[Football] The Blue Ring Lighthouse

"Even twenty years from now, after leading the team to win the Champions League, falling in love with my childhood sweetheart, and achieving success in both love and career, I'll never forget that drizzly afternoon.

I'll never forget that it was my Serie A debut. I was full of passion and energy, facing the mighty Serie A giants AC Milan at home.

That was the first time I tasted defeat.

I swore I would never again let Sampdoria's fans go home disappointed.

And by the way, if the club ever secretly drops into Serie B again while I'm not looking, they owe me some money."

From Lelio Guardi's autobiography, The Team Is Not Allowed to Get Relegated on the Sly

In 1989, twenty-year-old Lelio led the team to an undefeated home record in the league and won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

It was practically a record-breaking achievement. The moment he lifted the trophy, he knew his name would be forever carved into Sampdoria's history.

His heart racing and hands trembling, he called his childhood sweetheart, whom he'd secretly loved for years.

He was going to confess his feelings.

He had barely finished reciting half the speech he'd prepared when he blinked and found himself on an unfamiliar street.

What was this? Had aliens invaded?

He sold the jersey off his back and bought a newspaper. As soon as he opened it, the sports headline leapt out at him:

Sailors Leave Serie A! Sampdoria Suffer Relegation

Lelio: ?

Wait, confession on hold. Why has my team been relegated?!

1. A fantasy transmigration story. The male lead is powerful, and the focus is on everyday life. It starts in 1985. Old information is hard to find, so there are bound to be mistakes. If something is wrong, consider it an invented detail.

2. The male lead's club is Sampdoria, and his national team is Italy.

3. Both his childhood sweetheart and his love interest are Maldini. Get young Maldini and old Maldini in one go.

4. As usual, trophies get shuffled around. This book is also a bet with a friend who's a Milan fan. Why are all my friends Milan fans? (Ponders.)

Theme: Passion is where everything begins