Awkward Handshake

**Chapter 6: Awkward Handshake**

Finally, Quaresma stepped out of the house. Today was the day when most players from Porto's first team reported back for training. Because of the European Cup this summer, and with the Portuguese team reaching the finals, Porto had extended the leave for the Portuguese internationals to help them recover from their fatigue.

Even without deliberately keeping track, Quaresma, with his memories from his past life, knew which famous stars of Porto had just won the Champions League under Mourinho last season. However, since the Portuguese internationals in the team were still on holiday, he had yet to meet these stars. What he could see more of were new recruits like himself.

This summer, Porto's lineup had undergone significant changes. Deco, the central midfielder, had moved to Barcelona. Defenders Carvalho and Ferreira had followed Mourinho to join the Blues, bringing Porto an income of 83 million euros. On the buying side, Porto had spent 40 million euros. But, knowing the reputation of the "European black shop" that was Porto, Quaresma trusted that these investments would soon be sold at several times their original price.

Quaresma himself, along with Pepe, Meireles, Diego, and Fabiano, were all future stars of world football. When it came to buying and selling players, Porto was both professional and serious.

Quaresma rode a bicycle to the Porto training base not far from his residence. If there were a seat behind the bicycle with a young girl sitting on it, the background music at this moment would undoubtedly be "Taylor swift."

Why not drive?

Firstly, Quaresma didn't know how to drive. Secondly, he didn't own a car. It was as straightforward as that.

As he pedaled, being overtaken by cars, Quaresma thought he should consider learning to drive. Otherwise, on rainy days, he'd be at risk of being splashed with muddy water by passing vehicles. Though, to be fair, he wasn't short of money to buy a raincoat.

When he finally arrived at the Porto training base, Quaresma was immediately surrounded by reporters outside the base. The scene was chaotic. If not for the fact that the reporters' microphones nearly reached into his mouth, Quaresma would have forced himself to appreciate their enthusiastic welcome.

"Calm down! Please stay calm, gentlemen!" Quaresma tried to navigate through the throng.

"Are you excited about joining Porto?" one reporter shouted.

"No comments for now," Quaresma replied, trying to maintain composure. "Why don't I give you my bicycle instead?"

With the help of the Porto training base staff, Quaresma finally escaped the reporters' encirclement, though his bicycle was nearly dismantled in the process. As he walked into the training base, feeling somewhat embarrassed, he mused, "If I have to sacrifice a bicycle every day just to get to training, I might as well consider transferring..."

Under the guidance of the staff, Quaresma arrived at the office of Porto's coach, Del Neri. Quaresma didn't know much about Mourinho's successor from his previous life, but after deciding to transfer to Porto, he had deliberately researched the Italian coach's resume. It didn't seem particularly outstanding.

Del Neri had coached lower-tier teams for most of his career. His most notable achievement was coaching Chievo to promotion from Serie B to Serie A, and in their first Serie A season, leading them to qualify for the UEFA Cup—an achievement dubbed the "Chievo Miracle."

His nickname was Wild Ass! If Del Neri could achieve such success with a team nicknamed the Flying Donkeys, Quaresma wondered if he could achieve similar success with himself, a "wild ass" in his own right.

Unexpectedly, Del Neri, despite being in his 50s, was quite handsome.

Meeting for the first time, Quaresma felt he needed to be polite. "Welcome, Ricardo!" Del Neri greeted him warmly, opting for a more affectionate embrace instead of a handshake.

The coach's enthusiasm was great! However, Quaresma's outstretched hand awkwardly collided with Del Neri's groin. For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Del Neri's face reddened, and Quaresma, equally embarrassed, didn't know where to place his hand.

"I think this is a misunderstanding," Quaresma stammered. To ease the awkwardness, he quickly extended both arms, hugging Del Neri and patting his back vigorously.

Yet, he knew that if Del Neri was not as forgiving, he might find himself benched for life due to this mishap.

"Go to the dressing room to prepare. Several new recruits are there. You can communicate with them, but I sincerely suggest avoiding such overly intimate greetings, as not everyone has my good temper." Del Neri's face gradually returned to normal. "And could you please call the team doctor for me?"

Quaresma left Del Neri's office, feeling relieved. He knew that the last comment was likely a joke to lighten the atmosphere, as he hadn't actually tried to pinch...

According to the standards set by the World Health Organization, this was a situation where washing hands was highly recommended, if only for peace of mind.

Approaching the locker room, Quaresma felt a twinge of nervousness. He didn't know who was inside and feared whether his new teammates would accept him.

Standing in front of the locker room, Quaresma took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and then gently pushed the door open.

"Hi, men! What's up?" a voice called out before Quaresma could even take in the room's layout. A hip-hop voice greeted him, and a fist was extended toward him.

Meireles!

Recognizing his old acquaintance, Quaresma identified him instantly. Meireles, his teammate from the Portuguese youth team.

"Finally, you're here, my brother! I can't wait to fight alongside you. I'm ready for us to climb to the top until we can't fight anymore... blood boiling?" Meireles rapped enthusiastically.

Quaresma was taken aback. What on earth was this?

What did he see?

Meireles had actually rapped in front of him, likely freestyling. Where did this style come from? Did he spend his vacation as a trainee, preparing for a debut in the music industry?

Should Quaresma respond by shaking his hand and saying "skr" in approval?

If Quaresma were a mentor, he would have immediately given Meireles a low rating for his rap skills. This level was worth listening to only for a penny.

Nonetheless, seeing an old friend made Quaresma genuinely happy. He punched Meireles lightly in the chest and then hugged this quirky guy fiercely.

As he released Meireles, Quaresma looked around, realizing that his journey in the senior football world was about to begin. His new chapter with Porto was unfolding, and he was ready to prove his worth and make his mark in the world of football.