When playing football, you should call it GOAT.

Chapter 95 Never leave any evidence on the battlefield

September 17, 2003, Ligue 1, Round 6.

Monaco will play away against Montpellier.

Last season, Roy scored a lightning-fast goal against Montpellier just 8 seconds into the game, setting a new record for the fastest goal in Ligue 1 and helping Monaco secure the title.

Before the start of the new season, a reporter asked him, "Do you want to break the record again?" Roy replied:

"A goal can happen at any second. A goal in the third second is no more valuable than a goal in the last three seconds. What's truly valuable is whether it can help us win the game and whether it can help us win the championship."

In the 14th minute, Monaco launched a quick counter-attack, with Greek midfielder Zikos making a precise through pass to Roy in the attacking third.

Roy received the ball with his back to the goal. Facing the close marking of Montpellier center-back Zodic, he deftly flicked the ball with the inside of his right foot to turn and instantly break free of the defense, creating a one-on-one opportunity.

Facing the onrushing goalkeeper Leo, Roy calmly feinted to the right, then flicked the ball to the other side, successfully fooling the goalkeeper before slotting it into the empty net from a very tight angle, giving Monaco the lead. 0-1.

In the 27th minute, Roy won a free kick in the attacking third, Giuly delivered a precise cross, and Pulso headed it into the net! 0-2.

In the 47th minute, Zikos played a diagonal pass, and Roy curled a shot from outside the penalty area into the top corner! 0-3.

In the 56th minute, Montpellier launched a counter-attack, and Habib Bamogo pulled one back. 1-3.

In the 69th minute, Roy's shot was saved, but Ribery reacted quickly on the rebound to seal the victory! 1-4.

L'Équipe's special commentary: Roy's pragmatic philosophy: victory is more important than records.

In Monaco's 4-1 away victory over Montpellier, Roy once again proved his worth with two goals. But even more intriguing than the goals were his responses to reporters' questions before the match – when asked if he wanted to break the 8-second goal record again, the core of last season's Ligue 1 champions calmly replied: "The value of a goal lies in whether it brings victory, not in the timing of its occurrence."

This perfectly embodies Roy's football philosophy: efficiency above all else, rejecting vanity. He holds the record for the fastest goal in Ligue 1 history (8 seconds), yet he never deliberately pursues statistics.

Last season, his lightning-fast goal shattered Montpellier's mentality, leading to a resounding 5-1 victory that secured the championship. Although he didn't break any records this season, his two goals and one playmaking still dominated a crucial victory.

This mindset of "worth it > difficulty," the football philosophy of "efficiency first, not deliberately pursuing records" and "key player, not stat padder," stands in stark contrast to some players' obsession with setting records or individual heroism. Instead, it is closer to Cruyff's pragmatic philosophy of "playing beautifully and winning is more important."

In a world where contemporary football is increasingly obsessed with data-driven celebrations, Roy reminds us that true greatness lies in making every goal a cornerstone of victory.

L'Équipe: "Roy's goal-scoring philosophy is the composure that championship teams need most."

Monaco Sports: "He doesn't care whether he scores in 8 seconds, he only cares about leading the standings by 8 points."

France Football: "Perhaps that's why he's Monaco's leader, and not just a striker."

Same day.

The Theatre of Dreams was filled with the smoke of battle as Manchester United and Arsenal played to a goalless draw.

Old Trafford witnessed a dramatic Premier League showdown tonight. Sir Alex Ferguson fielded his golden attacking trident of Giggs, Ronaldinho, and Van Nistelrooy, while Wenger continued with Vieira and Gilberto's solid midfield. The pre-match verbal sparring between Manchester United and Wenger permeated the entire game. Despite Manchester United dominating possession with 62%, Van Nistelrooy missed a penalty, and the match ended in a goalless draw.

The score remained calm, but the stadium erupted in excitement.

Solskjaer may miss all matches this year due to knee surgery.

The 18-year-old Portuguese player got a starting opportunity in this match, playing as a right winger.

In this match filled with red cards, penalties, and dives, he ignited the stadium twice with his dazzling skills: in the 5th minute, he used a fancy stepover in the backfield to dribble past Gilberto, triggering a thunderous cheer; in the 33rd minute, he broke through Lauren with a series of changes of direction, but unfortunately his cross was cleared by Campbell.

Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger admitted after the match that Arsenal is currently in financial crisis. He said dejectedly, "I watched Ronaldo join Manchester United with almost despair, knowing that he should have been an Arsenal player. His talent is reminiscent of a young George Best."

