San Siro Stadium.
After both teams arrived, they quickly changed in their locker rooms and met on the training ground.
Everyone here was basically an old acquaintance.
Srna's relationship with Inter Milan players was beyond question. Even though he had left, he was still a member of their treble-winning squad.
Suker and Kaka — old rivals from the same city — were extremely familiar with each other.
After all, they had both lived under the shadow of AC Milan for a long time.
As for Mourinho, there was no need to elaborate.
He led Inter Milan to a historic treble. The entire club — players, staff, fans — had genuine respect and affection for him.
But because this was just a friendly and the new head coach Benítez was present, they couldn't show too much affection toward Mourinho.
Of course, some didn't care about appearances and went straight to vent to Srna and Mourinho.
Mourinho's beloved disciple, Materazzi, complained bitterly:
"That Spaniard is absolutely unbearable! As soon as he took over, he demanded the club remove the boss's (Mourinho's) portrait from the training base."
"Then during training, he kept annoying us with things like: 'We need to play more attractively,' 'We must ease Eto'o's defensive burden,' 'Possession with the aim of scoring is Inter's new identity,' and so on."
"That alone would've been fine, but he went and changed our tactics!"
"This very system won us the treble. There's no need to mimic the Spanish tiki-taka or high pressing. He even scrapped our pre-match team talks and old training routines."
Materazzi rolled his eyes so hard they nearly got stuck.
His expression clearly showed how much he disliked and resented Benítez.
Hearing his complaints, Mourinho also felt bitter.
These were the achievements he had fought for. These were his beloved players.
But with a new regime comes new leadership. They had to adapt.
"Boss, can't you come back?" Materazzi asked bitterly.
Mourinho could only offer a wry smile. He patted Materazzi on the shoulder, just as a voice chimed in.
"If the boss is gone, what are we supposed to do?"
Materazzi turned and saw Suker nearby, eyes wide with curiosity.
"Forget it," Suker waved dismissively. "You guys didn't beat him up?"
"Beat who?" Materazzi asked instinctively.
"Benítez, of course!" Suker replied.
"Why would we do that?" Materazzi was confused.
"He's been torturing you guys," Suker shrugged. "And you're just gonna take it? Cowards!"
"You're the coward!" Materazzi snapped back.
Suker motioned for calm: "Relax. If it were me, I'd have done it already."
"You?" Materazzi sneered.
But then he froze, recalling the story of Suker seizing control during the Euros.
This guy really could pull something like that off.
"Boss, are things okay over there for you?" Materazzi asked, worried.
Suker grunted: "Worry about yourselves."
"Get lost!" Srna pushed Suker away like swatting a fly.
"But I haven't heard the whole story yet! Are you guys gonna do it or not?" Suker pressed.
"Buzz off!" Srna said impatiently.
"Fine, I'll give you face," Suker walked away, "but you better tell me if they're doing it!"
As Suker left, Materazzi frowned.
"That guy's nuts."
Srna and Mourinho both remained silent.
Over on Real Madrid's half, after Suker returned, Benzema asked:
"Why'd you go over there? You're not even an Inter player."
"To eavesdrop!" Suker shrugged.
"Eavesdrop?"
"Eat melon (gossip)!"
"What melon?"
Hearing that, the gossip-hungry crowd swarmed over.
"Inter's players want to take out Benítez!" Suker smiled.
Hisssssssssss—
Everyone sucked in a cold breath.
Even Casillas, in the middle of save drills, wandered over.
"That spicy?"
"You gossip too?" Suker raised an eyebrow.
Casillas chuckled sheepishly.
Just as Suker was about to spill the details, Srna walked over.
"Don't spread rumors!" Srna said grumpily. "It's not as bad as you all think!"
"So, there is conflict then," Suker smirked.
Benítez, famously difficult.
He had a history of falling out with clubs — not just one or two.
He performed miracles at Liverpool.
But he had a frosty relationship with their captain, Gerrard.
At Inter, he stirred resentment by disrespecting Mourinho and making blunt comments.
That infamous quote — "Buy players or sack me" — eventually got him prematurely dismissed.
In the original timeline, even at Real Madrid, he clashed heavily with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Whatever his tactical knowledge, the guy clearly lacked social awareness.
After a short break, both teams returned to their halves.
