37-Year-Old Ranocchia: "I Still Dream of the 2026 FIFA World Cup!"
Ranocchia is quite old; he's 37 this year, making him the oldest player in the entire Inter Milan squad.
The post-90s generation was once synonymous with youth.
When young players like Balotelli and Bojan stirred up a youth storm in the football world, they showed fans the power of the post-90s generation in the first decade of the 21st century, making people feel that the future of football belongs to them.
However, by 2025, the oldest of those born in the 1990s will be 35 years old.
With a constant stream of players born in the 2000s, Vinicius Jr. and his generation represent the new era of players born in the 2000s.
For players like Ranocchia, born in the late 1980s, there is no doubt that they can already reach the year they will retire from their professional careers.
In fact, in the 2025-2026 season, there are only 6 players born in the 1980s among the 20 Serie A teams.
For example, David De Gea, Lukas Skorupski, and Ranocchia.
This Italy center-back once appeared in a suit and tie in the Sky Sport studio as a commentator, but that was shortly after he announced his retirement. Now, Ranocchia has taken off his suit and put on his Inter Milan jersey again.
"Andre, your hair is already all white, why do you still play football?"
When asked questions, Ranocchia simply smiled.
"So what if my hair is white? At least I still have hair. Even players who are 10 years younger than me, many of them are already bald."
On Inter Milan's training ground, Ranocchia smiled and put his arm around 27-year-old Dimarco. Although Dimarco was only 27, he was already mostly bald, giving him a distinctive Mediterranean look.
Dimarco waved his hand and said seriously to the camera:
"In our team, strength is never judged by the amount of hair one has."
Of course, this was just teammates teasing and joking with each other.
However, Ranocchia, although still Inter Milan's captain this season, is full of ambition after his quick comeback from retirement. He wants to lead his teammates to overthrow Juventus's dominance in Serie A and lead the Nerazzurri back to the top of Serie A.
However, despite his ambition, Ranocchia also carried a heavy burden on his mind.
I am 37 years old, and all aspects of my physical functions are declining.
My physical stamina often isn't enough to last the entire game. Am I destined to be the one holding the team back?
Seeing his teammates full of energy on the training field, and noting that Tang Long had maintained a good competitive state even after recovering from a serious injury, Ranocchia felt a pang of worry.
"Hey! Andre, I'm here!"
In the morning scrimmage, France black player Thuram made a stomp and then dribbled past Ranocchia on the wing before crossing the ball, which Lautaro Martinez headed into Sommer's goal.
"Ah..."
Ranocchia looked down at Lautaro Martinez and Thuram high-fiving, feeling a pang of disappointment.
Two years ago, Ranocchia, who had just turned 35, could still have executed his signature Bow-step interception.
Take that ball just now, for example. Even if Thuram faked him out with his first touch, he could quickly block his position. Even if Thuram dribbled past him with his second touch, Ranocchia's tall frame of 1.95 meters and long leg could still intercept Thuram from behind with a step-back at the last second.
At least one of the ball and one player must remain!
But Ranocchia has now lost that ability; he can no longer execute his signature Bow-step interception.
As a player ages, their ligaments become stiffer, their flexibility decreases, and the strength in their ankles and knees declines.
If he were to make any strenuous movements, Ranocchia could very likely get injured.
At this age, he must adopt a more prudent approach to continue his already very short and limited professional career.
Inter Milan coach Chivu on the sidelines didn't say anything. As a former defender, he knew very well what declining physical abilities meant for a center-back.
He simply applauded Ranocchia from the sidelines to offer some words of comfort, before returning to directing the training match.
However, Ranocchia's mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts.
He thought to himself, "If I get beaten like that by my opponent during a match, wouldn't that pose a huge threat to the team?"
Yes, not every striker in Serie A has the same level of ability as Thuram, but in some top teams, such as AC Milan and Juventus, their peak performance should not be underestimated.
Looking at his energetic teammates, Ranocchia felt a surge of nervousness, which was very rare for a player his age still playing, especially in a training match rather than an actual game.
On his way home, Ranocchia stared at the road receding into the distance, but the Serie A match between Inter Milan and Palermo, which had just ended in Serie A first round, suddenly came to mind.
Buffon, who was 10 years older than Ranocchia, played a humiliating match in his career, and the embarrassing scenes were vivid in Ranocchia's mind.
Ranocchia witnessed firsthand how former legend Buffon was thoroughly outplayed by Tang Long and Icardi!
Although Inter Milan and Juventus are bitter rivals, and Ranocchia doesn't have much affection for Buffon, Ranocchia actually felt a sense of shared pity for Buffon, given that both players were hovering on the verge of retirement.
"If I encounter a strong opponent, will I end up like Buffon, just a backdrop for those strikers?"
Thinking about this, Ranocchia's palms started to sweat as he gripped the steering wheel.
Sweat soaked the leather steering wheel, and his hands gripped it so tightly they could barely hold on.
Palermo's crushing defeat certainly served as a wake-up call for Ranocchia!
In fact, the return of former Inter Milan such as Tang Long and Icardi has indeed injected unprecedented cohesion and fighting spirit into this lifeless Inter Milan. The atmosphere was quite warm when the old brothers and buddies from the team got together.
However, Inter Milan is still a professional team. A professional team has its own goals, and every player who plays for it must prove that they are worthy of the salary paid by the team, the cheers and applause of the fans, and the tactical requirements imposed on them by the head coach.
Only by putting all of these factors together can one wear this blue and black striped shirt, a symbol of honor, with a clear conscience.
"Andre, you've watched your own film at least 20 times already. Are you that narcissistic?"
