"How is it? Can you hold up?" Cristiano Ronaldo walked over to André and asked after the morning training session ended.
"The intensity is a bit higher than in Oviedo, but it's okay. I can hold up."
"Mm, Oviedo's schedule is actually much more relaxed in comparison. Small clubs don't have too many matches. For a team like Juventus, the match schedule each season is very heavy, so the training is relatively stricter. If there's an opportunity, it's still better to go to a big club."
"Mm, Mr. Jorge mentioned that to me. However, I still want to finish this season at Oviedo. After all, it was Mr. Fernando who brought me to Oviedo, and he trusts me so much. I don't think it would be right for me to leave at this time."
Ronaldo took André to the restaurant at Continassa to enjoy a Juventus training meal. In André's eyes, there wasn't much difference from Oviedo, but a sudden piece of news during the meal left him somewhat dazed.
Halfway through eating with Ronaldo, the team captain Chiellini came over. It turned out that according to the training schedule, there was a targeted training match in the afternoon. However, in a clichéd turn of events, the Ivorian forward Moise Kean in the substitute lineup had strained his thigh during the morning session, so they were short a forward for the afternoon match. Allegri had originally intended to call up two players from the second team, since substitutes are needed even in matches, but the team doctor told him that Moise's injury wasn't serious and wouldn't affect the match against Milan.
Chiellini happened to be nearby at the time and suggested letting André participate in the training match. Ultimately, Allegri agreed to Chiellini's proposal.
And so, Chiellini had come to discuss the matter with Ronaldo, and thus a peculiar training match was arranged.
"Wait, it's not appropriate for me to participate in the training match, is it?"
"It's fine. It's just a closed-door training match. The outside world won't know."
Even though Ronaldo said so, André still felt a faint sense that something wasn't right. However, he trusted Ronaldo deeply, so he eventually agreed to what seemed to him like a ridiculous decision.
In fact, what André didn't know was that although he'd previously rejected Ronaldo's suggestion to transfer, Ronaldo still felt that the current Oviedo was no longer suitable for him. This opportunity was perfect for his 'younger cousin' to become known to the outside world, so he'd agreed to Chiellini's proposal.
As for Allegri, he simply didn't take it seriously at all.
Time came for the afternoon training to begin.
The training match between the Juventus starters and substitutes began, and André appeared in the substitute lineup. The match lasted for a total of one hour, with thirty minutes for each half.
STARTING XI (4-3-3):
GK: Wojciech Szczęsny DEF: João Cancelo, Medhi Benatia, Giorgio Chiellini, Alex Sandro MID: Blaise Matuidi, Rodrigo Bentancur (double pivot), Miralem Pjanić (advanced) FWD: Mario Mandžukić (CF), Cristiano Ronaldo (LW), Paulo Dybala (RW)
It was this very lineup that had been tearing through Serie A this year, making Juventus the top favorites to win the Serie A title.
This summer, Juventus had also been active in the transfer market. Besides Ronaldo, who attracted the most fan attention, players like Cancelo in the starting lineup had joined for over forty million this summer. Additionally, on the bench, there was Douglas Costa who'd transferred from Bayern for forty million, Leonardo Bonucci who was poached from AC Milan for thirty-five million, Mattia Perin who'd transferred from Genoa for twelve million, and so on. Thus, it was no surprise that a Juventus that had spent so much money could achieve its current results.
SUBSTITUTE XI (4-4-2):
GK: Mattia Perin DEF: Mattia De Sciglio, Daniele Rugani, Leonardo Bonucci, Leonardo Spinazzola MID: Emre Can, Sami Khedira (double pivot), Juan Cuadrado (RM), Douglas Costa (LM) FWD: Federico Bernardeschi, André Cristiano
In terms of positioning, Bernardeschi's position was slightly deeper, while André spearheaded the attack at the very front.
The match soon began with the whistle of the assistant coach, who was serving as the temporary referee.
As the match started, the starters gradually took control of the situation, while the substitute lineup was plagued by constant errors. Cuadrado and Costa were clearly uncomfortable in their wide midfield positions, and André, at the very front, was submerged within the starters' defensive line. With the defense led by Chiellini and the protection of the double defensive midfielders Matuidi and Bentancur, even if André could use his height advantage to win the first ball, they were excellent at protecting the second ball. Consequently, ten minutes after the match began, the substitute lineup could find no good opportunities.
13th minute.
Ronaldo and Mandžukić performed a sudden crossover run in front of the penalty area and then received a through ball from Pjanić. Ronaldo, leaning against Bonucci, suddenly chipped the ball to the left. The player arrived just as the ball did. Mandžukić met the incoming ball with a header, and the football hit the ground, bounced, and flew into the goal.
1-0.
After the goal, Mandžukić and Ronaldo shared a hug. Their sudden positional swap, combined with the pass from the centrally advanced Pjanić, tore the substitute defense apart in an instant.
After scoring a goal, the starters' team pressured the substitutes even more, leaving them at a loss.
18th minute.
This time it was a link-up between Ronaldo and Dybala. Dybala, Cancelo, and Bentancur were positioned near the right side of the midfield. A series of passes quickly allowed Dybala to carry the ball to the wing near the byline. At that moment, Dybala's sudden fake pass drew Spinazzola's center of gravity, and then he gently poked the ball with his right foot through Spinazzola's legs. Dybala then quickly bypassed his opponent and charged directly into the penalty area. After drawing Bonucci's defensive focus, he sent a delicate chip to the far post. Ronaldo, who'd been waiting for some time, sent the ball into the goal guarded by Perin once again with a volleyed chip.
2-0.
As the match reached this point, André, who'd hardly touched the ball, stood there with his hands on his hips, helplessly watching the starting players celebrate the goal. At the very beginning, André had the idea of just going through the motions, but as the match progressed, that thought had long been cast aside. The competitive streak in his character made it impossible for him to accept such a match result.
He looked at Ronaldo celebrating.
At Dybala's skill.
At Mandžukić's movement.
At Pjanić's vision.
This is world-class football, he thought.
And I'm being embarrassed.
His eyes narrowed.
The second half was about to begin.
And André Cristiano was about to show them why Hierro believed in him.
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