Chapter 34: Allegri, Do You Want a Defensive Midfielder or Not?
Why did Li Ang ultimately decide on AC Milan as the ideal destination for his loan in the second half of the season?
If he really wanted to list reasons, he could come up with plenty.
Looking back, with hindsight, once he'd locked in on Milan, every angle made it seem like a perfect fit.
But if he had to pick the one reason that moved him the most—the subconscious, instinctive one that made him want to go—it was simple: Andrea Pirlo.
Others might not believe it, but Li Ang knew with certainty that this would be Pirlo's final season at Milan.
At the end of this campaign, Pirlo would leave as a free agent and join Juventus.
It seemed almost unbelievable that Milan would let Juve poach Pirlo for free, especially while he was still capable of playing at a high level.
But under the mandate of the club's upper management and Allegri's radical rebuild, with no mercy shown to aging veterans, such things weren't surprising anymore.
So if Li Ang wanted to learn anything from Pirlo, it had to be this season. Either by going to Milan now, or Juventus next year.
But in terms of club relations, Madrid had far closer ties with Milan than with Juve.
That meant the Madrid front office could help facilitate direct conversations with Allegri about his role and position.
Which brought him to the second reason Milan seemed perfect.
Massimo Ambrosini was injured.
If he weren't, Li Ang would never stand a chance against Milan's long-time captain. No matter how much he wanted to play alongside Pirlo, he wouldn't go somewhere he couldn't win a starting spot.
But with Ambrosini sidelined (again), Boateng still not fully trusted, and Pirlo already beginning to lose favor, Li Ang saw a real opportunity to fight for a first-team place.
Ideally, he hoped to replace either Seedorf or Gattuso as a sweeper midfielder, using his stamina and defensive coverage to protect Pirlo.
In doing so, he could strengthen their relationship and accelerate his learning process.
Whether it worked out or not would depend on Allegri's tactics.
But for Pirlo alone, this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.
Miss this window, and he'd likely never get to play with Pirlo again. A permanent move to Juve was out of the question—Mourinho wouldn't allow it now.
This was a rare opportunity.
And Li Ang had the courage to chase it, even if it meant competing directly with Milan's aging midfield legends.
"Will Allegri give me the chance to talk to him directly?"
Li Ang jogged back toward Madrid's half after celebrating with his teammates, mind already spinning.
What he didn't know was that Allegri had already noticed him.
Even though Madrid hadn't yet contacted Milan formally, Li Ang's performance—in just under fifteen minutes—had already caught Allegri's eye.
Allegri, wrestling with both tactical and financial headaches, was practically drooling.
"Cheap and effective... Diarra's back now, so Li Ang's minutes will shrink.
If we don't move quickly, someone else will swoop in and take him.
His wages are under 100k a year... Galliani will definitely approve it!
The question is... will the kid give me a chance to pitch it to him?"
After a quick round of yelling at his players and talking tactics with his assistants, Allegri's gaze involuntarily drifted again—to where Li Ang stood.
Both men were thinking the same thing.
How do I get a chance to talk to him?
The only difference?
Li Ang was confident but cautious.
Allegri was hopeful—but nervous.
Still, with the second half starting, both set their thoughts aside and got back to the match.
Milan kicked off aggressively, pressing forward to chase an equalizer.
They'd quickly realized two things:
Their back line couldn't contain Madrid's attack.Parking the bus wouldn't work, especially after going a goal down.
So now they pinned their hopes on their front line: Ronaldinho, Ibrahimović, and Pato.
On paper, it looked like they had the firepower.
But in practice? Madrid had the upper hand.
Ibra and Pato played decently.
Ronaldinho? Utterly disappointing.
Under pressure from Li Ang and Ramos, he couldn't even distribute the ball effectively.
Even when Ramos wasn't involved, Li Ang alone stripped him of possession twice and forced another failed dribble—all within ten minutes.
Every play funneled through Ronaldinho collapsed before it could even develop.
Meanwhile, Madrid's counters were more threatening than Milan's full-fledged attacks.
28th minute. Khedira received a short pass from Li Ang after a successful tackle.
He spun and charged forward.
Khedira's big frame didn't always look useful, but today? It was perfect against Pirlo.
To be fair, Pirlo had always defended with positioning and awareness. The dirty work used to fall on Gattuso.
But Gattuso was older now, and against Mourinho's lightning transitions, he just couldn't keep up.
Without Gattuso screening him, Pirlo had to face a younger, stronger Khedira one-on-one.
The result was obvious.
Khedira broke the lines, shredded Milan's midfield.
Di María received his through pass, tore down the flank, and whipped in a cross.
Cristiano at the far post.
BOOM. Goal.
"Cristiano Ronaldo with the header! Yes!
Zambrotta couldn't hold him off! Madrid scores again before the half-hour mark—2-0!
Ronaldo has a brace, and Li Ang's defensive pass started the whole move!
Milan has no answer!"
He Wei, a lifelong Madridista, was over the moon.
Li Ang was shining. Ronaldo was on fire. Madrid was 2-0 up on Milan before halftime!
If not for the live broadcast, He Wei would've cracked open a couple beers on air.
The Bernabéu roared.
Everyone remembered how Milan had embarrassed Madrid in last season's group stage.
Now? Time to return the favor.
The goal crushed Milan.
Even though they came out swinging after the break and launched a mini-onslaught early in the second half, nothing changed.
Ronaldinho, the man who once carried their pride, was fading.
Allegri had given him the chance. He didn't take it.
57th minute—Boateng replaced Ronaldinho.
Milan shifted to a diamond 4-4-2. Boateng became the new attacking midfielder.
And surprisingly? It worked.
Milan's attack finally gained traction. Boateng and Ibrahimović started combining well. He made some dangerous runs, looked lively.
But right when the momentum started building...
Li Ang stepped in again.
He bodied Boateng off the ball. Started a war of words.
Then made a hard sliding tackle that earned him a yellow card—and nearly sparked a fistfight between Pepe and Ibrahimović.
Chaos.
But Madrid's tempo reset. Milan's attack? Disrupted.
Li Ang didn't mind the yellow.
He hadn't hurt anyone.
Sometimes, as a defensive midfielder, that's your job—kill momentum, even if it means getting a card.
From Mourinho's smirk and Allegri's sour expression, it was clear—it was worth it.
Madrid saw out the 2-0 win.
In a sea of roaring Madridistas, Milan's players trudged off in silence.
Allegri sighed, then reluctantly walked over to shake hands with Mourinho.
But the Portuguese whispered something that made his heart skip a beat.
"Massimiliano...
Do you want a defensive midfielder?
Or more specifically—what do you think of Li Ang?"
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