The Stadio Olimpico was finally emptying, but the weight of the match still hung heavy in the air.
"Pasqual, seriously... how?"
Stefano Mauri, the Lazio captain, stood with his hands on his hips, watching Renzo Uzumaki walk toward the tunnel with Miroslav Klose's jersey draped over his shoulder.
"Liverpool is paying his salary? To play for you?" Mauri's voice was a mix of laughter and genuine pain. "We just lost the Derby to Roma last week. We came here today to heal our wounds, and instead, your 16-year-old 'free gift' just tore us open again."
Captain Pasqual couldn't hide his grin. "It's a miracle, Stefano. For years, we've been the 'almost' team. Almost Top 4, almost a powerhouse. But Renzo... he's the signal. He's the reason I'm not thinking about retirement anymore. This season, we aren't just looking for a UEFA spot. We're looking for blood."
Mauri's expression turned somber. "If you really have the strength you showed today, do me a favor. When you face the Giallorossi... beat them. Help your brother out. We haven't been able to touch Roma in two years."
Roma. The name alone changed the temperature of the conversation. In 2015, A.S. Roma was a juggernaut, the only team capable of making Juventus sweat. For Lazio, they were the nightmare neighbor. For Fiorentina, they were the ultimate gatekeeper.
As the two captains spoke, a figure brushed past them, his head down, the purple jersey soaked in sweat. It was Alberto Aquilani.
The moment Mauri mentioned "beating Roma," Aquilani's stride faltered. His jaw tightened, and he accelerated toward the dressing room without a word.
"He's still sensitive, isn't he?" Mauri whispered, watching him go.
"How could he not be?" Pasqual sighed.
Eight years ago, before the injuries, before the failed Liverpool move, and before the wandering years, Alberto Aquilani was the "Little Prince" of Rome. He was the golden boy of the Stadio Olimpico, the heir to Totti's throne.
Now, he was the veteran partner to a new genius, Renzo Uzumaki. While Renzo was the "Maestro of Merseyside," Aquilani was the "Ghost of Rome."
"Renzo is the future," Pasqual muttered, "but Alberto is still haunted by the past. If we're going to climb the table, Renzo's vision is only half the battle. We need the Prince to stop looking back at the Colosseum and start looking at the Scudetto."
Back in Japan, the conversation had shifted from the match to the "Renzo Blueprint."
User_OldGuard: "The reason he's this good? He didn't stay here. He didn't have to deal with 'Relationship Football.' He grew up in the mud and rain of England."
Tactical_Fan: "Exactly. In the CSL, a 16-year-old playing like that would have his legs broken by a 30-year-old 'veteran' who felt insulted. Renzo isn't just a player; he's proof that the talent exists—we just keep killing it here."
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