However, the criticism from the Manchester media was equally sharp: "He was obsessed with individual performances; the ball should have been handled by the Brazilians. Cristiano Ronaldo's excessive ineffective possession on the wings left Van Nistelrooy isolated and helpless."

Van Nistelrooy didn't have the face to directly criticize his missed penalty, but it was clear that he was not satisfied with his young partner on the right.

On the morning of September 23, 2003, in a suite at the Four Seasons Hotel Milan, sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains onto the large bed covered with ties.

Roy stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the cuffs of his dark blue double-breasted suit. The Cartier platinum cufflinks gleamed in the morning light.

"How about this one?" Duchen-Klos wrapped his arms around his waist from behind and held up a dark-patterned burgundy tie against his chest.

Her freshly washed blonde hair was still damp and had a faint fragrance.

Looking at her serious expression in the mirror, Roy couldn't help but ask, "Which one looks better?"

Du Chen stood on tiptoe, rested her chin on his shoulder, and her bright eyes were reflected in the mirror: "You're handsome in every way."

She reached out and picked up another dark green velvet tie, "but this one suits your eyes better."

Roy raised an eyebrow; this girl seemed to have a natural talent for fashion.

"That's it then." Roy turned around, picked her up, and spun her around, causing Du Chen to scream and slap his shoulder.

Her nightgown billowed up, revealing her slender calves.

"Stop it!" Du Chen jumped off his lap, her face flushed. "I haven't put on makeup yet."

She jogged to get her makeup bag, her bare feet making no sound on the carpet.

Roy slowly tied his tie, watching his girlfriend's busy figure in front of the dressing table through the mirror.

"Help me fasten my necklace." Du Chen suddenly turned around, holding a thin platinum chain in her hand.

Roy walked up behind her and carefully brushed aside the stray hairs that had fallen across the back of her neck.

His fingertips touched her warm skin and he smelled the faint scent of perfume behind her ears.

"Alright." He lowered his head and placed a kiss on her hair. "My Cinderella, it's time to go."

Du Chen wrinkled his nose at him in the mirror, but couldn't hide the smile on his lips.

"Today, I want all of Milan to know who the best-dressed athlete is."

This damn desire to win.

The Milanese sun shone warmly on Via Montenapoleone.

Roy stood at the entrance of the Milan Fashion Week show, reaching out to straighten the tie of his dark blue suit.

Du Chen linked arms with him, her high heels clicking crisply on the marble floor.

As soon as they entered the show venue, a wave of cold air hit them. Roy instinctively tightened his grip on Du Chen's waist, and a staff member respectfully led them to the front row. He froze as soon as he sat down—AC Milan's Shevchenko was sitting to his left, and Inter Milan's Vieri was to his right.

"Hey, isn't that the kid from Monaco?"

Vieri grinned, looking like a bear in a suit, revealing his signature fangs, and said in heavily accented Italian English, "What, here to watch our Milanese girls walk the runway?"

Just as Roy was about to answer, someone patted him on the shoulder.

Looking back, it was Trezeguet.

“You’ve come at the perfect time,” the Frenchman said with a smile. “Let me introduce you to some friends.”

Trezeguet stepped aside to let several star players behind him see: "This is Pirlo. Although he is Italian, his playing style is definitely like ours French."

Pirlo nodded gracefully, offering no objection.

Trezeguet's words were a form of flattery and approval.

Just as Trezeguet was about to introduce them, Vieri interrupted with a loud laugh: "Come on, who doesn't know the hottest player in this summer's transfer market?"

He grabbed Roy by the neck and deliberately mimicked Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez's tone in a high-pitched voice: "'Sign before July 10th, or we'll buy Beckham!'"

This exaggerated imitation made several star players around him burst out laughing.

Standing next to Vieri, Brazilian supermodel Fernanda Lessa clapped her hands with a light laugh: "Bobo, you've really imitated him perfectly."

Diamond earrings sparkled in her thick black hair, and her honey-colored skin glowed with a healthy sheen under the runway lights.

Lysa turned to Duchen and affectionately took her arm: "Darling, let these soccer boys play by themselves."

She gestured toward the VIP lounge area, "I just saw Ventola and Seredova open a bottle of Dom Pérignon over there, and I heard they also had macarons flown in from Paris."

Du Chen glanced hesitantly at Roy, who nodded to her.

Lysa immediately noticed this detail, and a knowing smile appeared on her red lips: "Don't worry, we'll take good care of your football star."

She leaned close to Du Chen's ear and whispered in English with a Portuguese accent, "And there are a few editors from Vogue over there, you can get to know them."

