After returning to Nottingham to resume training, some team-mates mentioned to Wood that he had the assist in the final moments. It was his sudden dribbling that created Albertini's equaliser. Even if you are familiar with George's teammates, you are surprised by his move. Not to mention the competition. Even in the usual training group competitions, George is rarely seen; Wood dribbled over thirty metres.

"Uh-huh. George; Wood, how does it feel to run around with the ball in the final moments of the game and then assist the goal? Between trainings, Ribery asked Wood.

Wood looked at him and said expressionlessly, "Not bad." ”

Ribery scratched his head: "Hey, George, you're not cooperating at all, and the memory is a headache...... Didn't your playboy agent teach you how to deal with the media? ”

"But you don't remember."

Watching the excitement around them, the teammates all burst out laughing.

Ribery coughed twice and muttered, "I don't know if you're not committed enough, or if you're too involved in the play......"

While Ribery was still joking with Wood on the training ground, Albertini didn't sit on the sidelines to rest. Instead, I went straight to the manager's office.

"Is there anything wrong with me, Demy?" Don ran tea for himself in his office, he liked to drink tea, and his habit of drinking tea was not at all like that of an Englishman. Everyone in the club knows this.

"Boss, I'd like to talk to you about George's Land......"

Don placed the teacup on the table, "George? What happened to him? ”

"I think you're a little limited in what you can do with him." Albertini said seriously.

Donn understands this person's character, he belongs to the kind of person who will say whatever he wants in his heart, so he will argue with every local coach who has coached him. But I was working with myself before. There hasn't been such a thing yet. Don felt that something was wrong. He took the initiative to find him.

So Don turned around and went to make tea again: "Do you want to add sugar or cream?" ”

"Huh? Uh, no. Thank you, Chief. I'll just drink water. ”

Donn handed the glass to Albertini, "Now let's talk about it, Demy. ”

"Boss, you use George as a midfielder. But I don't think he should be like this, his position and role should not be just a sapper, and he should be in charge of defense to complete the mission. It shouldn't be like this. Albertini shook his head.

"And what do you mean?"

"I want George to be a midfielder who can play both offensively and defensively, to be a ...... I'm playing midfielder like this. ”

"Do you control the tempo of the offense and the defense?"

Albertini nodded. 'He's got an advantage over me and Arteta because he's physically better than any of us. He can play every game for a season and play the full 90 minutes. Rotation is not required. I think stability is a core that needs to be in place, whether it's stability or playing time. It will also be easier for the team to adapt to him. ”

Donn nodded his head as Albertini watched him. So he made a gesture: "Go on." ”

'George is in great physical condition and I think it's a bit of a waste to just be a defensive midfielder. If you can apply this kind of body to the attack, it will definitely cause more problems for the opponent. Did you see our last goal? Martins, Cruz, Cambiasso are no threat to him. If we have such a guy in the front court who can hold the ball. Those who are not afraid of losing the ball will attack more calmly. ”

Donn pointed at Albertini: "You and George can do it, you take the ball, he protects, haven't we all been like this for more than a season?" ”

"If one person can do something, do you need two people?"

Albertini's rhetorical question left Donn speechless.

"If one person can do two things, then isn't the other person free to do other things? Aren't we equal to twelve people on the pitch? ”

"That's not bad for you to say, Demy. But you know George lacks talent in offense......"

Albertini shook his head and denied the claim: "Maybe it's just because he's so good defensively and it's a disguise for his other talent...... Boss, did you see him perform in the last minute of the last game? ”

Donn nodded.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Hmm...... Indeed it is. It's great and beautiful. ”

"If you really don't have talent, how can you get that passing route? You must know that the restricted area was full of people at that time. I didn't stand in the crowd and raise my hand for the ball, I just ran diagonally at me and prayed that George would see it, and he did. And passed the ball with unmistakable accuracy. Speaking of that ball, Albertini is still a little excited. He's not excited about scoring a goal, he doesn't have a lot of career goals, but he can't get excited about a goal. He was so excited that the ball came from George; Wood assists.

