Football Dynasty-Chapter 47: Cold Italy

Nice Côte d'Azur Airport.

Richard settled into the sleek, lounge, absorbing the quiet hum of travelers around him.

He sat by a large window, gazing out at the planes that taxied along the runway. The sun was beginning to dip lower, casting an amber hue over the tarmac, and he took a moment to appreciate the view.

[...Fears of a property market downturn are heightened when it is reported that many homeowners looking to move are cutting the asking price of their homes by up to 20% in an attempt to speed up the sale of their property...]

The sound of a television speaker echoed through the lounge, and beside him, a couple of businessmen were deep in a heated discussion about the issue.

The last few years had been prosperous. However, no one could have predicted such a severe recession would hit so quickly.

For example property market. Just imagine, in the last three years, people bought so much property, only to find themselves now slashing the prices, losing half of their investment. People are going to go crazy.

In fact, he had already read in the newspaper: House prices in the south of England had fallen for the second consecutive quarter, but were continuing to rise in Scotland and the north of England.

"Yeah, and not to mention George Soros," Richard muttered.

And from here, he will make his biggest, most daring move.

DING

"Attention, ladies and gentlemen, flight number AZ236 to Venice, Italy, is now ready for boarding at gate 22. We kindly ask all passengers traveling to Venice to proceed to the gate."

Richard stood, grabbed his carry-on, and made his way toward the gate.

After showing his boarding pass to the attendant and with the plane soon to take off, he was ready for the next Chapter.

Only, he did not expect Italy to be so unwelcoming.

Serie A was a symbol of excellence, the heart and soul of Italian football, with AC Milan, Juventus, Internazionale, and Napoli dominating the scene.

The league featured an impressive blend of tactical mastery, world-class defenders, and attacking stars. Players like Marco van Basten, Franco Baresi, Roberto Baggio, and Diego Maradona were household names, and the competition was fierce.

Before continuing with his activities as a good agent, of course, Richard had already learned his lesson. So, before going to the stadium, he went to a consultant firm and hired an English-Italian specialist.

Calcio Padova is an Italian football club based in Padua, in the Veneto region of Italy.

They have produced some talented players who went on to play for bigger clubs in Italy and internationally. For example, Roberto Boninsegna, a prominent Italian forward, played for Padova before becoming a star at other clubs.

And why was Richard here?

To sign a legend before becoming one: Alessandro Del Piero.

The match was taking place at Stadio Silvio Appiani, nestled in the heart of Padua, Italy, where Calcio Padova was facing off against AC Parma.

Richard found himself in the stands. Then, the players from both teams entered the field and began their usual warm-ups. However, when he looked at both teams, he couldn't help but blurt out, "What the f*ck?!"

Here, Padova is in their white jerseys, sponsored by Tutto, with their proud club emblem shining bright. But there's one problem — the one and only Del Piero. 'Why is your jersey different from your teammates?' Richard thought.

In other words, Del Piero is playing... as a goalkeeper!!!

Even with his knowledge of the future, there was no way he could have known every detail, every single one of them, or everything about them. This wasn't what he had expected. The scene unfolding before him was one of those moments that left him flustered.

Sure enough, just 13 minutes into the match, Vincenzo Esposito linked up with Aldo Monza, who delivered a perfectly weighted cross into the penalty area.

Maurizio Ganz, positioned perfectly, met the ball with a header, sending it past Del Piero to give Parma a 1-0 lead.

Immediately after conceding, Richard saw Del Piero shout at his defender, Stefano Bettella. The two exchanged heated words as frustration mounted.

No more goals followed, and AC Parma secured a 1-0 victory over Calcio Padova.

Richard could only shake his head in disbelief. What the hell was going on?

That day, Richard returned to his hotel, his mind filled with confusion. The next morning, determined to clear up his doubts, he set out early for the hamlet of Saccon, a rural area in San Vendemiano. This was where the Del Piero family lived.

It was easy to find their home, as it was in the small hamlet of Saccon. Soon, Richard spotted two kids repeatedly kicking a ball against a wall. He guessed that both of them were friends of Alessandro Del Piero, and he was right.

