1:34 PM

Atalanta Media Office

The club's social media coordinator reviewed the morning's training photos on her computer screen, and she selected one showing Demien jogging with the main group while other players moved around him.

The image was clear without being dramatic—just documentation of his presence rather than a declaration of imminent return.

She typed a caption in Italian first, then English:

"Demien Walter rejoining group training today as he continues his recovery. Gradual progress. 💙🖤"

The post went live at 1:47 PM across all platforms, and the response was immediate.

Comments began appearing within seconds—mostly positive, some cautious, a few demanding to know when he'd be available for selection.

@AtalantaFan88: Finally! But please don't rush him back

@SerieA_Updates: Good to see. Take your time, no need to force it

@WalterSupporter: YES! We've missed him

@CalcioNews24: Progress but still weeks away from match fitness

The post was shared by Italian football aggregators within twenty minutes, and English-language accounts picked it up shortly after with variations of the same headline: "Walter Returns to Atalanta Training."

3:47 PM

Demien's Apartment

Demien saw the post when he checked his phone after getting home, and the image showed him mid-stride surrounded by teammates while frost still covered the grass in the background.

The caption was appropriately measured, and he appreciated that the club hadn't oversold his return with dramatic language or promises about match availability.

His phone buzzed with a message from Marco.

Marco: Saw the post. How did it feel?

Demien: Good. Different but good. Still modified work but progress.

Marco: Media will start speculating about return dates now. Don't let it pressure you.

Demien: I know.

Another message arrived from his mother.

Isabella: Proud of you. Take your time.

He replied with a thumbs up and set his phone aside, and he moved to the kitchen to prepare lunch while his right leg felt tired but not painful.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Centro Bortolotti Training Complex

9:12 AM

The second session followed the same pattern as the first—group warm-up, passing drills, tactical work that he stepped out of when intensity increased, individual conditioning to maintain load.

The system activated briefly after the session ended, and the blue interface materialized in his peripheral vision while he walked alone toward the dressing room.

「TRAINING SESSION COMPLETE」

「Modified Group Work: Approved」

「Physical Response: Positive」

「+10 TP」

「Current Balance: 105 TP | 102 SP | 199 MP」

The notification was simple and without ceremony, and Demien dismissed it with a thought while continuing toward the building.

Inside, Højlund was already showering while Lookman sat at his locker scrolling through his phone.

"Another good session?" Lookman asked without looking up.

"Same as yesterday," Demien replied, "which is good."

"You'll be playing again soon," Lookman said, and his tone was matter-of-fact, "Gasperini's just being careful."

"As he should be," Demien replied.

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Training Continues

The week progressed with the same rhythm—morning sessions with the group, modified participation, individual conditioning blocks when intensity rose, system rewards of +10 TP after each completed session.

By Wednesday the novelty of his return had faded and teammates treated him normally rather than like someone returning from long absence, and the conversations in the dressing room shifted back to upcoming fixtures and tactical adjustments.

Atalanta had a match against Spezia on Saturday, and the squad list was being finalized while Demien knew he wouldn't be included.

Thursday's session was lighter because of the upcoming match, and Demien completed the full warm-up with the squad before working separately on technical drills while the team ran through set-piece routines.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Pre-Match Press Conference

2:34 PM

Gasperini sat behind the table in the press conference room with the Atalanta crest behind him, and journalists from local and national outlets filled the seats while cameras recorded from the back.

The moderator opened the floor for questions, and the first came from a reporter in the front row.

"Mister Gasperini, Demien Walter has returned to group training this week—can you give us an update on his condition and when we might see him available for selection?"

Gasperini leaned forward slightly and his expression remained neutral.

"Demien is back training with the group, yes, and that's positive progress," he said, and his tone was measured, "but we have to be very clear—he's doing modified sessions, controlled work, no contact yet. He's not ready for matches."

"But he's close?" another journalist pressed.

"We're taking this one step at a time," Gasperini replied, and he gestured with one hand, "hamstring injuries are not something you rush. He's progressing well, the medical staff are happy with his response to training, but we won't put him in match situations until we're completely confident he's ready."

"Is there a target date?" someone asked from the side.

"No specific date," Gasperini said firmly, "we assess week by week. When he's fit, he'll be available. Until then, we continue carefully."

