Chapter 19 – Art in Isolation and the Rising Icon
June–July 2020 – Milan, during the ongoing pandemic
Early Summer Mornings
The Milan skyline shimmered under a humid summer sun — a contrast to the still-empty streets. Masks and sanitizer bottles remained fixtures of daily life, but some things, like football, were stirring awake.
In his penthouse, Enzo Sky Vito began each day at 7 a.m. Usually, it started with meditation on the balcony. But now, as the city tentatively reanimated, his morning included:
A black espresso
A notebook entry titled: "Do not let the quiet dull your fire."
A structured workout on the terrace — resistance bands, plyometrics, and barefoot coordination drills on yoga mats.
He followed a home-made routine designed by Milan's fitness coach — a hybrid of football fitness and martial arts motion, keeping his agility sharp even with limited space.
Media and Milanese Life
Late mornings were for media:
He reviewed messages and highlights with Nike's sports marketing team in Amsterdam.
He answered calls from YSL's Milan creative director, planning his next fashion shoot — part digital, part socially distanced.
His phone buzzed frequently:
"Fashion Week has asked if you'll be a digital host."
"Sky Italia wants you for an exclusive quarantine special."
"Your boots, 'Fire Glow 19', are trending in Germany."
Each ping reminded him how his world — media, fashion, sports — had collided. His identity now orbiting multiple orbits of attention.
Afternoons with Brother and Family Grounding
By midday, Enzo's older brother, Marco (now a youth academy coach), would stop by for lunch. Only one guest permitted — a small indulgence in a city still cautious.
They'd sit on the balcony overlooking Viale della Liberazione. Simple food: Napoli-style pizza, fresh salad, olive oil – classic Milanese fuel.
They'd talk not football, but "il mondo."
Europe's reopenings. Italy's fragile state.
Marco worried about restaurants, bars, his trainees. Enzo listened, honest.
And Marco reminded him: fame is fragile. Crisis, constant. His brother had once left football to support family. That humility still grounded Enzo.
Training Creativity
Post-lunch, Enzo retreated to his makeshift training studio — a small lane tucked behind the building. A flat stretch with turf tiles.
He built small goals, dribbling slalom poles from empty wine bottles, remarks scribbled on the wall:
Be unpredictable
First thought finish
Movement > speed
He filmed freestyle trick combinations: no-look passes to his dog, volleys into laundry baskets, telegraphed set pieces for Instagram Reels. Sometimes synchronized with Leão in split-screen collab crosses — "This is virus training," Rafa joked via Instagram Live.
They'd laugh, counting reposts. They knew it was more than fun — it was a message.
Football keeps breathing, even when we cannot.
Evening Breakdowns and Visualization
As evening fell, Enzo moved inside — into a zen room with low lights, concrete tones, vinyl records on shelves.
He popped a record: classical piano or jazz ballads — Chopin, Coltrane — something soulful. Put on noise-cancelling headphones, lay on the floor, and closed his eyes.
He visualized returning to San Siro. The tunnel, the roar, the stadium lights, the drumbeat. He visualized himself receiving a long pass, controlling, surging, curling it in. Again and again, in perfect slow-motion detail.
This method — mental rehearsal — wasn't new. But now, with physical training scarce, it was all the sharper.
Night Reflections: Growth through Isolation
Before sleep, he took out his journal again.
Tonight's entry ended:
"Tonight, I am a symphony without audience. Silence will not break me. I am not just training muscles — I am crafting a legacy. Tomorrow, I will be sharper, faster, smarter."
He locked his phone on airplane mode. And drifted off.
Mid-July 2020 — Return to Group Training
As Italy cautiously reopened, Milanello reopened. But only with bubbles, temperature checks, sanitation.
Enzo arrived with a small bag: boots, water, masks, a heart full of intent.
The squad was divided: two bubbles. Enzo fell with Leão, Bennacer, Piątek. They were the attack bubble.
Their first group session was five small-sided games — 5 vs. 5. No fans. No cameras. Just grass and sweat.
Enzo scored the opener. A flick heel pass to Bennacer, a one-two with Leão, and a lofted chip over the keeper.
It wasn't just a goal. It was confirmation.
"This boy has turned isolation into innovation," remarked Milan's pundit over team video.
"He trains with maestro-level focus… even without applause."
Enzo walked off, heart pounding, feeling alive again.
Reuniting with YSL and Publicity Responsibility
That evening came a photoshoot on the rooftop of the YSL Milan HQ — a nod to the new normal.
Enzo and Leão posed in power suits, blazer collars up, the city shimmering behind them. No crowd, but still potent. The image would later headline Vogue Italia and be shared with COVID-19 donation campaign tags.
Enzo wrote under the final image:
"We stand with Milan. We stand with hope."
It was more than marketing — it was genuine solidarity.
Media Narrative: The Icon Evolving
By late July, his name dominated headlines again:
La Gazzetta dello Sport called him "Il Fenomeno Rinato" (The Reborn Phenomenon).
Sky Italia featured a 10-minute special, "Artista nel Silenzio", focusing on his trick shots, lyricism, and solitude work ethic.
International outlets credited him as Europe's "most creative lockdown training profile."
Yet, Enzo's social feed remained steady. No bragging. Just practice reels, family moments, and a message:
"We return soon. Stronger. Together."
The Bridge Back
In the final days of July, Serie A released a protective #ReturnToPlay guide. Fans weren't allowed back. Tested regularly, wiped down stadiums, empty seats, but football would restart.
On the day before reopening, Enzo sat on the pitch again — alone under the lights. The chalk lines seemed sharper. The net looked hungrier.
He closed his eyes and whispered:
"It's time."
The penultimate line in his journal read:
"From silence... we make a roar."