Monday, July 28th, 2022 - Centro Bortolotti Training Complex
Demien walked through the gates of the training complex at quarter to seven in the morning, the sun already warm against his skin while his backpack hung over one shoulder and his muscles still felt tight from the week off.
The walk from the apartment had taken fifteen minutes, just long enough to wake him up properly and settle the nerves that had been building since he'd opened his eyes at six.
First team training.
Today it started.
He headed toward the U23 building first, where Coach Rossi had his office, because he still needed to report back about the assignment from last week.
Other players were arriving too, most of them U23 squad members he recognized from the trials and the matches against Como and Fiorentina.
"Demien!"
He turned and saw Ricardo jogging toward him with a wide grin, and behind him were Parisi and a few others from the U23 squad.
