in an interview, his eyes shining.
Inter Milan's current starting lineup has an average age of 29.8 years, making it the oldest team in Serie A.
But good wine gets better with age, and players understand football better with age.
These seasoned veterans have accumulated a wealth of experience. They know how to control the game in the slower-paced Serie A and how to use their intelligence to compensate for their lack of physical strength.
Inter Milan displayed amazing form in the preseason.
In three friendly matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern, they achieved an unbeaten record of 2 wins and 1 draw, especially the 4-0 victory over Bayern, which can be described as a classic.
In that match, Tang Long started as an attacking midfielder and provided four assists using four different methods: the instep, the outside of the foot, the front of the foot, and the heel, helping Mkhitaryan, Icardi, Bonazzoli, and Lautaro Martinez score goals respectively!
When the fourth goal went in, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza erupted.
The fans in the stands waved blue and black scarves and chanted Tang Long's name, their shouts almost lifting the roof off.
Bayern coach Kompany remarked after the match, "I knew how good Tang Long was when we were teammates at Manchester City. I never imagined that after returning to the field six months later from a serious injury, his passing skills would be even better. Tang Long's passes are like magic; he always finds the right person at the right time."
On social media, fans are frantically sharing highlights of Tang Long's assists.
"This is the Tang Ball King we know and love!"
"Four assists, four different footwork techniques—that's the Ballon d'Or winner's skill!"
"Inter Milan's strikers are so lucky, they're really enjoying those chances!"
Comments flooded in, and Inter Milan became a trending topic in the football world.
Finally, the Serie A slowly rose on the new Serie A season.
Inter Milan's first opponent is Palermo, who are returning to Serie A after many years.
On the day of the match, the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza was packed with fans early in the morning, and a huge tifo in the North Stand slowly unfolded:
"Welcome home, Don!"
"The resurgence of blue and black begins today!"
On the Palermo team bus, the players chatted excitedly, looking forward to their Serie A debut.
However, Buffon, sitting at the very front, appeared extremely nervous.
The 47-year-old legendary goalkeeper gripped the water bottle tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the effort, and large beads of sweat constantly appearing on his forehead.
He gazed out the window at the white concrete dome of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, cursing inwardly, "Was the Serie A league doing this draw on purpose? Playing Inter Milan in the first round, isn't this just making things difficult for this old man?"
In the locker room, Tang Long sat quietly on a bench, stroking the team emblem on his jersey.
Ten years ago, he put on the first team jersey here for the first time, and his palms were sweating with nervousness;
Ten years later, he is a four-time Ballon d'Or winner, having experienced the Premier League and La Liga, and now he has returned to his homeland.
The cheers of the fans in the stands reached his ears. He took a deep breath, stood up, and glanced at his teammates: the fighting spirit in Icardi's eyes, Ranocchia's composure, Robertson's focus, Mkhitaryan's smile...
"Brothers," his voice was deep and powerful, "Today, we will let all of Italy know that Inter Milan is back!"
When Tang Long was the first to walk out of the players' tunnel, the cheers at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza reached their peak.
He looked up at the sky, and moonlight pierced through the clouds, shining on his face.
Ten years ago, that naive young man has finally returned, bearing both glory and scars, and with his love and unwavering passion for Nerazzurri, ready to write a new legend.
The referee blew his whistle, and the match officially began.
Icardi passed the ball back to Tang Long, who received it in the center circle, flicked it gently, and passed it to Mkhitaryan behind him. Tang Long then quickly spread out to receive the pass.
Under the night sky of Meazza, Tang Long began another journey in blue and black.
His new story is being written!