2: 0002 The reporter rushed into the pitch 2: 0002 The reporter rushed into the pitch He pulled out the original owner’s press card and directly boarded the plane to Shanghai.
Success or failure hinged on this single move; if he couldn’t get signed by Milan, he was basically done for.
After all, getting a visa to go abroad was very troublesome these days, especially for someone like him with both parents deceased, a fresh university graduate with no job.
It was very easy to get denied, any tendency towards immigration could get you rejected.
So, AC Milan was basically his only chance.
He randomly picked a 4-star hotel and checked in.
Although in his previous life he basically spent all his time writing, he had also opened tea shops and barbecue restaurants, so he wasn’t the complete shut-in type.
Despite losing money for various reasons, his social skills and emotional intelligence were fine.
Getting AC Milan to sign him would be very difficult.
These days, the security level for foreign dignitaries visiting China was very high, and he had no chance to sneak into the hotel.
If he wasn’t careful, he could get shot on sight.
The best method was to rush into the stadium.
That’s why he had brought the press card.
With Huang Kaiwen’s financial power, he easily infiltrated the enemy’s interior.
June 2, 2004, Hongkou Stadium.
8 years later, the world football powerhouse AC Milan made another visit to China.
Serie A was the first league broadcasted in China, and AC Milan was the most popular team in Serie A.
This trip to China completely ignited the passion of Chinese fans.
Although Milan was missing many of its main players due to the European Cup and Copa America qualifiers, it still could not stop the football market from heating up.
Redondo’s announcement of retirement made many loyal fans eager to take the last chance to watch their idol play in person.
The fans roared, waving Milan scarves, trying to convey their enthusiasm to the players on the pitch.
Without a doubt, AC Milan was more popular than the home team Shenhua.
The young fans were the main force today, not stingy with their voices, they could always buy a box of throat lozenges endorsed by Ronaldo after the match.
Back in the day, AC Milan brought stars like Papin and Baggio.
Now they’re bringing nothing but trash fish and rotten shrimp,” an older fan wasn’t satisfied with the lineup and took out his frustration on the youngsters.
These young kids had no idea; back when Milan visited China three years in a row, the likes of Papin and Baggio were playing.
Now they’re saying it’s all trash fish and rotten shrimp.
The young fans weren’t going to put up with the middle-aged man’s grumpiness, retorting sharply, “Then why are you even here watching, huh?”
Seeing the young fan’s flushed face, the uncle felt he wouldn’t win the argument so he waved his hand and muttered, “Hey~, I’m not going to stoop to your level, kid.”
If you don’t argue with them, they think they’re right.
If you argue, then they talk about manners.
But, this was just a minor incident.
On the green field, players from both teams mixed into two rows, the front row crouching, the back row standing, along with a few leaders in suits and leather shoes standing behind.
They were the high-level executives and leaders from Shenhua.
Maldini and Costacurta exchanged a smile in the front row, their smiles tinged with a touch of bitterness.
Although they had been to China several times, there always seemed to be new surprises.
Throughout his long career, Maldini had never before mixed with the opposing team’s players to take an 11-man photo.
This was a new experience for him.
Fortunately, the passion of the Chinese fans helped to heal the wounds in their hearts.
The stadium was full of red and black striped jerseys, a treatment they couldn’t enjoy in an ordinary away game.
The Milan players were all set to perform well, to repay the enthusiasm of the fans.
However, as the match progressed, the lively atmosphere at the venue cooled down, and the players from Milan started to become silent.
At halftime, Shenhua seized two chances.
In the 52nd minute, Albertz made a clever direct pass, Qu Shengqing broke through the middle and dribbled past Carrozzieri, scoring from a low shot 12 meters away, breaking the deadlock on the field, AC Milan fell behind 0-1.
In the 53rd minute, Shenhua extended the lead, Peter Viera in midfield powered through with Diana in a tug-of-war, passed directly to Sun Ji on the right flank, who then blasted the ball into the goal from 22 meters away with his right foot, making it 2-0 for Shenhua.
Not just the Milan fans, even Shenhua supporters who had come to the game ready to watch idly were stunned.
They had never imagined their home team could take a 2-0 lead over Milan.
Departure is silent like the bamboo flute; silence is tonight’s Hongqiao.
Huang Kaiwen stood by the field, holding his camera, posing professionally, quietly using the Superstar Experience Card.
[You have gained Messi’s dribbling ability, Ronaldo’s shooting technique, Klose’s heading ability, Michael Owen’s speed, Pirlo’s vision, Xavi’s organizing ability, Ferdinand’s sense of positioning, Juninho Pernambucano’s free kicks, Ronaldinho’s touch… for 30 days].
