On May 20, 2007, the final of the Italian U19 Youth League was held at the Guido Angelini Stadium in Chieti.
The teams facing each other were the U19 youth teams of the Nerazzurri Inter Milan and I Blucerchiati Sampdoria.
Although it was only a youth team match, it still attracted more than five thousand spectators.
The match had entered the 89th minute, and the score on the scoreboard was still 0–0.
Inter Milan's youth team head coach, Vincenzo Esposito, could no longer sit still, pacing anxiously back and forth on the sidelines.
"Mario!"
On the field, an Italian teenager wearing the Nerazzurri Inter number ten jersey winked at a nearby teammate, who immediately nodded, clearly understanding.
The Inter number ten dribbled the ball in the attacking third. Facing the aggressive pressing of Sampdoria midfielder Andrea Poli, the teenager smiled faintly.
He flicked the ball over his head with his heel, then made a simple acceleration to beat his opponent and he was through!
After successfully getting past his marker, the Inter number ten did not forget to glance back at Poli, who had now become nothing more than a background figure.
Pirlo's successor? Is that all?
"Beautiful!"
"Bravo!"
Inter Milan supporters raised their arms, cheering for the team's performance.
Even head coach Vincenzo on the sidelines clenched his fists, watching the field intently.
The exquisite rainbow flick boosted the morale of the Inter Milan youth team, but dribbling alone was not enough; to win the match, goals were needed.
Having reached the final, Sampdoria's young players were naturally not to be underestimated, and their defense quickly returned to their positions.
There was no time to waste; the Inter number ten did not even look at his teammates before decisively sending a long pass into the penalty area.
At that moment, a dark-skinned figure forcefully shook off the marking of Sampdoria defender Rossini and burst into the penalty area.
This was none other than the Nerazzurri's number nine striker, the "Little Black." Relying on his height and physical advantage, he held off the Sampdoria defender, controlled the ball with his chest inside the box, and smashed a half-volley into the net.
Goal!
1-0!
In the 88th minute of the match, the Inter Milan youth team finally broke the deadlock.
The magnificent goal was jointly created by Inter Milan U19's midfield maestro Leonardo and the prodigious striker Mario Balotelli.
Relying on their outstanding individual ability and extremely tacit understanding, the two scored a crucial goal.
After holding on for nearly ninety minutes only to collapse at the final moment, the young Sampdoria players watched their opponents celebrate near the corner flag with frustration.
"Mario! What a beautiful goal!"
"Hehe, it's all thanks to your breakthrough and pass, boss!"
Balotelli's "boss" was naturally Leonardo. Leo, who had loved playing football since childhood, possessed excellent ball control. With hard work and a bit of luck, at the age of twelve he was discovered by Inter Milan scouts and officially became a member of the Nerazzurri academy.
After joining Inter Milan, Leo trained very diligently, but he did not make many friends.
Fortunately, last summer, a black youngster named Balotelli joined Inter Milan. Whether due to shared misfortune or compatible personalities, in any case, they quickly became friends.
Leo and Balotelli were not ordinary individuals; with their exceptional talent, they stood out among other young players in the competition.
Now, not yet seventeen years old, the two had already firmly secured starting positions in the U19 youth team of Serie A giants Inter Milan.
In competitive sports, strength is everything; as long as you are strong enough, no one can look down on you.
It was also for this reason that Leo and Balotelli forged a deep friendship in just one year.
At Sampdoria's urging, Inter Milan finally ended their celebration.
With the kickoff from the center circle, Sampdoria, trailing on the scoreboard, still tried to find an opportunity to equalize.
But time was running out, and when Bonucci's flying tackle broke up their final attack, referee Cassino blew the whistle to end the match.
We won! We are champions!
Balotelli, flashing a wide grin with his white teeth, hoisted Leo onto his shoulders, while the Inter Milan youngsters happily waved to their supporters in the stands.
Leo was also very pleased. He had won the first championship trophy of his career, and perhaps first-team head coach Mancini would notice his performance and call him up to the first team next season.
As long as he could join the first team… Inter Milan fans were very happy this year. After the Calciopoli scandal, the two northern powerhouses fell into decline, leaving almost no rivals on the Apennine Peninsula.
Under Mancini's leadership, the Nerazzurri easily claimed the Serie A title this season.
With both the first team and the youth team performing so well, it should logically have been double the joy, but reality was not quite so.
Because club president Moratti wanted the team to achieve results in European competitions as soon as possible, this meant that Inter Milan would almost certainly not give many opportunities to young players.
The first team would mainly rely on signing talented star players to seek breakthroughs.
"Well done, lads! I'm proud of you!"
Head coach Vincenzo was a little emotional, wondering how many of these players would still be with the team next season.
Of course, he would also be happy for the youngsters if they found good opportunities and greater development.
After all, it was just a youth team match, and the award ceremony was rather perfunctory.
The Inter Milan youth team players received their championship medals from the presenter, Luca Facchetti.
That's right Luca Facchetti, who presented the awards, was the son of Giacinto Facchetti, the legendary defender, the banner of the Azzurri, and an Inter Milan legend.
Balotelli foolishly took a bite of his medal, and Leo did not have time to stop him.
"Why are you biting it?"
"Huh? I don't know, I just wanted to bite it."
"This is definitely not gold… What? Then why are you biting it?"
Leo thought Balotelli wanted to check whether the medal was gold, but that was not the case at all.
Leo also had a headache dealing with this teammate and best friend of his.
Simply put, he was unreliable, both on and off the field.
Off the field, if Balotelli ran into problems, Leo could help solve them, including but not limited to not being able to tie his shoelaces, not being able to put on a jacket, not being able to take off a vest, and so on.
Although they were the same age, Leo always looked after Balotelli like an older brother, and Balotelli had grown accustomed to relying on Leo for everything.
And on the field, if Balotelli ever zoned out and lost focus, Leo truly felt like slapping him.
Fortunately, today Balotelli was relatively normal, and they successfully won the match and became champions.
When it mattered, he was still reliable. Leo looked at Balotelli, who was grinning foolishly beside him, and shook his head with a wry smile.
"Let me touch your medal!"
"Smack!"
Leo slapped away Davide Santon's outstretched hand and put his medal away.
"If you want a medal, go win one yourself next year, or do you think we won't win the championship after you move up to the U19 team?"
Santon was a year younger than Leo and the others; even Leo and his teammates themselves were only sixteen years old this year.
Even within the youth team, they seemed a bit out of place, being two or three years younger than their teammates.
"If you won't give it, then forget it! I'll win one myself next year!"
Leo smiled; he liked this little brother who willingly came to their side.
He was talented and diligent in training, with no major flaws except being a bit playful and fond of women.
"Mario, when do you think we'll make it to the first team?"
"What?"
Balotelli took the medal and bit it again.
"Ah! That hurts!"
Leo could not help covering his face with his hand. If this were out on the street, he really would not want to admit that he knew him.
"Yes, yes, when that time comes, the three of us will start together for Inter Milan!"
Davide Santon, who had heard what Leo said, wore a face full of anticipation.
In reality, Sampdoria bought half of Andrea Poli's ownership in early 2007, and then Andrea Poli joined the Sampdoria youth team after the start of the 2007–08 season, winning both the Youth Coppa Italia and the Youth League with the team.