September 21, 2003 — Lecce, Stadio Via del Mare
The air in Lecce felt like walking into a furnace. It was one of those Southern afternoons where the sun didn't just shine — it pressed against your skin, soaking into the pores, weighing down the bones. AC Milan had arrived two days earlier to acclimate, but nothing could quite prepare them for the particular brand of September heat that Lecce delivered.
Luca Bellini stood on the edge of the away dugout, bottle of water in hand, sweat already gathering at his brow despite the match still being nearly an hour away. The sun had turned the pitch into a shimmering emerald trap. Around him, the stands began to fill with yellow and red.
"You ever play in heat like this?" Gattuso asked, adjusting his shin guards while barely containing a grimace.
Luca shook his head. "Only once. Youth tournament in Calabria. We nearly melted. I scored an own goal and got heatstroke in the same game."
Gattuso chuckled. "Then you're ready."
Pirlo, seated nearby, lifted his gaze from his boots and added, "Drink water. And pray. That's all we can do down here."
It was strange, how fast camaraderie had grown. Kaká had already become a constant — cheerful, supportive, always trying to lighten the mood. But it was Pirlo and Gattuso who had started pulling Luca into the gritty core of the team. Training banter. Tactical insights. Even card games on the plane.
The lineup was announced. Luca listened with quiet focus. AC Milan would line up in a 4-3-1-2: Dida in goal; Cafu, Maldini, Nesta, and Pancaro at the back; Gattuso, Pirlo, and Seedorf in midfield; Kaká just ahead of them; and Shevchenko and Inzaghi leading the line.
Lecce replied with a 4-4-2: Sicignano between the posts; Stovini, Juarez, Bovo, and Abruzzese in defense; Cassetti, Ledesma, Giacomazzi, and Franceschini across the middle; Chevantón and Vucinic up front.
Luca would start on the bench again, his fourth consecutive appearance among the substitutes. But Ancelotti had hinted in the pre-match briefing: "Expect minutes."
The match began at a frantic pace, the heat doing nothing to dull Lecce's intensity. Chevantón was electric, forcing Nesta into two early blocks. Maldini, solid as ever, barked orders. Kaká floated in the pockets, drawing fouls, creating space.
In the 28th minute, Shevchenko struck first — a lightning-quick turn and low drive from just inside the box. 1–0 Milan.
But Lecce were no pushovers. By the 39th minute, Cassetti had equalized with a blistering shot from outside the area. 1–1. The crowd roared, and the heat seemed to tighten around Luca's neck like a rope.
Halftime came. The locker room was a stew of sweat and tension. "They're too comfortable in midfield," Ancelotti said, pacing. "We need to take the space away. Bellini — Nesta is feeling tightness. You go in. Second half. Center back, right side."
Luca nodded. No adrenaline rush. Just breath in, breath out.
Pirlo leaned over as Luca pulled on his shirt. "Take your time on the ball. It's humid. They'll make mistakes. You just clean up."
Gattuso slapped his back. "And don't forget to scream. It keeps the blood moving."
The second half began. The crowd felt closer, hotter, louder.
Luca was tested within minutes. A long diagonal from Giacomazzi fell between him and Cafu. Vucinic sprinted on, but Luca got there first, using his body to shield the ball and guide it out for a goal kick.
Safe. Clean. Smart.
As the minutes passed, he grew into the game. Interception. Clearance. Vocal command. At one point, he shouted over Seedorf to shift right, and the Dutchman didn't argue.
In the 74th minute, Milan retook the lead. Kaká found Gattuso on the right, who whipped in a cross that Shevchenko finished with a textbook header. 2–1.
Lecce pressed late. Chevantón came again, this time trying to dribble past. Luca stood his ground. No tackle — just shadowing, denying space, until the striker ran out of room and out of patience.
The final whistle blew. Another win.
Ancelotti clapped him on the shoulder as they exited. "You're adapting fast. Well done."
Outside the tunnel, as players took interviews or sipped water in silence, Luca found Pirlo and Gattuso leaning against a wall, chatting with trainers.
"I'm buying the first round on the flight back," Gattuso said. "Even if it's just mineral water."
Luca laughed. "Make mine sparkling."
Pirlo gave him a rare half-smile. "You keep playing like that, we'll start trusting you with the poker money."
Later that evening, on the plane, Luca sat by the window, Kaká beside him, headphones in.
He opened his notebook.
September 21 — Lecce 1, Milan 2
Minutes played: 45
Tackles: 3
Interceptions: 4
Clearances: 5
Fouls: 0
Impact: Stabilized second half
Progress: building
Pirlo & Gattuso: closer
Kaká: anchor
Still haven't told her anything. Still not ready.
He looked out the window. The stars were clearer above the clouds. Everything still ahead. And now, finally, it felt within reach.