Blurb 1:
Guillaume is the most unusual child in the Giordano family. He grew up in Nice, a seaside town in southern France, but hates the taste of seafood and has none of the French appreciation for fine food. His parents and twin brother are all passionate about learning, but he'd rather stand in the sun as punishment than sit down at a desk. The whole family fits the Mediterranean stereotype of being warm and kind, while he's proud and self-centered, and has trouble making friends.
He joined a club's youth academy by himself, went to training every day by himself, and practiced juggling a ball alone on the ancient stone steps overlooking the sea.
When the club, which had only just made it into the top division, was relegated again, Guillaume, now on the verge of adulthood, decided to look for somewhere else to go.
His brother Achille poured cold water on his plans. "But you don't even speak Italian."
"Go read your books. Stop trying to manage me."
Guillaume never cared about anything outside football, and football loved him back, making him the luckiest person in the world.
Blurb 2:
Guillaume wants to play football in Italy. His mother doesn't even approve of him playing locally, so of course he can't let her find out.
His father only dares to give him money in secret. "Where do you want to go?"
"Rome. Since you're Roman, that makes me half Roman, too."
Mr. Giordano had never taken his son back to Italy, but didn't see a problem. "Good ambition. Rome has two clubs. Which one do you want to join?"
Guillaume had never watched Serie A, but didn't see a problem either. "The better one."
"Roma is the better one. You have to join Roma. Whatever you do, don't go to the other one."
After landing in Rome, Guillaume finally managed to hail a taxi. "Where to?"
Reading from the hundred essential Italian phrases Achille had written for him, Guillaume said, "Take me to the better football club in Rome."
The driver took him to Formello.
Couldn't sleep, so I'm putting up a pre-release. (I said I'd wait until the end of the year, but here I am breaking my word.)
Guillaume Giordano is a French-Italian attacking midfielder. His national team is tentatively France.
He'll transfer several times, play in several leagues, and have several romances. His first and last partner will both be Nesta. His first club is Lazio. The story starts after the 1998 World Cup, and later he'll probably play for Atletico Madrid, Bayern, and Arsenal. He won't go to Milan.
There'll be everyday life, matches, and team camaraderie, but it should be shorter than the one I wrote about Anton. I don't know when I'll start, so get in line for now.
Theme: Football brings love
