CHAPTER 151: CHAPTER 146: THE U21’S CALL-UP I

Wednesday, September 11th, 2022

Bortolotti Training Complex

9:00 AM

Wednesday’s training ran heavier from the start and at 9 AM the squad split into two groups—starters versus reserves in a full eleven-versus-eleven match at game-speed intensity—and Demien operated as the ten against an organized defensive block that Gasperini had instructed to replicate Napoli’s shape.

The reserves pressed high when Atalanta tried to build from the back, and Demien dropped between the lines to find space though their defensive midfielder—a young Italian named Ricci who’d been told to mimic Lobotka’s positioning—followed him everywhere.

"DEMIEN!" Gasperini’s voice cut across the pitch sharp and immediate. "THAT’S WHERE LOBOTKA SITS! DON’T LET HIM DICTATE!"

Play stopped.

The manager strode onto the field and pulled Demien aside while the rest of the squad stood waiting, and Gasperini’s finger pointed to the space between midfield and defense where Ricci had been positioning himself.

"When you drop to receive, he’ll follow," Gasperini said, and his tone was instructional rather than critical. "That’s when you move laterally. Force him to choose—track you and leave space centrally, or hold position and give you time on the ball."

Demien nodded and the play restarted, and this time when the ball came to him he received on the half-turn before shifting five yards left, and Ricci hesitated for just a moment which was enough for Demien to play a through-ball to Lookman that split the defensive line clean.

"BETTER!" Gasperini shouted. "THAT’S THE MOVEMENT!"

The session stretched past noon and into 12:30 PM with repeated stoppages for tactical corrections, and then the focus shifted to set pieces—both attacking and defending—as Gasperini drilled corner routines and free kick variations while the sun climbed higher and sweat soaked through everyone’s training kits.

Defensive organization against corners ran for twenty minutes because Napoli’s set piece delivery was dangerous, and Demien’s assignment was marking the back post while staying alert for second balls.

"DON’T BALL-WATCH!" the defensive coach shouted when Demien’s eyes followed the cross instead of his runner. "TRACK YOUR MAN FIRST!"

Finally at 12:45 PM Gasperini blew the whistle three times and released players to the showers, and the squad trudged off the pitch exhausted but sharper than they’d been two hours earlier.

Locker Room

1:15 PM

Demien toweled off his hair in the locker room and the steam from the showers filled the air with warmth, and most players were already dressed or halfway through pulling on street clothes when Gasperini’s assistant appeared at the doorway.

"Demien," the assistant said, and his voice carried across the room. "Manager wants to see you in his office."

The locker room went quiet for exactly two seconds before conversations resumed, though Demien caught a few glances from teammates as he grabbed his tracksuit top and followed the assistant out.

Brief panic flashed through his mind because being summoned to Gasperini’s office usually meant tactical discussions or contract matters or—worse—disciplinary issues, but the assistant’s slight smile suggested otherwise so Demien forced himself to stay calm while they walked down the corridor toward the manager’s office.

The door was open and Gasperini sat behind his desk finishing a phone call, and he gestured for Demien to sit in the chair opposite while wrapping up what sounded like official business in Italian too rapid for Demien to follow completely.

"Sì, capisco. Grazie mille. Arrivederci."

Gasperini hung up and his expression was neutral though his eyes held something that might have been approval, and he leaned back in his chair before speaking.

"That was the English FA," he said, and his voice was matter-of-fact. "They want you for the Under-21 matches against Italy and Germany. Friendlies before the Nations League starts."

The words landed and Demien processed them with David’s thirty-seven years of experience recognizing validation when it arrived, and he kept his face composed even though something in his chest tightened because England U21s meant international recognition, meant his performances at Atalanta were getting noticed beyond Serie A.

"Congratulations," Gasperini continued. "You’ve earned it." He paused. "The FA will contact you with details. Right now, Sunday is what matters. Napoli away."

The statement came firm and final, and Demien nodded once.

"Understood, mister."

Gasperini’s expression softened fractionally.

"Good. The FA will send official communication this afternoon. You’ll report to St. George’s Park after our match schedule allows—probably next international break." He paused. "Tell your teammates before social media does. Better they hear it from you."

"Understood."

"That’s all. Go eat."

Demien stood and walked toward the door, and only when he reached the hallway did the reality fully hit him because England U21s was a stepping stone toward the senior team, toward World Cups and Euros, toward everything David Drinkwater had dreamed about during those seventeen-club journeys that never quite reached international level.

Locker Room

1:22 PM

The locker room reaction played out exactly as a U21 call-up should when Demien returned and mentioned it casually to the players nearest him.

Højlund glanced up from his phone with a casual expression.

"Yo, England U21s? Nice one."

That was it. Two seconds of acknowledgment before his attention returned to whatever he was reading.

Lookman—English himself and a former U21 international—offered brief congratulations while pulling on his shoes.

"Good stuff. Lee Carsley’s running the U21s now, yeah? Solid coach. He’ll have you pressing high, playing fast transitions. You’ll fit his system."

Tolói barely looked up from tying his laces.

"Bravo, Demien."

Then back to his routine like nothing significant had happened.

De Roon gave a single approving nod while pulling on his jacket, and his voice carried the tone of someone who’d seen this happen dozens of times.

"Well done. Keep your head down and keep working."

Most players didn’t react at all because U21 call-ups happened regularly for talented prospects, and within ninety seconds the conversation shifted naturally to Napoli’s defensive line and Saturday’s logistics as Koopmeiners asked someone about the travel schedule.

Demien felt almost awkward that it wasn’t a bigger moment until he realized this was exactly right because U21s were a stepping stone rather than a destination, and senior players had seen dozens of young talents receive these calls only to fade away or never make the next step up.

The validation was real but it wasn’t worth celebrating yet.

Not until he’d proven he belonged at every level.