Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions
Chapter 218 - 189: Materazzi Blasts on Social Media, Wanda: Your Mouth Really Stinks!

Chapter 218: Chapter 189: Materazzi Blasts on Social Media, Wanda: Your Mouth Really Stinks!

With the team’s top striker Icardi not on the field, Inter Milan secured a clean and efficient 2-0 home victory against Lazio, thanks to goals from Tang Long and Bonazzoli.

The Blue-Black Corps still closely trails Napoli, holding hope for qualifying for the Champions League.

Inside the Sky Sports studio.

On the "Weekly Serie A" news segment, Dilata stands before the camera.

This is an exclusive program hosted by Sky Sports’ veteran anchor Dilata, primarily reviewing weekly Serie A headline news.

The theme of this episode’s 30-minute program focuses on Icardi.

Today’s three guests are quite distinguished.

From the northern three giants of Serie A.

They are Inter Milan legend Materazzi, AC Milan legend Shevchenko, and Juventus legend Piero.

The group engaged in a grand debate on Icardi’s situation at Inter!

The debate theme is: [Is the situation that Icardi faces at Inter fair?]

After Dilata’s opening remarks, the three legends immediately shifted their gaze from her chest to the camera.

As an Inter Milan legend and a key player who followed Inter Milan to win the treble in 2010, Materazzi spoke first.

He fiercely criticized Icardi’s selfish mentality, stating that this player is not yet mature and has a long way to go to become a top striker.

"To say Inter Milan hasn’t supported Icardi, I think is utter nonsense!"

"Except for injuries, Icardi has started in all matches and played the full match in most games; we have the data to back this up."

"In the match against Palermo, Icardi played but didn’t score, feeling downhearted, greatly due to Mancini replacing Tang."

"However, if you look at Inter Milan’s schedule, right after playing Palermo, they face Lazio, then the Coppa Italia final against Juventus, followed by the Milan derby and the UEFA Europa League final."

"These 4 matches are tough battles! Every hurdle is difficult!"

"Just because Icardi wants to win the European Golden Boot, should Tang not be allowed to rest?"

"This is an extremely absurd idea; if we operate on this notion, Inter could just disband!"

Materazzi fully spoke from the perspective of Inter Milan Club.

He considered himself part of Inter Milan’s management, regarding the issue with a broad perspective.

However, on the other side, AC Milan’s legendary striker Shevchenko held a reserved opinion.

"Marco, don’t forget, Icardi is Inter Milan’s top scorer!"

"He’s scored 40 Serie A goals, breaking the single-season scoring record in Serie A history, so why shouldn’t Inter Milan help Icardi fight for the European Golden Boot?"

"As a former striker myself, I understand how much a striker desires the Golden Boot."

"Especially at the age of 22 like Icardi, if he could challenge for the European Golden Boot, that would be an extraordinary achievement."

"It’s apparent that Inter Milan isn’t united enough and hasn’t given Icardi sufficient importance. Perhaps that’s why Icardi exploded, I suppose."

Materazzi cast a sidelong glance at Shevchenko.

These two often clashed in Milan derbies during their playing days, and many times, Materazzi was tasked with marking Shevchenko.

They mutually dislike each other, and their off-field relationship wasn’t great either.

"Not united enough? I don’t know what you mean by united."

"Shevchenko, you’re a striker, so of course, you’ll look at the issue from your perspective."

"There’s a saying: on the soccer field, forwards are mostly selfish. But if I’m speaking from a defender’s viewpoint, the team’s overall situation must be the priority!"

Shevchenko indifferently snorted disdainfully.

He sarcastically said to Materazzi, "That’s why you can’t be a striker, Marco. Forwards are selfish, what’s wrong with that? Just ask Piero."

With both gazes turning to Juventus’ legend Piero.

Host Dilata also naturally directed the conversation towards him.

"Mr. Piero, what do you think about this issue?"

As the prince of the Juventus Corps, Piero wasn’t tall or fast but was Juventus’ top historical scorer and one of Italy’s most greats.

After retiring, Piero went to the University of Turin to study sports management.

He now works in a management role at a sports consulting firm.

He spoke slowly, but every word was carefully considered before being spoken.

"I believe you both have valid points, it’s all about where you sit."

"If considering from Inter Milan Club’s angle, amidst a demanding schedule, a player’s game time must be scientifically allocated to prevent injuries while ensuring the team has sufficient stamina for subsequent matches."

"So Mancini substituting Tang Long in the match against Palermo is perfectly fine since Inter Milan was already 3-0 up and Tang Long had played for an hour; why waste his stamina on the pitch?"

"As Materazzi mentioned, several tough matches await, and Tang, as a professional player, is contracted by Inter Milan, not Icardi’s personal contract. He isn’t to serve Icardi alone."

