Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

"Sigh, back in the day, when Tang and I were in the youth team, he wasn't as good as me. People really change once they make it big, leaving their old buddies behind..."

18-year-old Bonazzoli cursed the fickle world a bit in the bathroom, feeling like the whole world was against him.

Actually, far away in Manchester, Tang Long heard about his young buddy Bonazzoli getting slapped publicly in the locker room. How could he feel good about it?

No matter what, teammates playing for the same team are comrades. Disagreements in principles and verbal spats are normal, but once it gets physical, it's a different matter.

Especially, it's one thing to hit someone but not their face. Having an 18-year-old kid slapped in front of everyone—who would feel good about that?

Kandrewa was clearly bullying others with his Serie A and national team experience!

Though Tang Long has moved on, shining brightly on the Premier League pitch, leaving the Apennine Peninsula behind.

He still has feelings for the club because there are some former good brothers and friends in the team.

After much deliberation, he decided to call Medel, the current man in charge of the locker room.

Medel was very glad to receive a call from Tang Long. They happily chatted for a few minutes about this and that.

However, when Tang Long brought up the issue of Bonazzoli being slapped by Kandrewa in public, Medel's tone immediately dropped, filled with heavy concerns.

"Tang, to be honest, Inter isn't the same as last season. If you, Ranocchia, or my good brother Gualin were still in the locker room, dealing with Kandrewa would not be a problem."

"But now Kandrewa is the highest-valued player in the team and the club's biggest purchase this summer. This guy has been in Serie A for eight or nine years, an old slick. As soon as he came here, he started forming cliques."

"Di Marco, Santon, Dambrosio, and the beaten Bonazzoli all want to cling to him."

"Especially Bonazzoli, he's practically Kandrewa's little follower. It's awkward for us outsiders when the big brother disciplines the little brother."

"Don't be fooled by the club officially appointing me as captain, my influence in the locker room might not even match Kandrewa. So some matters are really hard for me to handle, I can only strive for balance. I've only been captain for few days, already I understand Ranocchia's challenges. This captaincy is hard! Honestly, I'm not optimistic about Inter's prospects this season. If a Premier League team wants me, I'm thinking of leaving mid-season!"

Tang Long hung up the phone, feeling complicated. If even Medel says it's difficult, it's probably really tough.

But, once you think about it, ultimately, blaming Bonazzoli for not being competent is all that can be done.

The first game of the new season was at home. After the explosive results of last season, all 80,000 seats at the Meazza Stadium were full. All the fans were watching and anticipating a victory as much as the players were.

You should have scored a killer goal, but you headed it over to the stands. Who's to blame for that?

The pass from Kandrewa was actually great. If Icardi were in that position, he would absolutely have scored effortlessly. Ultimately, it's a matter of skills.

[Brother, I'm giving you a saying from Mr. Chiwo: On the football field, it doesn't matter which country you come from, what color you are, what ethnicity you belong to, or what beliefs you hold. The only thing that can make you adored by thousands is your football skills. Work hard and use football to give Kandrewa a slap!]

Just after hitting send, an unfamiliar number appeared on his phone, showing it was from New York, United States.

His heart skipped a beat, quickly hitting answer. Sure enough, that familiar voice came from the other end.

"Hey! Big star, do you still remember me, Uncle Berni? NoNoNo, now you should call me Lord Berni, hahaha! My rock band designed a new persona for me, and I grew a beard. Look, do I look like your grandpa now?"

Tang Long opened the video call, the screen showing Berni's bald head, a shiny big forehead, and a bushy beard like a jungle growing wildly on his cheeks below ear level.

"Wow, I really should call you grandpa; you look 60 years old!" Tang Long exclaimed, quickly taking a screenshot with his phone.

They chatted for half an hour, exchanging experiences—Tang Long talked about his new adventures in the Premier League, while Berni shared his life in New York.

"After retirement, not having to train early every day feels awesome. Music is my second half of life, playing guitar feels more thrilling than blocking shots. It's strange; once I touch guitar strings, I can't stop. It never feels tiring! When I joined Inter, I hoped to start the Inter Music Channel and even volunteered to be the music director. But guess what? Ossilio said, 'I'm the sports director, you're the music director; wouldn't that make us equals? Not happening, no way!' Haha! Let me tell you some good news: a few days later, my band is scheduled for a tour in Milan, the first out-of-country tour since we formed, and the first stop is my home turf!"

Feeling exuberant, Berni picked up the guitar and played a piece by American singer Adam Levine, "Payphone," via phone for Tang Long.

Tang Long congratulated Berni and bragged a bit about his volley shot that stunned his teammates and the British media.

Berni chuckled, saying he watched that match, and indeed, it was impressive. The key was rattling Gualin.

"I love seeing Gualin flustered. We used to call him 'Gualin airplane,' and he'd get pissed off. Now he's playing well in the Premier League, hitting two wonder goals in the start; but what for? Still got put under pressure by your game-winning goal, hahaha!"

Soon after, Berni voluntarily steered the conversation toward the new season's Serie A matches.

"Did you see Inter's game against Udinese? Knew you watched it! You weren't there; Inter's midfield couldn't hold the ball at all, forced to run down the wings for crosses. Let me tell you, Bonazzoli is too disappointing. Had he scored that game-winning goal, his starting position this season would have been secure. Instead, he headed it over the bar. Hard to say what the future holds!"

"I was really angry at the time, carefully timed his call, wanting to ask what he was thinking when he took that shot. But when I called thrice in a row, it was always on another call; don't know what he's up to."

Tang Long realized Bonazzoli must have been on the phone with him during that time, hence why missing Berni's call.

He explained to Berni why he couldn't get through and mentioned Bonazzoli getting publicly slapped by Kandrewa.

Berni, upon hearing this, was silent at the phone's end for a full ten seconds.

When he spoke again, his tone was already raised by eight degrees.

"Wow! Quite capable! I know Kandrewa, naturally. When he transferred from Parma to Lazio in the 2011 winter window, I helped him out! His wife is my closest cousin; by seniority, he should call me Big Brother-in-law! Don't worry, you don't have to interfere in this matter; Big Brother-in-law will handle it!"

Though Tang Long had no idea how Berni would handle it, he hung up, feeling curious.

That Berni, seems like anyone casually picked from the Italian streets, he knows them all.

Imagining Berni with a bald head, bushy beard, big golden chain confronting Kandrewa, he couldn't help but laugh aloud.

After a bit of hustle and bustle, the time rolled into Sunday evening.

The one-day holiday vanished in the blink of an eye.

The next day, after the morning training, Tang Long had just returned to the hotel when he received a call from Ranocchia.

"Let's grab a bite, hurry up!"

"Didn't we just eat at the club? Eat again?"

The mysterious Ranocchia on the phone grinned, "I brought someone who's crucial for our new season's journey. I'll send you the address; come quickly!"