"Good! Keep it up!"
Suker rarely praised Pato, but this time, he did.
All his efforts to mentor and transform Pato weren't in vain.Even though the future remained uncertain, at least Pato was seeing new horizons and setting bigger goals.
Pato scratched his head, took a sip of water, then suddenly asked:
"Are you guys transferring?"
Suker was stunned.
Kaká also turned to look at him.
"Why do you ask that?" Suker said.
"My agent told me," Pato replied."He said this is my opportunity. You didn't accept the renewal offer, so you might be considering a transfer."
"He also said Milan can't keep you anymore, and that means it's my chance.Once you leave, I'll get more tactical resources."
What Pato's agent said wasn't wrong.
Suker's rise happened after Shevchenko left, freeing up key tactical roles.
Sure, Suker could have earned those through performance too—but that takes time and patience.
Pato's agent obviously wanted him to perform better—more performance means more money for the agent.
So, Suker's departure aligned with their interests.
Suker didn't respond.He changed the subject.
But Pato wasn't the clueless kid he used to be.He understood what that silence meant.
May 11 — AC Milan away vs Torino.
In this match, Suker, Kaká, and Pato all performed brilliantly.
Especially Pato—his movement was relentless, covering large areas of the field.His continuous breakthroughs posed constant threats to Torino's defense.
They focused heavily on Suker, but Pato's pressure was giving them a massive headache.
"Defend! Defend!""Stop him!""Hold him back!!—"
Torino's Motta looked like a startled cat as Pato charged into the penalty area with the ball.
If Pato broke through, the goal was in danger.
Motta rushed forward for a sliding tackle.
He didn't even care about Suker at this point.
But Pato suddenly stopped, chipped the ball up with his right foot, adjusted his body, and hit a powerful volley.
Goal!The ball flew into the net from the keeper's right side.
Minute 56 — AC Milan scored again.
Pato's relentless drive opened up the game.
"Raaah!!"Pato pumped his fists with all his strength.
He had played outstandingly the entire match.
"Alexandre Pato! That's his 10th league goal!"
"In just half a season, in his debut campaign, he's scored 10 goals!Whether in Serie A or the Champions League, he's shown great quality.Perhaps, he truly could be Suker's successor."
Suker slowly came to a halt.
He looked at Pato's back.
In that last attack, Pato had the option to pass to Suker—but he didn't.
He went for the shot himself.
If it had been earlier in the season, Pato would've passed.
"Pato… this guy wants to compete with me now," Suker smiled slightly.
A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier.A footballer who doesn't want to be the core is not a true player.
Suker welcomed competition and challenges.
"Or maybe," Kaká leaned in and said,"he just wants to keep up with you."
"From the moment he came to Europe, you've had the biggest influence on him.You are his benchmark, the person who gave meaning to his professional career.He doesn't want to fall too far behind—so he's pushing himself harder."
Pato punched the air.
He had done well—but it wasn't enough.
Suker had scored double digits in his first season too.
And in his second year, he had already won the Golden Boy award.
Pato knew it would be hard to break Suker's records—but he had time.
At the very least, he hoped to win the Golden Boy before Suker ever did.
Suker's ambitions were clearly much greater.
He would leave Milan.He would move on to a higher stage.
Pato told himself he couldn't slack off.He had to keep up with Suker's footsteps.
When Suker eventually left, Pato had to become Milan's new offensive core.
Even if he couldn't completely fill those shoes, he would put on his best performance and someday—stand before Suker again!
Minute 76:
"Pato again—dribbling at full speed—oh! Motta intercepts!"
Pato was knocked down hard.
He got up quickly to chase the ball—but Motta had already been knocked over.
Suker had taken possession.
Faced with two defenders closing in, he began faking movements—his upper body weaving, feet changing direction in tight space—and squeezed through a narrow gap.
Pato's eyes widened as Suker slipped through the trap,then approached the edge of the box and fired a curling shot.
Swish!
The ball curved into the top-left corner of the net.
Goal!
Suker scores again!
AC Milan 3–0 Torino!
Pato stared at Suker's back as he ran toward the corner flag.
He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth:
"I need to train even harder.I need to perform even better!"
Final score: Milan 3–0 Torino, winning Matchday 37 of Serie A.
May 17 — Final round (Matchday 38) of Serie A.
It would determine the league champion.
Currently, AC Milan was at the top of the table, one point ahead.
A win here would secure back-to-back league titles.
But Empoli, already relegated, parked the bus with a full defensive lineup.
They had nothing left to play for—so they took the field with a spiteful mentality, trying to drag Milan down with them.
But Milan wasn't so easy to deal with.
They launched wave after wave of aerial attacks.
Suker played the role of the battering ram inside the box.
His explosive jumping ability and physical strength constantly threatened the goal.
Kaká and Pato fed him cross after cross from both flanks.
Throughout the first half, Suker leapt like a rabbit, clashing again and again with defenders.
No goals yet—but Milan was piling the pressure on Empoli's defense.
In the second half, that pressure finally exploded.
One Empoli defender tried to jump with Suker—but his legs gave out.
He crouched to prepare to leap, but his muscles refused to cooperate.
As Suker rose into the air, Raggi, in panic, shoved him midair.
Tweet!A sharp whistle.
Suker crashed to the ground, but the referee had seen the foul clearly.
Yellow card + penalty!
"That was a very clear push by Raggi!You could see he crouched to jump, but he just couldn't match Suker's leap."
"All the jumping in the first half exhausted his legs.He couldn't jump, and with Suker about to head it in, he panicked and fouled."
Aldo Serena, the commentator, shook his head:
"Suker's stamina and endurance gave Empoli a nightmare today."
Suker picked up the ball and placed it on the spot.
Tens of thousands of Milan fans roared from the stands.
One more goal, and Milan would be champions.
Everything now depended on this penalty.
Wearing the red and black kit, the No.10 on his back…
Pato looked at the fans.
Their excitement was overflowing, as if the goal had already been scored.
That was the confidence Suker gave them.
If it were someone else, the crowd would be tense and anxious.
But with Suker—they believed the goal was already in.
He had never let them down in critical moments.
Suker backed up for his run-up.Took a deep breath.Raised his head slowly.
His eyes were filled with determination and confidence.
The whistle blew.
He ran.
Just before striking, he subtly changed his rhythm,and noticed the goalkeeper shift weight to the right.
Suker calmly shot to the bottom left.
Swish!
The ball flew into the net—GOAL!
The stadium erupted in deafening cheers.
Milan fans raised their arms and screamed:
"CHAMPIONS!!!!!!—"
"MILAN ARE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!—"
Suker stood at the penalty spot, arms outstretched,like a victorious king surveying his realm.
Pato watched this moment in awe.
"Damn…That was insanely cool!"