MILAN. It’s the beginning of February in Milan. A long line of young women, dressed in red and black, passes through the doors of the Italian football center. There is a quiet whisper of speech.
Just a moment ago, the under-19 promises of one of the giants of the boot country, AC Milan, have been greeted with green light. Energy is low after the match.
The Finn steps last in line I am Seveniuswho exchanges ideas with masseurs.
The conversation breaks off like a wall in front of the main building.
Sevenius, then 18, stares ahead. A cool sports car stands in the parking lot.
However, the young Finn is not speechless about the car, but about the driver.
There is a superstar lurking in the driver’s seat Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Browsing on his cell phone.
Sevenius remains standing behind the window. Hoping for eye contact.
However, the news of the day excites the Swede more, so the eastern neighbor has to be satisfied to move on.
– Now you knock on that window, encourages the team’s masseuse.
Sevenius pondered for a moment. The car is expensive and what do the new teammates think about the situation? Even Zlatan himself.
On the other hand, when will the next opportunity come? The group photo must be taken now.
The Finn blows out and returns to the car. A small knock on the window catches the legend’s attention.
After greetings and a short exchange of words, the Swede goes out into the street and gives another person a reason to admire.
The picture of two Nordic goalscorers will be immortalized in the history books.
The final words are being written to the story of one, the front cover of the other has just been turned.
– I had time to say that I’m a big fan of yours. I didn’t even have time to realize what he answered when I was so happy about the situation, Sevenius repeats the situation.
What about Milan?
Let’s jump into Sevenius’ journey later in the spring in Milan. The sun is still shining high on the central square of the big city.
Tourists swarm like ants in a nest in front of Il Duomo cathedral.
After eight text messages and two picture messages, a young Finnish soccer player emerges from among thousands of people.
Oona Sevenius, who signed a contract with AC Milan at the turn of the year, appears from the sea of people with a big smile on her face. The schedule has been extended to the afternoon, because he has returned from Helsinki on the morning flight.
In the back is the last reminder of the former life before becoming a professional, the graduation papers.
– In my opinion, it went well, I couldn’t have done better, Sevenius acknowledges.
In the Italian way, schedule changes have been received with short notice even to this day.
After the plane landed, a message from Milan was waiting on the phone, asking him to cycle through the training center as soon as possible.
– There is still no information whether I will be leaving tomorrow with the U19 team for a tournament on the other side of Italy. I don’t even know that place, the Finn laughs.
– At first, it was a bit stressful when the schedules live so much. Now you even enjoy not having to think about it. You only go where you are told, Sevenius states with a smile on his lips.
The place has to be earned
Oona Sevenius’ first bite in Milan fell on November last year.
He stood on the grass field and waited for practice to start. The heart rate was higher than usual.
Professionals dressed in black and red stripes stepped from the locker room onto the field and most of them greeted the Finn by shaking hands.
However, for one of the star players, the young Finnish test player was in the air.
The Swede who represented PSG, Manchester City and Real Madrid in his career Kosovare Asllani belongs to AC Milan’s star category.
– It was a special situation, Sevenius recalls the events of the test camp.
Only the Finn’s strong grip on the field broke the ice between the Nordics and the stardust settled around Asllan.
– “Kosse” just asked me to follow the Eurovision to him, so from that moment on, things have progressed quite nicely, Sevenius is happy.
– That’s how it goes in big clubs. There, jobs are played for and appreciation is earned on the field. It’s brutal, but at the same time pretty fair.
Hard discipline
The life of Sevenius, who grew up in Rajamäki, next to Lake Nurmijärvi, has been in a lot of turmoil in recent months.
Moving to one of the European metropolises would in itself be a big step for many young people, but getting used to in a familiar environment has been enough for Sevenius as well; on the football field.
Although AC Milan sees the potential to grow into a big role in the star of the U19 national team, a place among the professionals must be earned in the eyes of the coaching management as well.
Live with passion and emotion, the trainers from Saapas swear by strict discipline.
– The coaching didn’t speak to me much at first, but that changed when I scored a hat trick in the youth match. The next day, everyone came to ask about the news, Sevenius smiles.
The style is new to the Finn, and even though he had heard stories about Italian culture, adapting to it has required some getting used to.
– Training requires a lot of concentration. The pace is really hard, and I don’t always understand what the coaches are saying. The head coach only speaks Italian, Sevenius says.
In training, emotions are on the surface and it is completely normal for coaches or players to shout at each other.
The feedback comes immediately and directly.
– Everyone wants to give evidence. In Finland, I got used to the fact that the team is like a family, but here the situation is a bit different.
Even if you make the right decision in practice, more experienced players expect the game to go through them.
– It takes courage to look into the eyes of a screaming teammate and at the same time think in your mind that I won’t pass next time either, Sevenius grins.
The goals are ringing in the ears
It’s already getting dark on the terrace in Milan, when the conversation moves on to the next steps.
Although the contract with AC Milan is a kind of dream come true for Sevenius, new goals are already on the horizon. The next step is in Milan’s starting line-up.
On the national team front, the next step will most likely be in Helmarei.
– Hopefully that debut would happen next autumn, Sevenius sums up the calendar.
In the fall, Helmarit starts its first Nations League match against Romania, Slovakia and Croatia. There could be a need for a goalscorer like Sevenius in the national team, because, for example, the all-time goalscorer by Linda Sällström participation in the autumn national matches is still open.
Even though Sevenius’, now 19, career as a professional is only in its beginnings, the path is paved towards the very brightest lights.
– Whenever I feel like I can’t make it today, I put the Champions League theme song in my ears.
– AC Milan offers a great place to develop at this point, but the goal is that in ten years I would be a top ten player in the whole world, Sevenius explains.