Trezeguet frowned in surprise.

His gaze swept back and forth between Roy and the Italian stars—their familiar interactions and tacit jokes made them seem like old friends.

Trezeguet suddenly felt like an outsider, awkwardly touching his nose, wondering: Did I come at the wrong time? When did they become so familiar?
Pirlo seemed to sense Trezeguet's confusion and raised his glass to him, saying, "Don't mind it, we just saw our friend's 'brilliant speech' on the radio in the newspaper."

He took a sip of red wine and added meaningfully, "Especially the part about South Korean football."

Trezeguet then realized what was happening and shook his head helplessly: "Looks like I missed a good show."

Roy's sharp commentary on South Korean football on a radio program, which was originally just a regional program, went viral due to the Champions League and media hype, and resonated strongly in Italian football circles.

When he said that "the South Korean national team's matches are more brutal than the South Korean army's," he hit a nerve with Italian fans—in the 2002 World Cup, the Italian team was eliminated by the South Korean team.

In addition, he kept South Korean star Park Ji-sung busy in the Champions League match, and his first goal involved a dribbling turn and a skillful maneuver to outmaneuver Lee Young-pyo.

This interview was widely reprinted by major Italian sports media outlets:

The headline of *La Gazzetta dello Sport* read, "Roy Speaks for Us!" The article excerpted all of Roy's statements about South Korean football, highlighting in bold the phrase "Just ask the Italian players." The article also included a photo of Totti being sent off with a red card in 2002.

The Italian sports newspaper *La Gazzetta dello Sport* ran the headline: "Finally, someone dares to speak the truth!" Besides reprinting the full interview, they also included brief interviews with several Italian national team players who participated in the 2002 World Cup. In the interview, Totti stated, "Roy said what we've been holding back for over a year."

The Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport dedicated a full page to the story, declaring, "There are always some French people who understand 'Italian football' very well," publishing not only the full interview but also a detailed analysis of the meaning behind Roy's every word. The article concluded, "Although Roy is not Italian, he understands the heart of Italian football better than many native players."

The sports section of Corriere della Sera ran the headline "The Master of Language on the Football Field," highlighting the reaction of Italian fans after Roy's remarks.

Shevchenko elegantly raised his champagne glass: "Your goal against PSV Eindhoven a week ago was beautiful."

Ukrainians speak English with an Eastern European accent, but their pronunciation is clear and accurate.

In the 2002-2003 season, Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri lifted his jersey after scoring a goal, revealing a red heart on his vest, sparking media frenzy and becoming a unique memory of that season. It was later revealed that this was not a romantic declaration, but rather a promotional campaign for the Italian fashion brand "Dolce & Gabbana" (a secondary line of Dolce & Gabbana).

This move marks a new stage in the commercialization of Italian football – star players are no longer just heroes on the field, but have become walking billboards.

Starting with the 2003-2004 season, more and more Serie A stars began to cross over into fashion, even extending their competition from the pitch to the runway:

Inzaghi's melancholic temperament was favored by Armani, and he walked the runway for the brand many times; Roma captain Totti endorsed a local clothing brand, and in the advertisement he joked, "I'm not a model, but the clothes are good-looking," showing his sense of humor; Nesta's aristocratic temperament perfectly matched Versace's luxurious style, and Versace even created an advertising slogan for him: "Defense is like haute couture, precise, elegant, and impeccable."

The Italian Serie A league once considered banning "commercial celebrations," but ultimately did not implement it. Conservatives criticized, "Stars should focus on playing football, not being models."

The reformers believe that "football needs diversified development, and fashion is a way to enhance its influence."

This is a win-win-win situation: brands leverage the star player's influence to open up the market, players earn hefty endorsement fees and broaden their career paths, and fans get to enjoy both the game and the entertainment. However, there are always some people who feel that "football has lost its original flavor."

Even so, the reformists in Serie A still appear conservative compared to those in La Liga and the Premier League.

Afterwards, everyone took their seats to watch the show.

The lights on the runway suddenly came on, and music started playing, instantly creating a lively atmosphere throughout the show.

Roy sat in the first row, with Vieri on his left and Pirlo on his right, while Trezeguet sat next to Pirlo.

“Look at that,” Shevchenko nudged Roy with his elbow, pointing to a model walking down the runway. “The design of that suit is said to be inspired by the colors of our Milan team kit.”

Pirlo smiled and commented in a low voice, "The cut is good, but the neckline is too tight; it's not suitable for playing football."