Huang Kaiwen exclaimed in amazement, thinking that if this wasn’t a trial, it must be the strongest player in the soccer world.
He took off his jacket and pants to reveal the AC Milan team uniform underneath.
Hardly anyone noticed this scene since everyone’s attention was focused on the game.
For convenience, he didn’t change his shoes.
However, today he was wearing the Puma F1 series, which looked a lot like soccer shoes, so it didn’t affect his play too much, it was just that they had no cleats.
Just then, a Shenhua player kicked the ball to the side of the field.
Seizing the moment, Huang Kaiwen didn’t say a word and, like a leopard, he dashed out, sprinting at high speed with the ball at his feet, deftly bypassing Maldini and the Shenhua player, who instinctively stretched out a foot, with a move called the “deep-fried meatball”.
Ancelotti was dumbstruck.
Both teams’ players and the fans were dumbstruck.
Zhang, who was commentating today’s game, let out a prolonged “ah” before emotionlessly saying, “A Milan fan has run onto the pitch, and he seems quite adept with the ball.”
Huang Kaiwen, who had stormed the pitch, continued advancing the ball towards Shenhua’s half.
Including the Milan players, they all tried to block him.
Borello charged at him with a sliding tackle, but Huang Kaiwen was well-prepared, moving his left foot ahead in advance and clamping the ball between his feet, propelling it forward from behind himself.
“What a rainbow flick!”
Zhang had become numb, thinking, my goodness, is this a fan unhappy with Milan’s performance, taking to the pitch to play himself?
And would you believe it, the lad played quite a professional game.
Brocchi and Shenhua’s Albertz almost simultaneously charged at Huang Kaiwen.
Driven by the unspoken understanding of professional players, they prepared to sandwich him in defense and get this disruptive fan off the pitch.
Huang Kaiwen also noticed this and picked up his pace, dribbling rapidly, with the ball always about 1 to half a meter in front of him.
As Brocchi and company approached, he suddenly tapped the ball through the gap between the two players, then accelerated, squeezing through the pair as well.
“He splits the defense with the ball!!!”
Zhang’s tone was rising.
Ancelotti’s eyes lit up on the sidelines.
High step frequency, wide strides—during this sequence, Huang Kaiwen’s dribbling closely resembled that of Milan’s “newcomer king” Kaka.
The Shenhua defense exchanged glances and made a decision, swarming towards Huang Kaiwen.
For whatever reason, they couldn’t allow a fan to cause havoc on their defensive line.
But, they overestimated themselves and underestimated Huang Kaiwen.
Faced with Jiawen Peng’s charge, Huang Kaiwen used the outside of his right foot to push the ball, quickly pulling it back with the tip of his boot, and with a flick like whipping a cow’s tail, he bypassed his opponent.
He followed up with another deep-fried meatball move to get past Dong Yang.
Seeing the situation, Li Chengming decided to play rough, using both hands and feet, and lunged at Huang Kaiwen with all his strength.
Unexpected to him, Huang Kaiwen performed a ball step-back, smoothly avoiding the tackle, and then using the “Blanc hop” to jump over this clumsy obstacle with the ball clamped between his legs, heading straight for the goal in a breakaway.
Shenhua’s goalkeeper Zhu Huiqian was incredibly nervous.
However, as a professional player, he knew that the best thing to do was to attack.
Facing the charging goalkeeper, Huang Kaiwen coolly began to juggle the ball, waiting for Zhu Huiqian to dive towards him before pulling the ball sideways to avoid him, and then rushed into the goal with the ball.
The entire stadium fell silent.
But Huang Kaiwen, far from satisfied after scoring, kept the ball under control and walked out of the goal towards the midfield.
My goodness, it looked like he was gearing up to go again.
“Damn it, catch him!”
At this point, the head of security finally remembered his duty and frantically directed the stadium security to rush onto the field.
Realizing the situation was not good, Huang Kaiwen hastily dribbled the ball while dodging the chasing players from both sides, and rushed to the edge of the field to stop.
By then, he had already been grabbed by Donati.
He didn’t struggle but shouted in Italian, “Give me a chance, you’ve seen me play—signing me will be a decision Milan won’t regret!!!”
“Please, Carlo (Ancelotti), trust me, signing me is like signing another Ballon d’Or winner.”
As he was held tightly by players from both teams and security, being escorted off the field, Huang Kaiwen began to struggle desperately, continuing to shout at Ancelotti.
If he couldn’t sign with a big club before the summer transfer window closed, then he was as good as dead.