"A club is never one person’s club, especially for a giant like Inter Milan. For an individual like Icardi to want things his way, commanding the team’s obedience, he should ask himself if he’s Messi or C Luo?"

"But from Icardi’s personal perspective," Piero shifted his tone, "he surely feels the club and teammates haven’t supported him enough. Especially at just 22, with high ambition, it’s understandable."

"If I were Icardi, I’d be upset too. What forward wouldn’t want to win the European Golden Boot?"

Piero pondered for a moment, then continued his analysis, "Actually, there’s a better solution to this."

"Oh? How so?" Diletta pressed further.

"Mancini shouldn’t promise Icardi playing time. Just keep him on the bench; after all, he hasn’t fully recovered from his cold. That’s a sufficient reason."

Host Diletta nodded frequently.

Compared to the extreme views of Materazzi and Shevchenko, Piero’s seemed more well-rounded.

He also stood from Mancini’s perspective, offering a suggestion for how things could have been handled better.

"Now, discussing this is actually retrospective. What’s concerning people now is whether Icardi’s actions will negatively affect the locker room. This could have a negative impact during their league sprint." Diletta commented.

"I don’t think it will have much of an impact. You can tell from the Inter players’ attitude towards Icardi and the North Stand Inter fans’ attitude towards him."

"From what I know, just a rumor, just a rumor," Piero adjusted his black-framed glasses and smiled, "Icardi blocked all the Inter team members’ phone numbers. On the day he skipped training, the players couldn’t reach him."

This claim made Shevchenko, who had been defending Icardi, also visibly shocked!

"Is this true?"

"Just a rumor, but you know the drill." Piero smiled at Shevchenko.

"Need to ask? It must be that Wanda’s doing." Materazzi was outraged, almost slamming the table.

"Of all people, Mauro chooses his wife as his agent. This Wanda, has she even studied? Clearly, the conflict is between Icardi and the club, and Mancini, but it’s now turned into a conflict with the whole team!"

"This couple’s actions not only lose the club’s support but also isolate them from teammates, putting them in a precarious position."

The more Materazzi spoke, the angrier he became, his face turning red.

"Threatening the club by refusing to train and blocking teammates’ phone numbers, if I were still on the Inter team, I’d slap the kid. Damn, who do you think you are?"

"You’re capable of that, I believe you could," Piero teased, "Marco, you did the same with Balotelli, right?"

"That’s right, I did just that back then. Mario got beaten up by me, but he submitted and later even gave me an iPad, haha!"

"And I must reiterate, the match against Lazio proved that this Inter can do without Icardi, but the only one they can’t do without is Tang! I hope Icardi sees this clearly!"

...

This interview with Sky Sports has further fueled the Icardi incident.

After all, this prime-time program has a wide audience in Italy, far surpassing regular news shows.

The harsh criticism from an Inter legend towards Inter’s top scorer has given the Inter management a headache.

With Materazzi’s character, trying to shut his big mouth would be difficult even for the former chairman Moratti.

Materazzi wasn’t content with just cursing on the program; he continued on his social media, criticizing that some Inter players aren’t worthy of wearing the jersey.

Icardi hasn’t responded yet, but his wife Wanda has already started a remote spat with Materazzi online.

"Marco, you’re such a foul-mouthed man. Said you’d smack my husband? Do you want to headbutt my husband down with your head?"

This was a jab at the 2006 World Cup final where Materazzi provoked Zidane, leading to Zidane headbutting him.

Materazzi wasn’t polite either and shot back directly.

"You’ll be the death of your husband! Foolish woman, troublemaker, you’re ruining the great future of a talented forward with your own hands!"

The Inter Club has remained professional and calm.

All players have been told to keep quiet and not discuss the matter.

For now, they have more important things to focus on.

That is the Coppa Italia final against Juventus!

On Wednesday morning, after finishing the last training session before the match, Tang Long walked home.

Ever since moving to a new place, the training ground was much closer to his residence, only taking about 20 minutes on foot.

Carrying his bag, he hadn’t walked far when a red mini cooper slowed down beside him.

"Tang, need a ride?"

The window rolled down, and it was Diletta driving.

Wearing a light-colored denim jacket over a white sleeveless tight vest, the golden pendant hanging from her chest extended into the depths below.

The pendant was half-hidden, only half-visible, the other half unseen.

Diletta was sitting, and Tang Long stood by the car window, his gaze following the pendant downwards.

He was carefully wondering what the lower half of the pendant looked like.

"Is it nice? Want to come up and continue looking? I can give you a ride." Diletta said.

"Is it on the way? If it is, sure," Tang Long recognized the Sky Sports host who had once interviewed him, "if not, forget it. I can walk."

Diletta rested her arm on the car window, chewing gum, gesturing for Tang Long to get in.

"Whether it’s on the way or not, a few gas pedals will get there."

"Do you know where to go?"

"Kidding? I’m a journalist. I know where you live."