I think he's blind...... Demi, just by coincidence, by chance, ......"

But behind every chance coincidence, there must be an inevitability. I'm sure he probably didn't know I was in the box, but he must have seen the void and otherwise he wouldn't have passed the ball to that place. Do you agree with that, sir? ”

Don nodded, "Agreed." ”

"There are players who play all their lives and don't see that void, but Wood can. Isn't that a gift? He just showed this talent later than the others. ”

Just as the two were talking about this, assistant coach David Crislak walked in.

"What are you talking about, Tony, Demy?"

"Talk about the future of George's Land." Don spread his hands.

"George's Future?" Chris Rac didn't understand.

"I told the boss that he was mistaken about George's use. George shouldn't just be a midfield sapper who does nothing but defend. ”

Chris Rac heard Albertini say that. Looking up at Donn, wondering what he meant.

"We just had a discussion about whether George has offensive talent. What do you think, David? Don asked.

Chris Rac thought for a moment: "When he was in the youth team. I kept him playing as a defensive midfielder and told him to stay at the back when he attacked...... Because. To be honest, I don't see any offensive talent at all. ”

Albertini was a little unhappy with Chrillak's answer, and he shrugged: "If you all just tell him: you will wait in the back when you attack the ground." How is it possible that he has other talents besides defense? ”

"Uh, Demi. George was first in the team as a striker. But he didn't score a single goal and instead tackled Eastwood's leg......" Chris Lack explained to Albertini.

The Italian nodded: "I know this, coach." But at that time, George was different from now, and now George is more mature, and I believe he can do better than before...... Of course Le. I don't think he's fit to play as a striker either, he's still in the middle of a midfielder's best position. But not a sapper who can only defend. ”

"You want Wood to be the real centerpiece?" Donn points out the meaning of Albertini.

"It's the ground. Not just mentally, but tactically ......" Albertini paused. Then he said, "Actually, there is another very important reason. There's another reason why I want George to be a player like me, a midfielder who can attack and defend, and that's ...... I decided to retire. ”

The teacup on his lips stopped, and Don thought he had misheard.

Chris Rac turned to look at the Italian sitting on the sand.

"Sorry...... I heard you right, Demy, you just said you were going to retire? Chrislak asked.

Albertini nodded: "My contract expires this season. ”

"Oh no, no...... The club has prepared a brand new contract for you, everything is fine, as long as you sign it, you can continue to play. There's nothing wrong with that......" Chris Rac panicked. He thought Albertini had said this because the club had not announced a contract extension with him for a long time.

"You misunderstood me. David. I thought about it seriously when I was injured before the season. I don't think it's possible for my body to recover anymore, and if I continue like this, I'm going to play a few games and get injured a few more games in the future. It's not helpful for the team, I don't want to be a place to sit in the stands and get paid...... Rubbish. ”

Don put down his teacup. Pull open the drawer and rummage through it.

"So I decided that after the end of the season. Not renewing the contract with the club. Then I went back to Italy to take coaching courses, and when I retired, I wanted to be a coach, which I had wanted for a long time......"

Donn walked over and waved Albertini to continue, handing a document to the Italian.

"It's not time to say goodbye yet, Demi. This is a draft contract that the club has prepared for you and we are preparing to talk to your local agent. ”

Albertini flipped through it and gave it back to Donn. "I'm grateful for the trust the club has placed in me...... It's a great contract. ”

It's really generous, it's the same two-year period, and there is no set number of appearances. There are no rules on the number of goals, assists, and no restrictions on him continuing to receive a salary. Wages have even increased compared to the first contract, as the club's finances have improved and the overall salary level of the team has increased.

"But I can't accept it."

Donn looked at the expression on Albertini's face, "Do you think it's a handout, Demy?" ”

Albertini shook his head.

