13 January 2021 Allianz Stadium,Turin
It was a bitter January night in Turin. The Coppa Italia Round of 16 was underway, and Juventus were locked in a gritty first-half battle against Genoa. The bench was wrapped in layers of black coats and focused eyes, and sitting quietly among them was a 16-year-old boy with soft curls, gloved left hand, and a right white sleeve pulled down over his wrist—a small detail that stood out to those who paid attention. His name was Rahim.
To the untrained eye, he was just another academy kid called up to fill the squad. But for Rahim, this moment had been years in the making—twice over.
He had once lived a footballing life already. In another timeline, another life, Rahim had played professionally until the year 2028. He had faced legends, won trophies, and carried the hopes of nations. But that path had ended in injury and regret. Then came the miracle. The rewind. One day, he had simply woken up in his 12-year-old body again, memories intact. From that point on, he trained like a man possessed.
He kept his secret hidden, choosing not to dazzle scouts too early. For four years, he honed every touch, every movement. He studied not just players but coaches, systems, psychology. He made calculated decisions—and one of them was to be noticed by Juventus.
And now, it had worked. At 16, he was here. And tonight, Juventus were losing.
[Sidelines – Pirlo's POV]
Pirlo stood near the touchline, arms crossed. The manager's jaw clenched as he watched a disjointed midfield struggle to create. Morata and Kulusevski looked isolated. The ball rarely found its way through Genoa's deep defensive line. The first half ended 1-0 in Genoa's favor. The crowd, only partially full due to restrictions, was restless.
The game was sluggish, flat in places. Genoa's midfield was crowding the center, denying Dybala and Ronaldo any real rhythm. Andrea Pirlo glanced down his bench. His eyes settled on the quiet figure—gloves on, white compression sleeve hugging his right arm.
Rahim.
Sixteen. Calm. Not once complaining about being benched. Pirlo could feel it—that strange edge in the boy's stare, not arrogance… something else. Calculated stillness.
He turned to his assistant.
"Get Rahim ready. He's going on. For Kulusevski."
The assistant blinked. "Now?"
"Yes. Let's see if the spotlight's too bright or just bright enough."
Then, a voice broke the silence of the bench.
"Rahim. Warm up."
The boy turned, eyes meeting Pirlo's. There was no smile, no moment of joy—just calm acknowledgment. He stood up, heart pounding but face unreadable. As he stretched near the sideline, memories surged.
Flashback — July 2016, England
The curtains were drawn. His Ronaldo poster stared back at him, faded but familiar.
The calendar read 17 July 2016.
His knees gave out. Not from fear — from disbelief.
Everything... every heartbreak, every failure, every lesson — had been rewound.
"Tears welled up, not from grief—but from the overwhelming truth: he'd been given another chance."
This was no dream.
This was correction.
He remembered his debut in the old timeline. It had been with Atlético Madrid, under Diego Simeone. He had been 24. That version of him was brash, emotional, and not yet fully molded. He had learned hard lesson
This time, he wouldn't make those same mistakes.watching the board flash his number. He was wearing #22. The number he'd chosen quietly, strategically. He liked how it sounded. IR22. Clean but Memorable.
Back to Present-Back at the Allianz, the crowd murmured politely as the fourth official raised the substitution board.
[Broadcast Booth – Live Commentary]
Commentator 1 (Marco):"Wait, wait… are we seeing what I think we're seeing on the sidelines?"
Commentator 2 (Luca):"Oh wow, yes! Andrea Pirlo is calling on… number 28… Rahim Ansari! The 16-year-old England youth is about to make his Juventus debut!"
Marco:"This is surprising! He's replacing Dejan Kulusevski—not a like-for-like switch if you ask me. Looks like Pirlo's going wide now."
Luca:"Kulusevski had started on the wing but kept drifting centrally—now Pirlo was opting for width… but this Rahim kid—he's a natural left-footed winger, I've heard. Likes to cut in."
Marco:"Let's see how this changes the shape. Looks like Ronaldo will move up top alone, Dybala dropping behind… and Rahim wide left."
Kulusevski OUT | Rahim IN (22)
"Who's this?" a fan asked nearby.
"Another academy debut," someone shrugged.