"Alessandro, immagino sia già andato al lavoro?" one of them said. ("Alessandro, I guess he has already gone to work?"

Richard looked toward his new translator.

He said, "Alessandro probably already went to work."

"Ask him, is it Stadio Silvio Appiani?"

If he had already gone to the stadium, it meant his efforts for the day were over, and he would have to wait until tomorrow.

"No, at this hour, Alessandro usually delivers milk to Conegliano."

Richard was taken aback. 'Delivering milk? Shouldn't he be training?'

Giving them a little money, Richard introduced himself and then asked for Del Piero's house. After making sure he wasn't a dangerous person, they happily accepted and led Richard to the Del Piero home.

"Aunt, c'è qualcuno che cerca Alessandro!" ("Aunt, someone is looking for Alessandro!")

"Aunt!"

The two kids shouted, and soon a woman came out. Richard guessed that this was Alessandro's mother.

"Oh, Nelson, Pierpaolo, state già facendo confusione così presto al mattino!" ("Oh, Nelson, Pierpaolo, making a fuss so early in the morning,")

Mama Del Piero said, but she had already heard someone was looking for her son.

After Nelson and Pierpaolo bid farewell, Richard soon explained his intentions. Mama Del Piero quickly grew enthusiastic—as long as it was something related to her son's future, she was definitely excited. But there was one thing Richard miscalculated.

"Impossible!!!"

Mama Del Piero shook her head and rejected Richard's suggestion. It all started with the question, "With all due respect, Madam, Alessandro has the qualities of a forward. Why keep him in goal?"

She hesitated, but her expression remained wary. "And what if he gets hurt? What if he fails? You agents talk about potential, but it's my son's future at stake."

Richard kept his tone respectful. "Madam, I understand that you want to protect Alessandro, but keeping him in goal is holding him back. He has the instincts, the vision, and the talent of a forward. You're worried about injuries, but football is a physical sport—he can't avoid that forever."

That last sentence felt like the one that sealed the conversation for today.

Mama Del Piero shook her head. "You don't understand. He's still young. Goalkeepers don't have to run as much, they don't sweat excessively, and most importantly, they're less likely to get hurt."

"I understand your concern, but if he stays in goal, he won't reach his full potential. A talent like his belongs up front, where he can truly shine."

Mama Del Piero crossed her arms, firm in her stance. "But it's safer," she insisted. "The chances of him getting injured are lower. That matters."

Richard exhaled, trying to stay patient. "Madam, he deserves to chase his dream—not just settle for a safe option."

The discussion was still ongoing, but she didn't budge despite Richard's persuasion, even with the money he offered. He sighed at this.

Parents are deeply involved in their children's lives, even into adulthood, especially la mamma italiana or the Italian mother, who is well known for being protective and caring. Their famiglia values are truly strong.

Soon, while Richard and Mama Del Piero were engaged in a heated discussion, a truck pulled over and parked in front of the house.

"Alessandro, entra in casa! E Stefano, vieni qui subito," Mama Del Piero instructed her two sons.("Alessandro, go inside! And Stefano, come here now.")

Stefano had never spoken throughout the conversation, but he carefully listened to what was being discussed. At first, he was baffled by Richard's suggestion, but when Richard pulled out a stack of papers containing scenarios for his brother's position, he became interested.

"Posso vederlo?" ("May I see it?")

Richard nodded toward his translator and then to Stefano.

At the end of the day, there were no good results for Richard; he was helpless.

The next day, Richard came once again, but the result was the same as the day before.

Then the next day, and the next, and the next—until finally, Alessandro's mother couldn't take it anymore. This time, she called the police, and Richard was arrested for causing a disturbance.

Thankfully, Richard was not alone and had locals on his side. His translator also had his own ways of handling the situation. It didn't take long before Richard was bailed out—after all, he hadn't done anything wrong.

Looking back at the rural area of Vendemiano, Richard was reluctant to lose the chance to represent a player who could become one of the world's highest-paid footballers through salaries, bonuses, and advertising revenue.

All things considered, he gave up.

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