"You deserve this contract. The team still needs you, and if I go out and say to them, 'Your captain has decided to stay with the team', do you know how happy they would be? Donn pointed to the window behind him.

Take a look at the last game, you surface

How brilliant it is. You're not old. Demi. ”

Albertini tilted his head and smiled: "Both are thirty-four years old." Not old yet? I could play like that for a season when I was younger. Now I only play once in a while, that's the difference. ”

The news was too sudden for Donn. When Albertini was injured, he was worried about it. However, Dedemi was very optimistic at that time, so he gradually forgot about it. Unexpectedly, optimism was only superficial, and he had been planning for it.

Chris Rac looked at the stubborn Albertini and didn't know what to say.

But Donn was even more stubborn than Albertini: "No, Demy. I want you to rethink the retirement grounds. Didn't you just say you wanted George to be a midfielder like you? If you retire at the end of the season, how can he do what you do? If you must leave. Please stay for another year. Help us, train George. You can tell him personally in the game, in training...... What do you think of my proposal? ”

Albertini looked at Donn: "Am I the one who made this proposal?" ”

Don nodded.

"I'm the one who is here to solve this problem now?"

Don continued to nod.

Albertini lowered his head and thought about it seriously, but Don didn't rush him, turned back and continued to drink tea.

"It's really only a year?" Albertini's voice rang out.

"A year. But if you feel like a year isn't enough. It needs to be longer, and I have no problem with that. Donn laughed.

"Okay, I'll sign. Tomorrow I will call the broker. You've won. Chief. However, this is my last contract and I will be officially retiring at the end of next season. ”

To be able to keep Albertini for the team for another season is already a good result. Don didn't have much to ask for.

"As you wish, Demy. Okay, now let's go training. ”

Albertini left with Chris Lac. Don didn't rush back to the training ground, he made some hot water for the cold tea, and then stood in front of the window again with the teacup. Look out at the training ground.

He also thought that offering a very generous contract would allow Albertini to develop more affection for Forest. Outcome...... Neither Atletico Madrid, nor Lazio, nor Nottingham Forest, could leave a deep imprint on him, as if he had slashed through the back of a knife. No matter how hard it is. Only a white trail remained, and over time. It will slowly disappear. For him, AC Milan is a knife blade, it hurts, and it bleeds, but when the bleeding stops, it will leave an indelible scar, no matter how long it takes. Unless you die, you will stay in that place.

Looking at Albertini who had reappeared on the training ground, Donn sighed.

A day later. Nottingham Forest officially held a press conference, club chairman Evan; Dogetty, the team's head coach Toney; Donne, as well as player Dmitrio; Albertini was in attendance.

At the press conference, Don first announced the news of the contract renewal.

“…… I'm happy to announce this decision, Demy has signed a new contract with the team. For the next season, our 4 captain will stay here. Fight together. ”

There was a round of applause in the table.

Donn pointed to Albertini. It was his turn to speak.

'I'm thankful that the club was able to offer me a very good contract and I love Nottingham Forest, having been with Forest for two seasons and giving me lots of joy and good memories. Everyone here is so nice to me, I don't feel like I'm a foreigner at all. This was the main reason why I decided to renew my contract for another year. Thank you to the president of the club, thank you to Coach Donn, thank you to every teammate in my place. I've decided to stay and fight with you guys for another season. ”

There was another round of applause.

"At the same time, I have already made a decision that this will be the last contract of my career as a player."

The Chronicles were ill-prepared for this statement, and they looked at each other.

Don sat to the side, listening to Albertini in silence.

"At the end of next season, I will officially retire and end my professional career. This is a deliberate result. Thank you. ”

With that, Albertini got up and shook Donn's hand, then turned to leave.

Don turned to the reporters and said, "As you can see, luckily Demy agreed to play for another year, unfortunately Demy will only play for one year. I don't have much to say, that's the end of today's press conference, thank you, goodbye! ”