"Could he feature against Juventus in three weeks?" another voice called out.

Gasperini's expression showed slight amusement at the persistence.

"Maybe, maybe not," he said, and his tone carried finality, "it depends on how his body responds to increasing training load over the next weeks. We won't make predictions."

A journalist from Gazzetta dello Sport tried a different angle.

"The fans are excited to see him back—does that create any pressure to accelerate his return?"

"The fans want him back healthy, not back too soon," Gasperini responded, and his voice was firm, "we make medical decisions based on what's best for the player's long-term fitness, not on external pressure. Demien will return when he's ready, and not before."

The moderator indicated time was up for that topic, and questions shifted to Spezia's tactical setup and Saturday's match.

Thursday Evening

Media Coverage

Italian sports sites began running their coverage immediately after the press conference ended, and the headlines varied in their interpretation of Gasperini's comments.

Gazzetta dello Sport: "Gasperini Cautious on Walter: 'Week by Week Assessment'"

Corriere dello Sport: "Walter Return Uncertain—Atalanta Taking No Risks"

Sky Sport Italia: "Gasperini: 'No Rush for Walter, Juventus Return Possible But Not Guaranteed'"

The Juventus fixture appeared in most articles because it was high-profile and three weeks away, and speculation framed it as a potential return match if his progress continued, though Gasperini's careful language prevented any definitive predictions.

Friday, February 10, 2023

Final Session Before Spezia

Friday's session was short and sharp—activation work, set-piece review, tactical reminders—and Demien participated in the technical portions before stepping out when the intensity increased.

He watched from the sideline while the starting eleven ran through defensive transitions, and Gasperini's instructions were specific and detailed about Spezia's tendency to play long balls toward their target forward.

After the session ended, Demien completed additional conditioning work with the physio—controlled sprints at increasing speeds, change-of-direction exercises, core stability routines—and the system logged another +10 TP when he finished.

「WEEKLY PROGRESS: CONSISTENT」

「Sessions Completed: 5/5」

「Physical Response: Stable」

「Hamstring Load: Managed Appropriately」

「Continue Current Protocol」

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Match Day — Watching

Demien watched the Spezia match from the stands rather than the bench because he wasn't included in the squad, and the familiar frustration of being close but not counted sat in his chest.

Atalanta won 2-1 with goals from Lookman and Højlund, and the performance was professional rather than spectacular.

He left the stadium after the final whistle and drove home while his phone showed notifications from the match—player ratings, tactical analysis, post-match quotes—and he scrolled through them mechanically.

Monday, February 13, 2023

Week Two of Group Training

The second week began with the same pattern, and Monday's session focused on recovery work after the match while Demien joined for light training.

Tuesday increased intensity with longer passing sequences and positional games, and he participated fully in the technical portions before stepping out when tackles and pressing were introduced.

The system continued its simple logging—+10 TP after each session, no missions, no dramatic progressions, just accumulation.

By Thursday, speculation about the Juventus fixture had intensified, and fan forums debated whether he should be eased in off the bench or held back another week for Napoli.

The club said nothing beyond Gasperini's standard response about taking things week by week.

Friday, February 17, 2023

Late Afternoon Session

The week's final session ended at 5:30 PM with light fading across the training complex, and most players had already left while Demien stayed to complete extra stretching.

He sat on the pitch alone with his legs extended, and the system window appeared one more time.

「TRAINING SESSION COMPLETE」

「Weekly Total: 5/5 Sessions」

「+10 TP」

「Current Balance: 155 TP | 102 SP | 199 MP」

「Physical Status: STABLE」

「Overall Rating: 78 (Maintained)」

「No Decline」

「Gradual Recovery Ongoing」

The interface held for five seconds before fading, and Demien stood carefully while testing his hamstring's response to the movement.

He looked toward the main pitch where groundskeepers were already preparing the surface for tomorrow's work, and the routine would continue—training, accumulation, patience.

No promises.

No countdown.

Just the slow process of becoming ready again.

He turned and walked toward the parking lot while evening settled over Bergamo, and February stretched ahead with matches he might play in or might not, depending on how his body responded to increasing load.

The system had given him tools to improve, but the final test would come when Gasperini decided he was ready to step back onto a match pitch.

Until then, the work continued.

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