Every football club has its own distinct systems and traits.
Among them is the locker room culture, and for AC Milan, it's no different.
In fact, compared to many other teams, Milan places even more emphasis on tradition.
Inside the cafeteria of Milan's Milanello training base, there exists an old round table weathered by time.
Milan's club crest originates from a legendary tale in the city of Milan—A knight slaying a serpent.
To honor that tradition, Milan adopted the Crusader's red cross, while Inter Milan chose the serpent, symbolizing their claim as the city's "first-born" club.
AC Milan saw itself as the knight—And naturally, the round table earned the prestigious title of the Knights' Table.
"The Knights' Table? You mean that busted old table?"
Hearing Simunic bring it up, Suker made a face of distaste.
"That rickety old thing is lopsided—higher on the left, lower on the right. You have to shove napkins under the legs just to eat! Whoever wants it can have it—I'm not sitting there."
Simunic replied, "That's the Knights' Table. Only Milan's senior core can sit there. You probably just aren't qualified yet!"
He'd heard of it:Baresi, Costacurta, Tassotti, Maldini—those were the ones allowed at the Knights' Table.
Even the Ballon d'Or-winning foreign signings like Papin and Desailly had limited access.
Even George Weah, a triple award winner, never got to sit there.
"Say what you want," Suker shrugged, unfazed, then jogged back onto the pitch.
Nearby, Simic approached and whispered,"If Suker actually wanted to sit there, the boss would be overjoyed."
"Huh?" Simunic was stunned. "What do you mean?"
Simic explained, "Maldini has invited Suker to join many times before, but he always turns him down. Especially if it means sitting at the same table as Kaká. I'm not sure why—but if he wanted to, he definitely could."
"Then why doesn't he?" Simunic asked, baffled.
It was the Milan Knights' Table. If he had that chance, he'd sprint over in a heartbeat.
Simic's lips twitched, as if he wanted to say more—but in the end, he just shook his head.
"Now you're being mysterious?" Simunic pressed. "Come on, we're both Croatian—we follow Suker, don't you trust me?"
Simic thought for a moment, then sighed.
"There's a saying..."
"What saying?"
"Suker is destined to leave."
"Leave?" Simunic blurted out.
"Keep your voice down!" Simic hissed. "It's just a rumor... a theory."
At lunchtime, inside the Milanello cafeteria, Simunic finally laid eyes on the famous old round table.
It was tucked near the window—not flashy or prominently displayed. Just a table with a sense of age to it.
Most Milan players avoided it altogether, choosing other seats.
Simunic kept a close eye on the table—curious who would take their place.
Maldini, Costacurta, Ambrosini, Nesta, Gattuso.That was it—just five people.
Even Pirlo and Inzaghi didn't have seats.As for Suker and Kaká? They sat far away in a quiet corner.
While they ate, Simunic noticed Maldini frequently glancing over at them.
He whispered something to Costacurta, who simply shook his head. Maldini let out a sigh.
Simunic was dying to understand the dynamic—But he wasn't part of the inner circle, so he couldn't find out more.
Simic only knew fragments of the story.
As Suker and Kaká quietly ate, Kaká suddenly whispered:"Boss is looking at you again."
Suker smirked: "Eat! Don't look up!"
Kaká nodded, returning his focus to the plate.
The Milan Knights' Table—the absolute heart of the dressing room.
Why didn't Suker want to join?There were a few reasons:
Loyalty:The table's core tradition was loyalty.
Suker never planned to stay in Milan long-term.
Even when he first arrived, he'd already thought about leaving one day.
He didn't want to be tied down.
Internal disagreement:Maldini wanted to bring Suker and Kaká into the inner circle, expanding the table's influence.But Costacurta objected—saying they belonged to the "Eastern Bloc" and "Brazilian clique."
Of course, Maldini had final say, being the founder of the Knights' Table.
But Suker and Kaká never expressed interest.
And Maldini wasn't going to force it and risk clashing with Costacurta over players who didn't want in.
Ties to Galliani:Though Galliani didn't personally sign Suker and Kaká, they were closely associated with him.
And Galliani had always opposed the Knights' Table—After all, what executive wants a player group that can influence transfers?
With these three reasons, Suker always dodged Maldini's invitations—acting clueless and avoiding the topic.
Because once you sit at that table, everything changes.
Suker didn't want to clash with Milan.It was his first club in a top league—there was sentiment attached.
Even if he left, he wanted it to be on good terms, not as an "enemy" or "traitor."
Training resumed as normal in the afternoon.
When it finished, Milan players didn't leave immediately.They gathered in the tactics room to watch the Champions League semifinal draw.
The final four:
Manchester United
Liverpool
Chelsea
AC Milan
Honestly, of the four, Suker least wanted to face Chelsea.
Mourinho's team had incredible defensive structure, which would restrict Suker's movement.And Drogba, the "beast" up front, would be a nightmare for aging defenders like Maldini and Nesta.
The other two were more manageable.
But for Milan, the only thing on their mind was Liverpool.
They were desperate for revenge.
And the gods smiled on them once more:
AC Milan vs. Manchester United
Liverpool vs. Chelsea
Manchester United.
But this wasn't the United from two years ago.
Ferguson had rebuilt—now with Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Luka Modrić forming a terrifying core.
In history, Kaká stormed Old Trafford alone and won.But now with Suker, the pressure could be shared.
Still, United had improved.
A younger Modrić had matured at Old Trafford, helping unleash both Ronaldo and Rooney.That would be a real challenge for Milan.
Meanwhile, at Carrington, Manchester United's training ground—
Ferguson narrowed his eyes when he saw they'd drawn AC Milan. Then he relaxed.
Milan was a fearsome team—no doubt.
But their once-legendary "Sighing Wall" of a defense was aging.
With Rooney's aggression, Ronaldo's speed, and Modrić's midfield control, they had a real chance.
Ferguson's main concern?Suker and Kaká.
He'd been watching both closely.
Suker's red-hot form worried him.And Kaká's recent outbursts of brilliance were equally concerning.
Either one, if allowed space, could wreak havoc.
But Ferguson wasn't one to retreat.
It would come down to direct confrontation.And United knew how to brawl.
Ronaldo and Rooney were pumped.
Suker and Kaká—the two most hyped young stars in Europe.
Beating them meant stealing their spotlight—both were fired up.
Especially Cristiano Ronaldo—he was itching for revenge.
Modrić took a deep breath—Not exactly excited, but clearly serious.
He knew Suker better than anyone at United.
And because of that, he knew they'd need to be at their absolute best.
Victory over Suker wouldn't come easy.But he believed—Manchester United had the strength to do it.