other. The partnership of both attacking midfielders (mezzala in Italian) was based on the Loik's stubborn generosity and the Mazzola's rare talent. Soon, they became Italy's most coveted uprising young players. Mazzola's career with Venezia started modestly, with a tenth-placed finish in 1940 and a twelfth-place finish the next season. In 1941, however, the team won the Coppa Italia final against Roma, and finished third in the league in 1942. Torino In early July 1942, he transferred to Torino for one million and 250 thousand lira, a figure that was criticised by the press, and allowed Venezia to restore all its debts. Juventus had a verbal agreement with Venezia to sign Mazzola. However, Torino eventually offered a record transfer fee plus two players (Raúl Mezzadra and Walter Petron) and won the player's signature. In the same deal, Torino also signed Ezio Loik. He officially debuted for Torino on 20 September 1942, in the Coppa Italia against Anconitana Bianchi. The match ended 7–0 for Torino, with two goals by Mazzola. On the 4 October, he made his league debut for Torino. Both Mazzola and Loik played poorly because of their imprecision and their lack of understanding, and were considered responsible for the 1–0 defeat Torino suffered in Milan against Ambrosiana-Inter. Mazzola initially objected to the position he was played in for over two months, despite the team beginning to put together a series of victories. He scored his first league goal for Torino on 18 October in a 5–2 win over Juventus. In April 1943, he scored three goals in the last four matches of the season; with Torino and Livorno head-to-head in first place. In the final round, Torino faced Bari, with Mazzola scoring the decisive goal four minutes from the end of the match, and winning the scudetto for Torino. In the Coppa Italia, Torino reached the final, with Mazzola scoring in a 4–0 win over former club, Venezia. In the middle of the Second World War, without prospects of a new season, Torino, whose name changed to Torino FIAT, only played friendly and small unofficial competitions. Mazzola, unlike many of his fellow players, who had returned to play with their home teams, stayed in Turin and, together with his other teammates, and began to train and participate in some games. In the unofficial 1944 Campionato Alta Italia, Torino FIAT finished second to La Spezia. After the championship ended