He was loaned to Lazio by Carlo Ancelotti last season in exchange for Pancaro. During the winter break, Galliani made it clear to Albertini, who was still in his mind: "There is no place for you in AC Milan these days, Demy. Pirlo, Gattuso, these young people are doing a good job in your position, not to mention we have Kaka......"

Albertini finally knew one thing: maybe he didn't know where the last leg of his career would be, but certainly not at San Siro.

In this cold winter, Albertini left Milanello alone and signed a new contract with Lazio - a two-year service with an annual salary of 1.25 million euros after tax. Since then, he has completely taken off the red and black sword stripes of AC Milan and replaced them with the blue jersey of the Blue Eagle Lazio.

Unexpectedly, his Lazio career lasted only one season before it was about to come to an end. Lazio needed to sell a lot of players because of the team's financial difficulties, and Albertini, who was considered "old and frail", was naturally on their purge list. In fact, even if Lazio does not settle with Albertini, his agent Blanchini has the intention of having a showdown with Lazio.

No, Atalanta, who had just been promoted from Serie B to the first division, sent an invitation to his players.

If it weren't for the British, they might have to agree to Atlanta's terms...... But now, Tony? Donn came with an Italian translator and gave them an even more enticing invitation – a place in the main players of the Forest team, an annual salary not lower than their original income level in Lazio (various bonuses are not included), a chance to compete in the UEFA Cup, and ...... A "2+1" contract of up to two years, with a further one-year renewal in the final year depending on form and appearances.

Albertini and Blanchini muttered a few words, and his agent looked up and said to Donn: "Demi wants to know, what made you come here from England specifically to want him, who is already planning to retire, to join the team?" ”

If you ask that, it means that there is a door. Don was overjoyed: "Even though we're all promoted horses like Atlanta. But Nottingham Forest are not aiming for relegation, we have bigger plans, can Atalanta qualify for the UEFA Cup this season? We have! Moreover, the Forest team is mostly young at the moment, and I believe that Demi's experience is what the Forest team needs most. In addition, I think...... Demi, at thirty-two, it's really too early for you to start thinking about retirement! Thirty-two-year-old Paul? Maldini remains the captain of AC Milan, with the 32-year-old Rijkaard leading a group of youngsters to the Champions League...... And you, Demy, it's not that I'm talking nonsense, and now you have such an opportunity. ”

Donn cites two important players in Milan's history, which are real examples of what happened around Albertini, and they carry no less weight.

Albertini was silent for a moment before asking himself: "I heard that Italian players don't seem to be happy in England......"

"Oh no." Donn shook his head, "Think of Zola, think of Vialli. Zola is Chelsea's all-time best foreign player and is behind only Eric Cantona in the Premier League Tournament of the Decade. That's not a low achievement, Demi. I'm sure you won't be worse than them. And what appeals to you about Atlanta? Their shirt only reminds you of Inter Milan......"

This factor should not be taken lightly, but it may play a role in determining the surname.

Donn is right, Atalanta's home jersey is a blue and black sword-striped shirt, and if you change to a chest advertising sponsor, it looks almost no different from AC Milan's city rival Inter Milan from a distance. Albertini was a staunch supporter of AC Milan, and even in the 02-03 season, when Milan made it clear that they wanted to abandon him, he said: "If I have to leave, I want to play abroad." Because I don't want to be an enemy of Milan. "In the end he went to Atletico Madrid.

Although he went to Lazio the following season, Donn believes it was a reluctant move. No team abroad has taken a fancy to him, and in order to be able to play, he has to choose to be loaned to Lazio by Milan in order to be on loan from Rome to Ancelotti's favourite Pancaro - perhaps his last contribution to Milan.

With better conditions than Atalanta, the trust and respect of the manager, and the psychological burden of not having to deal with AC Milan, Donn was convinced that Albertini belonged to him, so he stopped talking and waited quietly for an answer from the other side of the table.

After listening to Donn's words, Albertini closed his eyes. For him, the future that seemed to have been calm has changed again, and what should he do in the last part of his career?

Going to Atalanta, there is no exciting goal, maybe wearing the captain's armband, then playing for two years, announcing his retirement in obscurity, and only then will anyone rethink - ah, it turns out that Albertini from the Milan dynasty is still playing!?

Going to a strange team in a strange country, taking on a new challenge, leading a group of hairy lads to work towards a goal that is even higher than the UEFA Cup, what kind of evaluation will he get when he decides to retire three years later?

Do you choose to die in obscurity, or try a new adventure, maybe you will succeed, or maybe you will still leave in obscurity...... Maybe it's been a long time, maybe it's just a half-minute pause. Donn finally waited for Albertini's answer.

The Italian with curly hair and a slightly pale face nodded lightly: "I want to ...... Tony? Mr. Donne, although I am not familiar with your team, or even English football. But I think ...... It was perhaps a choice worth the risk I had. Trust me, and I won't let you down! ”

At this moment, the lost Albertini was gone, replaced by a young man who had regained his youthful brilliance, bursting with infinite vitality and competitiveness. That's right, this Englishman is quite right, at the age of thirty-two to consider retiring, too early!

※※※ Three days later, in the list of players officially announced by Lazio to rush for gold, there is no Demitrio? Albertini's name. The following day, Lazio FC announced that they had terminated Albertini's contract, thanking Albertini for his contribution to the team over the past year and wishing him the best of luck.

In the afternoon of the same day, the post-80s Shaolin abbot stood at the first time to announce the team's free introduction of Italian midfielder Demitrio who terminated his contract with Lazio? Albertini signed a two-year contract, and in the final year of the contract, Albertini will decide whether to extend the contract for another year, depending on Albertini's performance and number of appearances.

The news is above a picture of an Italian with curly hair and Tony? Donn stands together and poses for a photo with the Forest jersey. The number on this shirt is the same as Albertini's number in Milan - number four, the only difference is that there is no trace of black on it except for red.

After dealing with Albertini's transfer, Done went on to set his sights on the experienced veterans who are most needed by Forest right now.

Another person who has come into his sights is the former captain of the Spanish national team, who has just left the Qatar league, and the captain of La Liga giants Real Madrid, Hierro.

Unlike Albertini, Hierro left Real Madrid not because of his age and declining competitive form, but because he offended the club's hierarchy. So in the summer of 2003, Real Madrid had just won their 29th league title, and the next day, Hierro was swept away by Florentino.

When this news was announced, it caused quite a stir. Hierro, who left the team, followed the advice of his agent and went to play in the rich Qatari league. But after a season, he can't tolerate playing just to make money like in Qatar, or he doesn't feel like he's down enough to go to the Qatar league to pan for gold. So after one season, he decisively terminated the contract of the Qatari league team and decided to find a European team with some strength.

At this time, Forest and Bolton approached Hierro's agent almost at the same time, as in the previous competitions. Nottingham Forest, whose conditions are much better than Bolton's, won Hierro's favour. Former Real Madrid captain thinks Toney? Donn's Forest are a team that really wants to do something big, and it's not a loss for him to come here. In other words, he can have a chance to slap Real Madrid President Florentino in such a team.

There are many opinions about the options for Albertini and Hierro, with the prevailing one being that the two are late in their careers, hoping to come to a team to play their best and then wait to retire. No one would believe that they came here with ambition and dreams of success.

This is understandable, after all, losers always think that everyone in the world is like them.

They won't get a chance to hear what Don said when he introduced the two veterans in team training: "Boys, from now on, if you don't work hard, your place will be taken by the old guys!" ”

(To be continued)