They didn't know what Rahim did. Didn't know he had trained alone for years while others partied. That he'd replayed old Champions League tapes like a scholar studying lost scriptures. That he could visualize spaces two seconds ahead of time. That he had come to Juventus not just to play — but to rewrite football's narrative itself.
Pirlo watched him closely from the sideline. The Maestro's poker face held still, but his eyes — they flickered with curiosity.
"He moves like he's done this before," Pirlo murmured to his assistant.
Ronaldo, wearing the same white and black stripes with white sleeve like rahim, glanced over with a nod. A small one. Silent, but seen.
Rahim jogged into his position on the left. Juventus has switched to playing 4-2-3-1.
The first few minutes were rough. The intensity of senior football, the weight of thousands of watching eyes, the pressure of the badge—they all pressed down on his shoulders. His first pass was too soft. His first dribble failed. He could hear murmurs in the sparse crowd, see skeptical glances from older teammates.
But he had been here before.
He breathed. One deep breath.
Then, the rhythm returned. The touches sharpened. His feet remembered. The fear melted.
On the left wing, he began to find spaces. His body moved with an elegance that belied his age—not showy, but intelligent. He drifted into the half-spaces, linked with Bernardeschi, pulled a fullback out of shape. His passing wasn't just clean—it was purposeful.
In the 68th minute, he received the ball outside the box, shifted it to his stronger right foot, and curled in a cross that Rabiot headed just over.
In the 74th, he collected a bouncing clearance, controlled it with his chest, and slipped a quick through ball that split two defenders. It led to a corner.
In the 83th minute, he earned applause.
Juventus lost the ball upfield. Genoa's winger broke loose on the counter, heading toward Frabotta.
Rahim exploded back.
Thirty yards. Then forty.
He caught up, slid in low, clean as glass. Took the ball and stood up in one motion, flicking it to Bentancur without even looking.
Applause broke out from the East Stand. Not loud. But real.
Pirlo raised his eyebrows.
"He understands both sides of the game," he muttered.
Not just polite claps—real, appreciative applause.
The commentator's voice on the broadcast noted, "That's a bold touch from the youngster… what's his name again? Rahim? Keep an eye on him."
Juventus equalized in the 117th minute,
Genoa were tiring. Juventus weren't at their best — Pirlo had rotated heavily. But Rahim looked fresh. Calm.
Dybala slid a short ball toward him between the lines.
Rahim didn't hesitate.
He took one touch to kill the pace. Another to lift his head. Then — a diagonal pass through two Genoa defenders, perfectly weighted.
Hamza Rafia, another youth player, latched on and slotted it past the keeper.
1–1 Juventus.
Rahim stood still.
No scream. No dance.
He just raised one hand — toward Rafia. Then pointed to the Juventus badge on his chest.
The match ended 1-1 and went to penalties. Rahim wasn't in the list of takers—Pirlo didn't want to risk him yet. Juventus scraped through.
In the post-match interview, Pirlo was asked about Rahim.
"He didn't look nervous. Or maybe he did, for a moment. But then he remembered why he's here. I like his mindset. He's not just playing to impress—he's playing to contribute. That's rare at 16."
Another reporter asked, "Do you see him as part of the senior team this season?"
Pirlo smiled slightly. "We'll see. If he keeps training like this, keeps thinking like this… maybe."
Rahim didn't speak to the media that night. He stayed in the dressing room, quietly showering, packing his boots. Chiellini gave him a nod of respect. Buffon, ever the statesman, clapped his shoulder and whispered something encouraging.
And as he exited the stadium later, gloves tucked in his pocket, that quiet soft smile returned to his face.
On Twitter and Instagram, Juventus fans weren't going crazy—but they noticed.
"Who's this #22 kid? Some slick movement in the second half."
"Rahim looked nervous at first but grew into the game. I like his body language."
"Anyone got a comp of Rahim's debut? That pass was cold."
The football world hadn't exploded. But a seed had been planted.
Somewhere, a young fan added him to their FIFA Career Mode.
Somewhere else, a scout from an opposing team scribbled his name into a notebook.
And in Rahim's heart, one thought beat louder than ever:
This time, I won't just play football. I'll master it.