The scrimmage was in full swing.
Red Team vs. Blue Team.
Red Team had Šuker, Kaká, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Nesta, and others.
Blue Team was made up of Pato, Pirlo, Seedorf, Simunić, and Šimić.
It was 7v7, emphasizing teamwork and spatial coordination.
Pato, just newly signed by AC Milan, was still unfamiliar with the tactics and tempo.
Fortunately, Milan's playing rhythm wasn't too fast, so he wasn't completely lost.
Still, his overall positioning and movement needed work.
But this was common for rookies; with time and more chemistry, it would improve.
Ancelotti was watching Pato closely, valuing his ball-carrying ability above all.
The moment he received the ball, Pato would drive forward with his explosive power and physicality, pushing past the defense.
Pato was like a smaller Kaká — provided he could unlock his potential.
The scrimmage continued.
Pato was a bit flustered, surrounded by strong teammates and even stronger opponents.
Unlike the looser pace back in Brazil, Milan's tempo was tight and full of threat.
Especially during counterattacks, every Milan pass was highly penetrating, making it hard for Pato to keep up.
Often, while he was still waiting for a pass, Pirlo had already slipped the ball through.
This made it difficult for Pato to follow up.
"Sorry! My fault!"
Seeing the ball get through without him, Pato immediately raised his hand to admit his mistake.
Pirlo didn't mind, continuing his calm and steady play.
"Damn, he's so strong!"
Pato whispered to himself, impressed by Pirlo's midfield control.
Compared to his teammates in Brazil's Internacional, Pirlo was on a whole different level.
Every Pirlo pass felt meaningful, not blind but purposeful.
It was as if his entire body was filled with cunning and foresight to control the game like that.
But even Pirlo's dominance in midfield couldn't stop the opponent's pressure.
No fancy combos — whenever the ball reached Kaká's feet, Pirlo's carefully set midfield would be ripped apart.
Kaká feinted past, then made a diagonal pass.
Šuker immediately followed up and scored.
The ball slid smoothly into the net, as if they had no goalkeeper.
Watching Milan's players perform so well, Pato refused to give up.
After observing for a while, he suddenly shifted toward the middle.
Because he was inconspicuous, no one paid much attention.
Kaká made a sideways pass to Šuker.
Šuker didn't run forward but waited for the ball in place.
At that moment, a figure flashed by swiftly.
Pato had made a late run from behind and snatched the ball from Šuker's feet.
"You little brat!"
Šuker chased after him.
With powerful bursts, he quickly caught up.
Pato was fast, but Šuker was faster.
"What kind of burst is that!"
Pato was startled but kept his composure, calmly pushing the ball sideways, baiting Šuker to reach out.
The moment Šuker stretched his leg, Pato suddenly pulled the ball back.
The ball slipped through Šuker's legs.
Pato glided past.
The entire field fell silent.
Even the red team's keeper didn't react to Pato's shot — they were all staring at Šuker.
Pato was puzzled.
Then, in the next second, the field exploded with laughter.
"Šuker got nutmegged! Hahaha!!"
"Serves you right! Hahaha!!"
"Nice one, rookie!"
"Keep going! Keep nutmegging Šuker!"
Everyone was laughing loudly.
Pato couldn't help but grin.
He felt he had just done something remarkable!
Šuker slowly straightened up.
He looked at Pato, then spread his hands:
"Have you never been nutmegged before? What's so funny? So childish!"
Gattuso laughed so hard he was clutching his stomach, rolling on the floor.
Šuker, embarrassed and angry, snapped:
"You're my teammate, damn it!"
"Hahaha!"
Gattuso laughed even harder.
The whole place erupted in laughter, even Pirlo egging Pato on to nutmeg again.
Pato was a bit embarrassed by the praise but very happy inside.
Šuker squinted slightly watching this.
Kaká noticed and sighed:
"They forgot another one of Šuker's quirks!"
Nesta added:
"He's petty!"
Sure enough, after being nutmegged, Šuker's attitude changed.
He stopped focusing on scoring and started going for nutmegs!
"Pass it!"
Šuker got the ball, shifted his body left, Pato followed.
Šuker feinted right, Pato followed again.
Suddenly Šuker stopped.
Pato reached his foot out, but Šuker's was faster.
He slid the ball through Pato's legs and quickly moved past the side.
Pirlo followed, but Šuker again nutmegged him first.
Though Šuker fell in the process, he was very pleased.
"Oh~~ Got nutmegged~~"
Šuker mocked sarcastically.
Pirlo was frustrated.
Šuker kept nutmegging again and again, nearly nutmegging the entire blue team.
His entire game turned into a nutmeg exhibition.
He even nutmegged Gattuso once while receiving a pass.
"I'm your teammate! Why nutmeg me?" Gattuso roared.
Šuker didn't care.
Whether teammate or not, Gattuso was laughing the hardest.
After nutmegging nearly everyone, Ancelotti finally stopped the scrimmage.
Šuker got scolded and was sent off to run laps.
While running, Šuker still made nutmeg gestures, taunting:
"Yo~~ I nutmegged the whole team! Can't you close your legs?"
Facing such a petty guy, Pirlo and the others gave up.
Only Pato suffered.
Every nutmeg was aimed at him.
He lost count of how many times he'd been nutmegged.
Eventually, he stopped opening his legs, standing like a telephone pole as Šuker passed by.
After the day's training, Maldini announced a pre-season gathering — a chance to bond and welcome the new players.
The venue was a hotel near Milan.
After freshening up, everyone slowly made their way to the gathering.
AC Milan cared a lot about image.
Even Šuker had started paying attention to his outfits since joining Milan.
Looking sloppy was not an option — partly due to club rules, as Šuker was the face of Milan, partly for publicity.
A little casualness once or twice was fine, but constant sloppiness was unacceptable.
Milan's cool guys weren't joking around.
At the Milan Grand Hotel, everyone practically walked with swagger — except one clueless kid.
Pato still wore the same orange polo with a standing collar and cargo shorts.
His second-hand Rolex was worn on his wrist but seemed adjusted to fit perfectly.
Still, he looked completely out of place.
Next to a group of stylish men, he looked like a total misfit.
When he tried to enter the hotel, security even mistook him for a fan and blocked the door.
If not for Ambrosini stepping in, Pato probably wouldn't have gotten in.
At the gathering, Maldini's first words:
"No drinking tonight!"
One sentence brought back painful memories.
Šuker once got everyone drunk alone — no one would admit it, but it was embarrassing.
Even the tough Gattuso quietly kept his mouth shut.
He was the first to pass out!
"None at all?" Pato looked disappointed.
Inzaghi teased:
"Maybe you can have a drinking contest with Šuker."
Nesta joked:
"If you want him dead, just say it!"
"Let him try, what if?"
"No way, even the captain hasn't drunk."
Ahem.
Maldini cleared his throat and interrupted.
"Alright, the purpose of tonight's gathering is to welcome Alexandre Pato! Also, from now on, Massimo (Ambrosini) will be vice-captain, and Nesta will be third captain."
"When I'm not at the club, you all listen to Massimo!"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Maldini then looked at Šuker:
"Šuker, you hear that?"
Šuker shouted loudly:
"Don't worry, boss! I support the captain!"
Maldini sighed, shaking his head.
Looks like Ambrosini can't control Šuker at all.