Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions

"Where did that fat slob swagger off to? I've been calling you, but you're not picking up. Did you see the video I sent you?"

Luo's tone sounded both excited and urgent.

While talking to Luo, Ronaldo was scrolling through messages from friends on his phone, realizing everyone was discussing Tang Long, congratulating him. They said Tang Long perfectly replicated Ronaldo's death pendulum move against Lazio in the 1998 UEFA Europa League match when facing Liverpool.

"Pendulum? Since when did Tang Long master the pendulum?"

Ronaldo felt a wave of astonishment.

On that note, Ronaldo's sports agency currently has signed only two players: Tang Long and Bonazzoli.

Bonazzoli has used the pendulum before, during last season, the 2014-2015 season, when Inter Milan was playing away against Palermo. Bonazzoli performed a stunning pendulum to bypass the defender and scored with a single shot.

Toward the end of that season, Icardi was suspended by the team, casting a shadow over Inter Milan's Champions League qualification efforts.

But Bonazzoli stepped up, and the connection between Tang Long and Icardi turned into Tang Long and Bonazzoli's partnership, unexpectedly achieving great results, smoothly ensuring Inter's goals set at the beginning of the season!

Ronaldo remembered that Bonazzoli's pendulum was used only once, whereas he himself used it three times consecutively in the 1998 UEFA Europa League.

Moreover, Bonazzoli's pendulum was rather stiff, seemingly performed for the sake of the move itself, causing little sensation in the soccer world, let alone receiving countless congratulations from friends.

Filled with strong curiosity, Ronaldo clicked on the video Luo sent him.

In the video, after receiving Fernando's through pass, Tang Long faced Liverpool's goalkeeper Mignolet and performed three consecutive pendulum moves—left, right, left—completely fooling the Belgian goalkeeper, then with one shot at an open goal, the ball deflected off Milner's head into the net!

Ronaldo's eyes were wide open after watching!

He finally understood why Tang Long's pendulum move prompted so many friends scattered across the globe to send congratulatory messages.

Tang Long was a player under Ronaldo's agency, and his pendulum move—with its deceptive action and successful bypass of the goalkeeper—mirrored the one Ronaldo performed against Lazio's goalkeeper in the 1998 UEFA Europa League!

Even the leg movement, hand gestures, and the presented deception were identical to Ronaldo's, almost as if carved from the same mold.

Ronaldo hurriedly ended the call with Luo and replayed the video over and over, viewing it thirty or forty times.

The more he watched, the more the person in the video seemed less like Tang Long and more like his self from 17 years ago.

Back then, Ronaldo was only 22 years old, having transferred the previous year for a then-record sum of 26.5 million euros, bought by Moratti from Barcelona to Inter Milan.

And the 1998 UEFA Europa League championship was the only trophy Ronaldo won during his five years at Inter, holding special commemorative significance for him.

His death pendulum at that time became his signature move, resonating worldwide!

While many can do the pendulum, when it comes to quality and appeal, Ronaldo is undoubtedly number one!

So, when mentioning this dribbling move, everyone thinks of Ronaldo.

The pendulum for Ronaldo is like the free-kick for Beckham, having become a player's iconic signature move.

"This kid Tang, when did he secretly start practicing the pendulum behind my back without telling me, keeping it buried so deep!"

Ronaldo chuckled, then immediately opened his social media, uploaded the video, and posted a status:

"Regarding the pendulum technique, I announce that Tang is my successor!"

Of course, Ronaldo did this to intentionally generate hype for Tang Long.

As Tang Long's agent, his interests are aligned with Tang Long's.

Raising this wave of popularity is highly beneficial for boosting Tang Long's value.

Ronaldo was shrewd; he would not let this opportunity slip.

After posting the status, Ronaldo tossed his phone aside, comfortably stretched out, and returned to his sweet dreams.

Lying on a cozy soft bed, he had a beautiful dream~

In the dream, he returned to the 1990s' Inter Milan.

