Page 19 of My Italian Love Affair

The way he asks it - half-mocking, half-genuine - makes my blood simmer, and I meet his stare, refusing to look away.

“Love it,” I lie. “It’s my favourite thing in the world.”

His smirk deepens, like he sees right through me.

“Bene.Then we will get along perfectly.”

Doubtful.

Matteo gives me one last once-over before stepping past us towards the next group of journalists, already distracted by someone else.

I exhale slowly, unclenching my fists.

“Overgrown man-child with a God complex,” I mutter under my breath.

Mark snorts. “Welcome to football.”

*

After Matteofinallymakes his way through the gauntlet of handshakes, smirks and warm greetings, he settles into a chair at the centre of the long table at the front of the room, draping himself over it with the relaxed confidence of someone who has done this a hundred times before.

If he didn’t seem like such an asshole, I might actually think it was kind of nice that he’d taken the time to greet everyone personally instead of strolling in like he had somewhere better to be.

Plenty of athletes - in fact, plenty of celebrities in general - treat press obligations like an inconvenience, barely glancing up from their phones as they mutter half-hearted answers.

But not Matteo.

No, Matteo had well and truly worked the room; not just behaving like a professional, but acting as if he actually cared.

Like he enjoyed this. Like he wanted to be here.

It was calculated, of course.

Everything about him already seems to be.

Still, it was effective. He’s already got everyone eating out of the palm of his hand, and we hadn’t even gotten to the questions yet.

I hate that I can see the charm beneath the arrogance, and I hate even more that itworks.

Now that he’s sat down, front and centre, the energy in the room immediately sharpens. Journalists who have been ready and waiting in their seats now lean forward, their voice recorders and notepads at the ready.

The first few questions are standard, predictable - ones I’ve heard versions of before in the hours I spent researching Serie A interviews.

“How’s the squad feeling about the upcoming fixtures?”

“How important has the manager been in shaping the team’s performance this season?”

“What’s the atmosphere like in the dressing room right now?”

Matteo answers easily, his voice smooth and laced with a rich Italian accent that makes everything sound five times more dramatic as he talks about teamwork, strategy and the team’s desire to bring home trophies.

All the usual PR-friendly soundbites that are essentially copy-and-paste answers for every player.

After a few minutes of warming up, the questions start to shift away from football and veer into the territory of headlines and gossip.

“Matteo, there have been rumors about your contract renewal - can you confirm if negotiations are still ongoing?”

“Contracts are business,” he answers, that smirk never wavering. “My job is football. My agent is handling everything else.”

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