Rising Star

"Watch out for Louis!!"

"Why did you miss him again?!"

" Another opportunity! Another goal!!"

"Hey, are you Louis or Filippo Inzaghi now?!"

On the training ground at Vismara, the boys of Milan U19 were simply numb.

This was the second half of the training session. Once again, Louis Dupont appeared elusive on the ball path, then turned and swept the ball into the goal with a simple, efficient first touch.

Such style made people wonder if Louis's brain had somehow switched with his uncle, the coach.

Though Louis had been undergoing a transformation due to his sudden increase in height, today's performance was unprecedented.

On the edge of the training ground, the coaches of Vismara turned their attention to Filippo Inzaghi.

"Pippo, this kid is just like another you. Are you trying to trick him?"

"Why are they so similar?"

"Have you seen this kid's movement? He's been staying close to the offside line."

Inzaghi was equally surprised. He hadn't expected Louis to improve so dramatically. Asking Louis to change his position and learn his playing style had been a long shot.

Inzaghi didn't expect Louis to become the next him. A forward's sense of smell is pure talent and difficult to develop. He only hoped Louis could learn some running skills, combined with his height, and improve his physical confrontation ability. This would give him the foundation to succeed in professional football.

But Louis's performance in this training match made Inzaghi feel like he was watching himself on the field.

"Could it be that the sense of competition and smell can be inherited through blood?" Inzaghi thought, touching his chin. After all, Louis is his nephew, and the blood of the Inzaghi family flows through him.

After scoring, Louis watched the football roll into the goal. Standing in the penalty area, he squinted and recalled the entire process. He had countered offside, positioned himself perfectly, received the ball, and swept it towards the far corner of the goal.

Easy score.

After integrating the [Inzaghi Score Smell Module] fully, it was as if Louis had unlocked a new level of instinct. He could predict scoring areas and his running skills seemed enhanced. Most importantly, his first touch was always perfect, placing him in comfortable shooting positions.

My uncle is truly incredible.

Louis opened his arms and smiled, welcoming his teammates who rushed to celebrate. He had lost his speed, balance, and dribbling agility, but he gained something more valuable.

What is lost is the east corner, and what is gained is the mulberry tree.

He had gained more than he lost. He would not just be another Inzaghi; he would surpass him and stand at the pinnacle of professional football.

Louis's goal became clear: he wanted to play in the first team. Either he would secure a stable spot in Milan's first team, or he would leave.

Five days later, after the day's training ended, Louis stayed at the training base to practice his left foot.

"Ding! You have completed the fusion of [Andrea Petagna's dominant foot module]!"

As the system voice sounded in his mind, Louis blasted a shot with his left foot, hitting the uprights with a thud. His left foot was now as useful as his right.

But the problem was, his current technical level still needed improvement.

In the office building of the training base, Inzaghi stood at the window, watching Louis train. If he had initially worried that Louis's good performance was a fluke, after a few days of observation, he was now sure that Louis was the next him.

No, he would be even stronger.

As Louis adapted to his new height, his speed, physical confrontation ability, and overall fitness would surpass Inzaghi's own. The thought excited him. Louis's ability demonstrated on the training ground showed he was ready for the professional arena.

In the following two days, Louis's performance in warm-up matches against the youth teams of Novara and Pro Patria further proved this. He scored a hat-trick in both games.

Convinced of his potential, Inzaghi emailed first-team coach Massimiliano Allegri, detailing Louis's abilities.

"Maximi, Louis is an exciting striker. I believe he deserves a place in Milan's first team!"

he wrote at the end of the email.

"Louis Dupont?" Allegri frowned, looking at Louis's information.

"He used to be a forward known for his speed and breakthrough ability. In the past six months, his height has rapidly increased by 20 centimeters, causing him to lose his speed advantage and switch to playing center. In the last two warm-up games, he scored six goals?"

Reading this, Allegri's brow furrowed. The opponents in those warm-up matches were from lower-tier teams, offering limited reference value. The most significant part of the report was Filippo Inzaghi's evaluation: Louis was flexible, had a keen sense of smell, and was a natural striker. He was tall and had the potential to become a center with a frontcourt presence.

Allegri sighed, contemplating his own uncertain future at Milan.

Nearly all of Milan's veterans had left, including Nesta, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Seedorf, and Zambrotta. The departures of Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain had a more profound impact.

Criticized by the media and fans, Allegri knew he was a scapegoat for decisions made by the club's management. Inzaghi recommending Louis was the first player recommendation Allegri received.

"Louis Dupont. Is he from China?" Allegri asked his assistant, Mauro Tassotti.

"Yes, but he could also be considered Italian."

"oh?"

"His mother is Italian."

Allegri was surprised. "Is he mixed race? Didn't his mother take a paternity test?"

"His mother is Pippo's sister, Martina Inzaghi."

"So, he's my nephew," Allegri said, placing the information on the table.