Trezeguet couldn't help but laugh: "Who would wear Dolce & Gabbana haute couture to play football?"

"Beckham might."

Vieri immediately responded, which elicited another burst of laughter.

At this moment, Gattuso appeared as a special guest, wearing a tight suit and looking as serious as if he were attending the Champions League final.

Roy noticed that his tie was crooked, clearly not suited to the occasion.

“Good heavens,” Vieri whispered, covering his mouth, “he walks like he’s defending against Del Piero.”

Pirlo calmly took a sip of red wine: "At least he didn't treat the catwalk like a football field, otherwise he would have tackled someone on his first turn."

Halfway through the show, the lights suddenly went out.

A spotlight shone on the center of the runway, where Materazzi appeared in a shimmering velvet suit, nearly tripping over his own shoes.

“I bet 500 euros,” Vieri leaned over and said, “He’s definitely going to step on the model’s dress later.”

Sure enough, Materazzi, who appeared next, looked like a bear in a suit and almost stepped on the hem of the skirt of the Czech model Seredova next to him.

Roy smiled and shook his head, but his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Du Chen.

She was chatting with several supermodels, occasionally letting out a crisp laugh.

“Focus on the show,” Vieri suddenly said, his eyes still fixed on the runway. “Your own girlfriend will never be as pretty as someone else’s.”

As the show ended, the party atmosphere gradually heated up.

Socialites with close ties to Italian football circles made their appearances, adding to the star-studded atmosphere of the party.

During halftime, Inter Milan's Coco, along with his new girlfriend Acuri, came over to say hello.

The Italian Miss winner's diamond necklace sparkled under the lights.

“Don’t stare,” Vieri whispered with a mischievous grin in Roy’s ear. “Be careful, Coco will get angry with you. He’s notoriously jealous.”

Roy noticed that the Inter Milan full-back's tie was crooked and pointed it out to him.

"Thanks, bro," Coco patted him on the shoulder, "Next time you come to Milan, I'll take you to my favorite restaurant."

During the 2002 World Cup, due to Nesta's injury and Cannavaro's suspension, Maldini moved to the center, allowing Coco to start. During the match, after being interfered with by Yoo Sang-chul, he was elbowed by his teammate Zanetti, resulting in a broken eyebrow and blood staining his jersey.

Just then, there was a commotion at the door, and Valentina Pace, the fiancée of motorcycle world champion Biagi, swayed in gracefully.

Vieri suddenly coughed and had to strategically "go to the restroom".

Roy then discussed the Champions League situation with Shevchenko.

The Milan night view outside the window was as dazzling as a galaxy, but their conversation was focused on the football field.

“You Serie A teams are really coming on strong this time,” Roy said, swirling his glass. “You won all four of your opening group stage matches, with Inter Milan even suffering a humiliating defeat at Highbury Stadium. Last season, you also swept all the final spots.”

He recalled yesterday's front-page headline in the Gazzetta dello Sport: "The Golden Age of the Apennines".

Shevchenko nodded: "Milan now has Kaká, Cafu, and Pancaro, it's like giving Ferrari a new engine."

He pointed to Trezeguet in the distance, "Juventus isn't bad either, with Appiah, Legrottaglie, and Miccoli."

"Lazio has acquired Albertini and Zauri, and has retained all the key players from last season."

"Ha!" Shevchenko suddenly laughed. "Inter Milan is even more outrageous; they've practically replaced their entire midfield."

Pirlo walked over and joined the conversation: "Our biggest advantage is rotation."

"Ancelotti can make a complete change to the starting eleven and still win, which is simply unimaginable in the Premier League."

Indeed, all four teams have two starting lineups, and can maintain their fighting strength by rotating 3-5 players in the Champions League, far exceeding the predicament of Premier League teams whose fighting strength drops sharply after rotation.

Italian media unanimously believe that although the grueling schedule still presents a challenge, Serie A's schedule is more relaxed than the Premier League's and it lacks the League Cup, giving them a clear advantage in terms of physical fitness. With Barcelona absent and Real Madrid's defensive vulnerabilities unresolved, Serie A teams have a good chance of achieving further glory in the Champions League.

“What about Deportivo La Coruña? Do you know them?” Roy suddenly asked. “We’re going to face them in two rounds.”

Shevchenko and Pirlo exchanged a smile, and the Ukrainian made an "outdated" gesture: "Vellron is still Vellron, but their defenses are so old they could be in a museum."

He took a sip of champagne. "When they face a truly strong team, they'll suffer the same fate as Barcelona last year."

Pirlo added, "And La Liga teams always..."

