The Champions League is a coveted honor for every professional footballer, and it represents the highest honor a professional can achieve at a club.

Samuel Eto'o, the only Inter Milan team to have won the Champions League, said: "No matter how many Champions League titles you've won, you never get tired of it, you just want to win more.

And for players who have never won the Champions League, the significance of winning the Champions League is unparalleled.

Especially Materazzi, Córdoba, Samuel, Lucio, Zanetti, these veterans who have never won the Champions League, this is probably their last chance, and their desire for the title is stronger than that of young people such as Gao Xiaodong, Sneijder, and Pandev.

In order to get a chance to start, to get a chance to be a substitute, and even to get a chance to be in the squad, the players of Inter Milan did their best in training, and there was even an incident where Motta and Cambiaso quarreled over a tackle.

Of course, not only did the players train hard to win Mourinho's heart, they also looked elsewhere for a chance to break into the squad.

The morning before departure, while the Inter players were training at the Pinettina base, Balotelli's agent, Raiola, arrived at 24 Via Durini.

"Hello, Mino, do you want to talk about a transfer for Balotelli? ”

Moratti originally hated Raiola very much, thinking that he instigated Ibrahimovic to go to Barcelona, but after Inter Milan eliminated Barcelona to reach the final, he felt much better about Raiola, because if it wasn't for Ibrahimovic's transfer to Barcelona, he should not have spent 50 million to buy Gao Xiaodong, and Eto'o would not come, so now Inter Milan may still be hovering outside the Champions League quarterfinals.

Raiola sat down on the sofa with a shy stomach and said with a smile: "Chairman, I'm not here to talk about Mario's transfer today, since Mourinho is ready to leave, Mario's transfer doesn't need to be so anxious, I want to talk about Mario's appearance in the Champions League final today." ”

Moratti spread his hands and said: "Mino, you have found the wrong person, you should go to Mourinho to talk, I will not care about these tactical things, I have promised him when Mourinho came." ”

Raiola smiled: "Mourinho, I will definitely go, but I need to talk to you first, first of all, I think it should be clear, remove the off-field factors, Balotelli has the strength to start, Pandev, Milito, Eto'o are not better than Mario, second, Mario and Gao Xiaodong have a good personal relationship, and the cooperation is also very good, he should play; third, if you want Balotelli to sell at a high price when he transfers, I think you should give him a chance to perform in the final." ”

Moratti waved his hand again and again, and said, "I understand what you say, but I can't help it." ”

Raiola said: "You just have to talk to Mourinho about the situation, and I will go to Mourinho. Chairman, it's the best of both worlds, I'm not thinking about my interests, I'm thinking about the interests of Inter Milan and Mario, if Mario scores a goal in the Champions League final, it may sell him an extra 10 million, and if Mario is selected for the Italian national team and plays in the World Cup in South Africa, his price may catch up with last year's high winter. ”

I have to say that Raiola can be as famous as Mendes, and he does have the ability to demagogue, Moratti was moved by the words, and said: "Okay, I'll call Mourinho later." ”

Raiola said: "Chairman, without further ado, Mourinho will announce the squad today, I hope you play now, and then I will go to Mourinho and get things done." ”

Half an hour later, Raiola left 24 Via Durini contentedly and drove his Ferrari to the Pinettina training base.

After the morning training, Raiola arrived at Mourinho's office.

"What are you doing here?"

Mourinho doesn't have a good impression of Raiola at all, and of course he is even more polite when he speaks.

Raiola was not embarrassed at all, he smiled and said: "Jose, the chairman called you, I want to come and ask you, it turns out that Mario, he is a genius, I hope you can start him in the Champions League final." ”

"Starters?" Mourinho almost laughed angrily, "Are you sure you're not here to be funny, and even if I forget Balotelli's brainless behavior off the field, why should he start?"

Raiola said unashamedly: "Mario is no worse than Eto'o, Milito and Pandev, Sneijder's injury is unknown, I think you and Inter Milan need Mario. ”

Mourinho said coldly: "No way, even if Mario is my son, he doesn't have a chance to start." ”

Raiola of course knows that Mourinho will not let Balotelli start, he is asking for a lot of money to pay back, "Jose, if you can't start, it's okay to let Mario come on as a substitute." ”

Mourinho said coldly: "Sneijder is already available to play, Mario has no chance to be a substitute." ”

Raiola said with a shy face, "It's okay to appear at those inconsequential times." ”

Mourinho was ruthless and said: "There is not a minute in the Champions League final that doesn't matter. ”

Raiola was furious and jumped up like a cat with a tail, "Mourinho, you are a communiqué personal vendetta, you are Mendes' man, Mendes wants Mario, but Mario is under my banner, so you ban him." ”

Mourinho said coldly: "Whatever you say, as long as I am the coach of Inter Milan, I have the final say on who I want to play." Please leave my office, don't send, take the door, thank you. ”

"You ......" Raiola said angrily, gritting his teeth, "Mourinho! ”

"I'll talk about it when that day comes, please, I'm going to rest. ”

……

When Raiola came to Mourinho, the two veteran captains of Inter Milan, Zanetti and Materazzi, came to Gao Xiaodong's room.

"Xiaodong, is Mu Shuai really leaving?"

Materazzi sat on the edge of the bed and asked straight to the point.

Gao Xiaodong scratched his head and said vaguely: "I don't know, I guess Mu Shuai can't be sure." ”

Materazzi continued: "Then will you go?"

Gao Xiaodong shook his head and said: "I haven't thought about this yet, let's talk about it after the Champions League." ”

Zanetti said earnestly: "Xiaodong, this is your second time in the Champions League final, for you, there are still a lot of chances to win the Champions League, but Materazzi and I only have this time, whether you go or not, I hope you can help Inter Milan get a Champions League trophy." ”

Materazzi said with a yearning face: "Yes, I was the mascot of Inter Milan for a season, just because I didn't win the Champions League, I am not reconciled, if I can realize this wish, I will retire immediately and take my wife around the world." Xiaodong, I may not have a chance to appear, but don't let me down, it's up to you whether Inter Milan can win the cup or not. ”

Gao Xiaodong's face was straight, and he said: "Captain, you think too much, whether you go or not, I will go all out to play well in the final, to be honest, after the failure in the last Champions League final, my desire for the championship trophy is no less than yours." ”

Zanetti smiled: "There have been too many rumors recently, we are afraid that you are young and have been affected, so come and talk to you, see your current state, we are relieved, don't have pressure, as long as you go all out, no matter what the final result is, we old guys can accept it." ”

Gao Xiaodong's heart warmed, and said: "Sa team, horse team, don't worry, the championship is Inter Milan's, I promise you, no one can snatch it." ”

Materazzi was relieved and said: "Okay, I believe in you Xiaodong, nothing can affect your performance, and nothing can stop you from going all out, Xiaodong, rest, let's go." ”

Materazzi and Zanetti stood up and walked out one after the other, and when they reached the door, Zanetti stopped, turned to Gao Xiaodong and said: "Although we had a misunderstanding with you at the beginning of the season and made it difficult for you, but now whether it is the Argentine gang or other players, all Inter players want you to stay." ”

After speaking, Zanetti strode away with Materazzi, leaving Gao Xiaodong standing there in a daze.