.....
Back in Rome, the van came through the gates of Coverciano, where the three players in the van looked out the windows as it pulled up to the main building.
Afternoon sunlight washed over the Centro Tecnico Federale, its buildings sitting peacefully behind the gates that had seen generations of Italian football come and go.
The moment the van came to a halt, the trio got out and stretched, while the driver brought out the luggage.
"Let me help," Leo said after seeing the driver struggling with his luggage, which turned out to be something in the boot holding his handle back.
"Senior team is a different thing," Udogie said while looking around.
"The U21 camp and this are not the same."
And he wasn't wrong.
The facilities had the particular quality of a setup that had been designed to remove every possible excuse.
Leo was putting his phone away when Udogie appeared beside him.
"Are you going to tell me who Tori is?" Udogie said, only for Leo to shake his head.