He made a downward gesture, "They're already exhausted halfway through the season. Unlike us in Serie A,"

Pirlo pointed to his temple.

"It's smarter here, with four fewer rounds in the schedule and a winter break."

The Ukrainian suddenly lowered his voice: "Seriously, have you considered transferring to Milan? We need a right winger."

Pirlo coughed lightly to interrupt him: "Sheva, if you keep poaching people like this, Deschamps might come flying over to settle accounts with you."

The three of them burst into laughter at the same time, their laughter drowned out by the party music.

Just then, Gattuso walked in, sweating profusely and loosening his tie, looking like he had just finished a derby match.

The party reached its climax with the entrance of Barbara Berlusconi. The AC Milan owner's daughter, dressed in a haute couture gown, immediately drew everyone's attention. Milan players swarmed around her, with Nesta even giving her a dramatic hand kiss.

Roy approached Vieri, who was returning to social circles, only to find the Italian striker sneaking behind the champagne tower.

Following his gaze, Controcampo presenter Canalis walked in, wearing high heels—she had once been Vieri's girlfriend, and now her cat-like eyes were narrowed dangerously.

"Bobo, why are you hiding?"

Roy smiled and helped Vieri up. "That's not you."

"Shut up!" Vieri shoved a hand over his mouth, the scent of cologne mixed with sweat hitting him hard. "She clearly said she was going to Sardinia to be with her parents!"

Just then, Roy noticed that Vieri's eyes suddenly turned fierce.

Following his gaze—Filippo Inzaghi had somehow found himself sitting in the shadows of a corner. The Milan striker's gaze pierced Vieri with surgical precision, and sparks seemed to fly as their eyes met in mid-air.

The rift between Vieri and Inzaghi, close friends, was ostensibly caused by Czech model Seredova, with the two reportedly nearly coming to blows over her. However, it actually stemmed from a grudge sown over the Canalis incident.

Vieri abandoned his vacation plans with his fiancée Canalis and chose to go to Maritina Beach with Inzaghi instead.

Initially, the two were inseparable and even shared their tips on picking up women. One day, Inzaghi suddenly "disappeared" but actually went to Sardinia to meet Canalis in secret. Canalis had previously rejected Vieri on the grounds of "accompanying her parents".

At Vieri's 30th birthday party, the two most important people were both absent, only to be later discovered that they had been on a date nearby.

Roy exclaimed that the entertainment industry is a mess, but good brothers like Inzaghi and Vieri will come again.

Right, De Bruyne?

Roy continued to chat with different people, and before he knew it, Barbara Berlusconi came over: "My father asked me to convey his greetings."

“He said he admires your performance on the field.” She smiled and added, “Of course, he was even more pleased with your remarks on the radio.”

Seeing Roy's slightly surprised expression, she added, "Your comments about South Korean football on the radio are now a must-listen program in the Milanello locker room every morning."

This is a bit exaggerated.

“Welcome to the Italian football world,” she said, holding two glasses of champagne. “Here, the rivalries on the field are not even a tenth as exciting as those in the love world.”

She winked slyly. "Want to place a bet? I bet Inzaghi will 'accidentally' spill red wine on Vieri's shirt tonight."

Outside the window, an airplane streaked across the Milan night sky, its wing lights flashing like shooting stars.

Roy suddenly remembered that he had to rush back to Monaco for training early the day after tomorrow, but at this moment, among this group of star-studded Italian A football stars, he felt as if he had become one of them.

He shook his head, dismissing the thought.

Haha, I'm the one who's going to the Champions League final.

Roy raised an eyebrow and gently placed the champagne glass on the tray of a passing waiter.

“I’m afraid I must take my leave,” he said, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles on his suit with a perfectly timed smile. “After all, I have training the day after tomorrow.”

On the way to the exit, Du Chen emerged from behind the Roman column like a fragrant breeze, her slender fingers naturally slipping into Roy's arm.

"I thought you'd disappear on the terrace with some Italian supermodel."

Roy gently squeezed her palm: "How could that be? Of course I'll get out unscathed."

"The first lesson I learned in Italy was..."

Roy smiled and glanced back at Vieri, who was being "besieged" by his three ex-girlfriends, looking like a striker surrounded by three defenders.

"Never leave any evidence on the battlefield."

This is Roy's view on relationships—he is by no means a pure-hearted warrior; deep down, he possesses an almost cold-blooded clarity.

They will not indulge in the hormonal frenzy, nor will they allow themselves to fall into the inefficient emotional quagmire of infidelity or cheating.

(End of this chapter)