Chapter 45: Chapter 44: New Horizons [II]
"For the rest of you," Gasperini said once the noise had settled again, "keep working. Keep developing. This club’s doors are always open to those who earn their opportunity through performance and attitude."
His eyes swept the room one final time before adding, "Good work today, gentlemen. Continue like this and many of you will find yourselves in the first team sooner than you might expect."
With that, he nodded once to Rossi and turned toward the door, though he paused briefly beside Demien, adding in a quieter voice only those nearby could hear, "Impressive recovery from that Fiorentina rejection. Very impressive indeed."
He left without waiting for a response, and the moment the door closed behind him, the room exploded in celebration again as players surrounded Demien and Matteo with congratulations pouring from all sides.
"I knew it!" someone shouted while clapping Demien’s back, and another voice added, "Can’t believe it happened this quickly though!"
Even Riccardo approached with a firm handshake and a simple "Well deserved," which from him felt like effusive praise.
Coach Rossi allowed the celebration to continue for a few minutes before clapping his hands for attention, and the room gradually quieted as he spoke.
"Congratulations to both Demien and Matteo," he said with genuine pride in his voice, "but remember, this is just the beginning for them, not the end of the journey."
He looked at the rest of the squad before adding, "For everyone else, as Mister Gasperini said, keep working. Your chance will come if you earn it."
Rossi glanced at his watch before continuing, "You’re all free to shower now. Bus leaves in forty minutes to take us back to the hotel, and remember we have an early departure tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Coach!" came the unified response.
"Demien, Luca," Rossi added, "I need to speak with both of you when you’re done here. My office."
The two exchanged glances as Rossi left the room, and then the team returned to their post-match routines with a renewed energy as conversations centered around what had just happened.
Luca threw his arm around Demien’s shoulders and pulled him in for a quick side hug while whispering, "Told you, brother. Told you this would happen."
"Hasn’t sunk in yet," Demien replied, his voice slightly unsteady as the reality began settling into his bones.
"Wait," Luca said as a thought occurred to him, his eyes widening with realization, "if you’re training with the first team, does that mean you’ve been accepted into Atalanta? Like, officially?"
Demien’s breath caught as the full implications hit him. "I think... I think it does," he replied, the possibilities expanding in his mind.
Twenty minutes later, Demien and Luca stood outside Rossi’s temporary office, both freshly showered with damp hair and clean clothes, and Luca knocked twice on the door.
"Come in," Rossi called.
They entered to find Rossi sitting behind a small desk reviewing match footage on a tablet, and he gestured for them to sit in the chairs opposite him.
"First," he said while setting the tablet aside, "congratulations again, Demien. The first team is where you belong based on what I’ve seen."
"Thank you, Coach," Demien replied with genuine gratitude in his voice.
"And Luca," Rossi continued, "your time will come too. That finish today was Serie A quality."
Luca nodded while his expression showed both appreciation and determination, and Rossi leaned forward with his elbows on the desk.
"Now to business," he said with a more formal tone. "You’ve both been accepted into the Atalanta squad officially. The trial period is over, and contracts are being prepared."
Both players’ faces lit up as they exchanged quick glances, and Luca nearly jumped from his seat while Demien’s smile spread wide across his face.
"When we return to Zingonia, you’ll both meet with the sporting director to sign your contracts," Rossi explained while his own satisfaction showed through his professional demeanor, and he continued, "But I’ve arranged something for you first."
He looked at both of them before saying, "You have two days off. You can return to Florence, spend time with family, and process all of this before rejoining us. The club driver will pick you up on the third day."
"Thank you, Coach," they said in unison, both clearly appreciative of the gesture.
"Before I forget," Rossi said while reaching into his desk drawer, "Demien, I have an assignment for you."
He pulled out what looked like tickets and handed them across the desk.
"You’ll miss the first team’s first pre-season match against Angers since you need proper rest after joining," Rossi explained as Demien took the tickets, "but I want you to watch the match. See how the first team plays, feel the difference between our U23 level and where you’re heading. It will help your transition."
Demien stared at the tickets, genuine shock registering on his face. "You want me to... study the first team?" The weight of what was happening hit him fully—he wasn’t just getting a courtesy call-up or a training opportunity; he was genuinely being integrated into Atalanta’s senior squad.
Demien looked down at his hands and realized there were two tickets, not one.
"You gave me two tickets, Coach," he said with slight confusion.
Rossi’s expression softened slightly. "Yes. Bring someone with you—family, friend, whoever you want. Sharing these moments is important."
"Okay, thank you," Demien said, tucking the tickets carefully into his pocket.
"That’s all for now," Rossi concluded while standing up, and he extended his hand to both players. "Rest well, enjoy your time off, and be ready for the next Chapter when you return."
They shook hands, and as they turned to leave, Rossi added, "Oh, and don’t forget—contract signing when you get back. Your lives are about to change, gentlemen."
Demien and Luca walked back toward the dressing room in a state of stunned silence for several steps before Luca finally broke into a wide grin and punched Demien’s arm lightly.
"We did it," he said, his voice filled with disbelief and joy. "We actually did it."
"We did," Demien confirmed, and David Drinkwater’s thirty-seven years of struggle felt suddenly distant as new possibilities stretched before him.
As they reached the dressing room door, Luca paused with his hand on the handle and looked at Demien with determination.
"You go in first," he said, and when Demien raised an eyebrow in question, Luca added with a grin, "The star should make an entrance."
Demien shook his head with a laugh but stepped forward and pushed the door open, and as they entered, conversations stopped as teammates looked up expectantly.
Luca stepped beside Demien and raised his voice to announce, "Contracts! Both of us! When we get back!"
The room erupted again as players surged forward to congratulate them, and in that moment, surrounded by new teammates celebrating his success, Demien felt something he hadn’t expected when he’d first awakened in this body months ago—he felt like he belonged.