Only his frontline partner wasn't Salmerano, Baggio, or his buddy Vieri, but 18-year-old Tang Long.

"Shoot! Beautiful, buddy!" Ronaldo murmured in his sleep.

...

After the match ended, Manchester City returned to the southern Manchester by train that night as a team.

Except for captain Kompany and Tang Long, who temporarily stayed in Liverpool.

This was at the request of manager Pellegrini.

"Milner used to be our Manchester City player, serving the team for five years and contributing significantly to Manchester City. Even though he has transferred to Liverpool, he celebrated after scoring in this match. However, Manchester City should still express some concern for his wrist fracture."

Pellegrini needed two people to visit Milner in the hospital.

He asked if anyone would volunteer, but everyone remained silent, their faces full of disdain.

If Hart were here, he might go, considering he's the leader of the England Gang and has a strong bond with Milner.

But Hart's suspension hadn't ended yet and he was still in Manchester with Agüero doing community service.

Other players, many of whom actually had a decent relationship with Milner, completely obliterated this fragile friendship with Milner's knee slide celebration after scoring this match!

No choice, Pellegrini could only appoint captain Kompany to take Tang Long to visit Milner at the local hospital.

Indeed, after his wrist fracture, Milner was seriously injured, immediately sent to Liverpool Central Hospital by ambulance.

Kompany could understand, being the team captain;

As for Pellegrini's decision to let Tang Long accompany him, perhaps because he thought Milner's fracture was caused by him.

Although Milner injured himself and Tang Long didn't commit a foul, Pellegrini still decided to let Tang Long, the party involved, represent the club in visiting former teammate Milner.

So, Kompany and Tang Long arrived at the hospital entrance.

Kompany had already confirmed Milner's room number and was about to go into the hospital building, but Tang Long stopped him.

"Captain, it's not okay for us to go empty-handed." Tang Long said.

Kompany rubbed his shiny head and nodded, "Indeed, it's not good. Shall we buy something?"

The two stood at the hospital entrance, discussing for a while.

Tang Long suggested gifting a fruit basket.

He said, in Chinese traditional culture, visiting patients with a fruit basket represents the sincerest blessings, hoping patients recover soon and life shines as brightly as fresh fruit.

Kompany nodded in agreement, so the two went to a nearby fruit shop to buy a fruit basket.

But just as the two walked downstairs, Kompany received a call from Liverpool staff.

On the call, they sincerely thanked Manchester City Club for specifically sending players to show concern for Liverpool's injured Milner;

But they tactfully said Milner could be visited, Kompany could go, but Milner apparently wasn't willing to see Tang Long.

"This Milner, so finicky, what's wrong with seeing teammates, too petty! I'll go and tell him to meet you, I can't believe this wimp! Wait for my signal downstairs!" Kompany hung up and went upstairs alone.

So Tang Long waited downstairs, guarded the fruit basket, wore sunglasses, waiting alone at the door.

After about ten minutes, Kompany came downstairs, telling Tang Long that Milner firmly refused to see him.

He said the guy's left face was swollen like a pig, icing it; hand suspended, in a splint, lying on the bed, barely alive. Hearing Tang Long wanted to come up, he instantly jumped off the bed, hugging Kompany's leg, saying 'No, absolutely not!'.

The doctor said it's a stress response, now don't mention seeing Tang Long, just hearing his name would cause Milner's eyes to sparkle, his body uncontrollably tremble.

"Looks like compared to the bigger fracture, it's the head kick by you that's scarier, causing psychological trauma!"

Tang Long sighed, showing a regretful expression.

"Isn't this fruit basket a waste, a waste of money?"

Kompany chuckled, "Not a waste, wait here, I'll deliver the fruit basket upstairs for you, the blessing must be delivered properly!"

Thus, this Manchester City captain, carrying the fruit basket bought by Tang Long, cheerfully climbed the stairs again~