Starting Lineups:
Inter Milan (4-3-3):GK: CésarDefenders: Maicon, Samuel, Zanetti, ChivuMidfielders: Mariga, Cambiasso, SneijderForwards: Eto'o, Milito, Pandev
Real Madrid (4-3-3):GK: CasillasDefenders: Srna, Ramos, Pepe, MarceloMidfielders: Khedira, Alonso, DiarraForwards: Kaká, Benzema, Suker
Benítez stood with arms crossed, frowning at the pitch.
Mourinho looked sentimentally at Inter's lineup.
The two coaches didn't shake hands — not even eye contact.
Benítez despised Mourinho.
Mourinho couldn't stand Benítez either.
With this tension, Real Madrid's third friendly match began.
Tweet!
The whistle blew — Real Madrid kicked off.
Suddenly, Inter Milan's players rushed forward, sprinting hard.
"What the hell?" Suker was stunned.
High pressing?
Getting these aging players to execute a high press? Benítez, are you serious?
Immediately assessing the tactical shift, Suker exchanged a glance with Kaká. Both dropped deeper simultaneously.
If Inter wanted to press high, they'd respond by increasing midfield presence.
Inter's pressing was aggressive and full of fight.
Though restructured by Benítez, their treble-winning spirit remained.
"Press! Keep pressing!" Sneijder shouted.
Just then, Srna faked a cross, tricking Eto'o into shifting over, then slipped the ball behind him to Alonso.
Alonso calmly redirected the ball leftward.
Marcelo surged forward and fed Suker.
Suker passed to Kaká.
Real Madrid cleanly played out of pressure.
Seeing this, Benítez barked in frustration:
"Don't let them pass out so easily! Everyone run! Stay with your man!"
Suker drifted centrally.
Receiving the return pass from Kaká, he spun past Cambiasso and played the ball back to Alonso.
Now, Madrid's shape pushed up.
Fullbacks Marcelo and Srna were ready to join the attack.
Suker and Kaká lingered between the lines.
Alonso didn't hesitate and fed the ball to Suker.
Before receiving, Suker glanced at Maicon.
Maicon's head was swiveling nervously.
Suker in the half-space. Marcelo overlapping.
If he followed Suker, the flank would be exposed.
If he stayed wide, no one would stop Suker.
Maicon chose to stick with Suker.
Suker played wide, Maicon turned to chase Marcelo.
Sure enough, Suker nudged the ball to Marcelo, who faked and looked far side — then switched it with a long ball.
"Right side! Watch out!"
Maicon shouted.
"Too late," Suker grinned.
Kaká charged to the far post and nodded the ball back.
Srna sprinted in from the half-space and struck with the outside of his foot.
Boom!
César made a brilliant save.
Ohhhhhh~
Suker covered his face.
"The angle! The angle! Just blast it — why pass it into his arms? Where's your technique?"
Srna turned red and shouted:
"I'm a defender! Why would I have technique? As long as I can boot the ball!"
Suker was speechless.
Damn! Can't argue with that logic.
"So I messed up once — you try it next time!" Srna grumbled, then grinned.
If he took the shot, it probably would've gone in...
Kaká ran over.
"Don't take it personally. Suker means no harm."
"Huh?" Srna blinked. "We weren't fighting."
"Oh, my bad," Kaká laughed. "I thought you were."
"You'll get used to it," Srna waved. "That's just how we communicate."
Srna glanced at Kaká.
Suker called him a drama queen and manipulative.
But during this time, Srna found Kaká polite, well-mannered, and easy to get along with — nothing like Suker said.
On the sidelines, Mourinho nodded at the play.
Great switch.
It shifted Inter's defense, exploited the far side, and connected Kaká with Srna for the shot.
Though it didn't go in, the danger was there.
That's five-way attacking, not the traditional three-lane attack.
As for Inter's tactics...
Mourinho slowly shook his head. Benítez's changes were too drastic.
High pressing didn't suit Inter.
And tiki-taka?
Italian teams don't do tiki-taka.
Real Madrid had players like Suker, Kaká, Alonso, Di María — technically gifted — yet even they didn't use tiki-taka.
Let alone Inter Milan.
Mourinho originally wanted to test Madrid's counterattack against Inter's defense.
But seeing his well-built defense dismantled, and the tactics totally unsuited to the squad, his interest vanished.
Looks like he'd have to wait for the Spanish Super Cup and Barcelona's pressing to test his team.
"Tell the players to increase the tempo," Mourinho said coldly. "Let's show them what real high pressing is."
Faria nodded and shouted instructions from the sideline.
Hearing the call, Madrid began adjusting.
In the first two friendlies, they avoided high pressing to test their defense and counterattacks.
But now the situation was perfect.
"Go!"