The day before the team departed for Roma, at Ranocchia's home, Tang Long saw the veteran captain watching with great interest his performance in the 2014-15 season match against Juventus, where he bravely intercepted Tevez's breakthrough with a Bow-step interception.
Ranocchia did not answer, but simply nodded slightly, his eyes still fixed on the image of the handsome young man with a full head of black hair from 10 years ago on the screen.
Previously, this kind of constant watching of films, especially a particular scene or frame, was only seen in Tang Long's behavior, but now Ranocchia seems to have taken over Tang Long's role, repeatedly watching the camera.
"Did you figure something out?" Tang Long asked with a smile.
Ranocchia sighed and finally looked up at Tang Long.
"I just feel that I'm much older 10 years from now than I was 10 years ago," Ranocchia pressed the pause button, picked up his phone and played the video for Tang Long again, pointing at it as he played it.
"Look at me back then, how fast my movements were, how quick my reactions were, and how flexible my ligaments were. Look, I was clearly outmaneuvered by Tevez, but I just took a step back and intercepted the ball at the last second. If it weren't for my block, Juventus would definitely have launched an attack. Hehe, look at how nervous Handanovic looks behind him. He definitely wasn't confident he could stop Tevez's one-on-one chance." Ranocchia laughed awkwardly a few times.
Clearly, these words were not a compliment to himself, but rather a denigration of his current abilities, because Ranocchia understood that at 37, he could never compare to himself at 27.
Tang Long watched the film thoughtfully, then shook his head after a moment of contemplation.
"Andre, you see your own aging in this 10-year-old film. Actually, we're all the same. I'm also 10 years older than I was back then. It's a natural process for a player; none of us can escape it. You need to face it."
Ranocchia said, "I am indeed facing it, otherwise I wouldn't have made such a statement."
Tang Long continued, "Andre, I can hear your frustration, but I don't see the confidence you should be showing. You're Inter Milan's captain, and you've aged a lot in the last 10 years, but I believe you've also grown enough, especially in terms of experience."
Tang Long took the phone from Ranocchia's hand and played the video of Tevez and his one-on-one fight again.
"At your age, how well you execute your Bow-step interception) indicates how long your career can continue."
Before Ranocchia could ask, Tang Long immediately explained:
"Ten years ago, you used those Bow-step interception as a last-ditch effort after your opponent had brushed past you. Regardless of how effective your recovery was or how fierce your tackle was, it was all based on one premise: your signature move could only be used for recovery after the fact, not for anticipating the situation beforehand."
Prior prediction?
Tang Long's words were completely beyond Ranocchia's expectations, leaving him feeling utterly shocked.
Since Ranocchia first introduced this Bow-step interception when he was 20, it has always been used for remedial purposes, never for pre-emptive prediction.
However, Tang Long's words were a wake-up call for Ranocchia.
He felt his thoughts expand instantly, and although there were many branches he didn't know how to branch out, he had indeed moved from one room to another.
"Come on, Andre, let's go outside into the yard. I'll show you."
So Tang Long took Ranocchia to the courtyard outside his villa.
There, a small five-a-side football pitch was built in Ranocchia, with only one goal, so that he and his children could still enjoy the joy of football in their spare time.
Ranocchia's two children stood nearby, watching with their mother through the large floor-to-ceiling windows as Tang Long and Ranocchia confronted each other in their own backyard.
Ten years ago, Ranocchia's youngest daughter was attending kindergarten in Manchester. Now, she has grown into a graceful young woman. Ranocchia also had a son born later, who is now in the second grade of primary school.
"Mom, didn't Dad just play a game and he's going to Roma for another match right away? Why doesn't he take a break?" my elementary school-aged son asked, puzzled.
Ranocchia's wife laughed and said, "Have you noticed? Dad has been so focused on football these past few days. It's like he's poured his whole heart and soul into the game and has forgotten all about us."
The eldest daughter, with her golden hair styled in a bun, rested one arm on the windowpane and turned to her younger brother and mother, saying:
"Dad and Tang have been good friends for many years. I've known this uncle since I was in kindergarten in Manchester. I think only friends can play so happily and attentively together."
Ranocchia's wife shook her head and said, "No, your father isn't playing; he's working. Perhaps for him, football is the most important thing in his life, more important than any of us."
The eldest daughter nodded firmly and said, "Yes, Dad told me that he doesn't want to get old at all. He also told me that he wants to return to the Italy National Team and fight alongside his teammates in next year's World Cup!"
The 2026 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams. This World Cup is a joint bid by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, marking the fourth time the World Cup will be held in North America and the first time it will be jointly hosted by the three countries.
"Okay, if Dad can participate in the World Cup, let's go to North America together to watch Dad play football, okay?"
"Okay, okay, I've never been to United States before! Dad will definitely get to play, and maybe he'll even score a goal!" Ranocchia's youngest son jumped up excitedly, clapping his hands.
Outside the window, under the warm sunshine of the Apennine Peninsula, Tang Long and Ranocchia faced off for a short while, and both were already covered in sweat.
Through the glass window, those inside could not hear what the two were saying on the court.
However, seeing Ranocchia's thoughtful, enlightened, and ultimately ecstatic expression, the family members in the house all felt that Ranocchia, the head of the family, was somewhat different from usual.
"How about this, kids, we skip our extracurricular classes this weekend and go to Roma to watch Daddy play football, okay?"
The mother's suggestion was met with approval, and both her daughter and son cheered in unison.
"Yay! We don't want to go to extracurricular classes, we want to go to Roma to watch a football match!"
The commotion caught the attention of Ranocchia outside. He wiped the sweat from his face, smiled at his family inside, then kicked the ball high, put his arm around Tang Long's shoulder, and gave them a victory sign.