"Press him!"
Suddenly, Madrid surged forward.
Defensive line stayed alert for long balls, but everyone else pressed hard.
Especially the front midfielders.
Suker, Benzema, Kaká, Diarra, Alonso, and Khedira all pressed fiercely.
Suker and Kaká used their explosiveness and agility to constantly threaten.
Thanks to Pintus's training, they weren't superhuman, but they could definitely run.
And when they went full throttle, their peak performance showed.
Boom!
Khedira and Alonso jointly tackled and won the ball, Alonso poked it to Benzema.
Benzema quickly passed to Suker.
Suker looked far — Kaká was ready to move.
But instead of passing, Suker accelerated.
"Shit!"
Maicon's heart raced.
That familiar fear returned!
Suker cut in diagonally. Maicon tried to stay close.
As they neared contact, Suker nudged the ball sideways across the top of the box.
"Watch the curling shot!" César warned.
He knew Suker's signature move.
He stayed fully focused.
Suker charged across.
Kaká mirrored the run from the opposite direction.
They crossed paths.
Suker gently touched the ball toward Kaká, who took a stride and dashed into the open space on the left.
"Danger!!"
Maicon shouted.
Inter's defense went on red alert.
Kaká stopped. Face to goal.
Everyone expected a shot.
Instead, he slipped the ball forward.
Benzema sprinted and toe-poked it through a tight gap.
The ball slipped between the keeper's legs — into the net.
"OFFSIDE!!!!!!!!"
Before Benzema could celebrate, Benítez exploded on the sideline.
"Offside! Offside! Can't you see?!"
The invited Italian referee shook his head and was about to signal the goal.
Benítez raged:
"Offside! Are you blind?! That was clearly offside!"
The referee was stunned.
Dude, this is just a preseason game — why so serious?
"Sir, this is a friendly match," the referee tried to explain.
"Screw the friendly!" Benítez screamed. "You call that officiating?! OFFSIDE!"
Now the referee was angry.
He blew the whistle — goal stood!
"Screw this!"
Benítez charged onto the field, storming toward the referee.
Game was halted immediately.
Inter's substitutes rushed to restrain him — things spiraled fast.
"What the hell is this?" Suker muttered.
What a farce.
A friendly match... and the opposing coach was ready to assault the ref?
Benítez and the referee were at odds.
"First, I was invited to officiate this friendly. Second, I ask that you respect our work. If you persist, I'll have to eject you," the ref warned.
Benítez stormed over, reached into the ref's pocket, pulled out a red card, and flung it away.
"Bullshit! Give me the red! Let's see if I'll leave!"
The referee was trembling with rage.
He'd never met such a lunatic.
No way to continue this match.
"Fine, call it offside," Mourinho walked over. "It's just a friendly."
Suker's eyes widened.
Boss, you're instigating him!
Sure enough, Benítez exploded.
"Screw you! You don't get to say that! SCREW THIS FRIENDLY! Pack up and return to base — now!"
With that, Benítez stormed off.
The entire stadium fell silent.
No one expected this — the coach walked out mid-game!
Mourinho's face darkened.
Not just him. Inter's players, including captain Zanetti, looked furious.
Zanetti took a deep breath and approached Mourinho, bowing:
"I'm sorry, Boss. Please accept my apology. We can continue the friendly. Forget him."
Suker's eyes lit up.
They're gonna revolt!
Mourinho swallowed his anger, exhaled, and said:
"Go back. I don't want to make things harder for you."
He patted Zanetti's shoulder.
"Thank you."
Zanetti opened his mouth but only sighed and turned around:
"Pack up. Let's go."
The friendly ended in chaos.
Real Madrid had no reason to stay either.
On the flight back to Spain, Suker sat frowning.
After a while, he turned to Srna:
"You think Benítez did that on purpose?"
"On purpose?" Srna blinked. "Why?"
"He couldn't handle losing," Suker shrugged. "What benefit would he get from this match?"
"If he lost, his reputation would be trashed. The new guy beaten by the old one? Sounds awful."
"But still..." Srna said uncertainly.
"He quits, no loss. And did you notice the timing? As soon as we scored, he exploded. That's when he knew he couldn't win, so he flipped the table."
Srna's eyes widened: "He's that petty?"
Referees occasionally walk off in friendlies, but it's rare.
But a coach leading his team off the pitch in a friendly?
That's a farce.
That night, Inter president Moratti personally called Mourinho and Real Madrid to apologize.
Only after both parties forgave him did the chaos come to a close.