"You heard me right," Juninho D'Alessandro said calmly, a faint smile on his lips but a firm edge in his eyes. "I'm firing the head coach. I'll be taking over."
Ryan blinked hard, trying to hold his composure. "Mr. D'Alessandro, perhaps you should reconsider, or at least take some time to evaluate—"
Juninho cut him off with a wave of his hand. "This isn't up for debate. It's a decision, not a discussion."
Ryan opened his mouth, thought better of it, and slowly closed it again.
There was no point.
This was the reality of football in the lower leagues. Clubs like Morecambe were often at the mercy of whoever signed the checks. Ryan had poured his soul into this club for decades, but all it took was a single stroke of a pen from a new owner to overturn everything.
He felt a heavy pang of helplessness.
"…One more thing," Juninho added, as if sensing Ryan's growing dismay. "Let me reassure you a bit. The summer transfer window is opening soon."
"I'll be bringing in a group of elite players. Some will be young talents destined to rule the game. Others will be world-class players still in their prime."
Juninho wasn't just boasting. Alongside the powerful Player Training System, he had one more terrifying advantage:
The knowledge of the future.
He was a man from 2021, now living in the year 2000. That meant he had two decades of football history in his head.
He knew which stars were still buried in youth academies or sitting on the bench waiting for a chance. He knew the hidden gems that others hadn't yet spotted. He knew the exact moment their careers would explode — and how to get to them first.
Even a handful of those names would be enough to catapult Morecambe out of the bottom tier and into the top flight.
And even then, Juninho's goal wasn't just the Premier League.
It was the Champions League — the treble — maybe even a seasonal Grand Slam the world had never seen.
"Well… then good luck to you, Mr. D'Alessandro."
Ryan's voice was strained. He offered a thin smile, trying to remain professional.
To him, it was just another version of the same old story — new owner, new ego, flashy dreams. The saying came to mind: Every new broom sweeps clean.
But could Juninho really identify talent? Could he sign players that would lead Morecambe to greatness?
He had his doubts.
"Alright," Juninho nodded, "you can leave now. I need to focus on who to sign."
Ryan hesitated, gave one last polite nod, and turned away. His shoulders were slumped, his figure slowly fading from the room like a ghost.
Juninho watched him go, then turned back and pulled a notepad from the table.
Time to write my future.
He jotted down the date: May 2000.
That alone was enough to make one name leap into his mind.
Lionel Messi.
One of the greatest players in football history.
No, the greatest.
Even the word "superstar" didn't do him justice. Messi would win seven Ballon d'Ors, carry Argentina to a World Cup, and break records no one thought possible.
Even near retirement, he'd be forced out of Barcelona — a move that shocked the world. But that legacy? Untouchable.
And in this timeline? He hadn't even left Argentina yet.
Back in 2000, Messi was just a 13-year-old boy from Rosario, recently diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency. Despite his jaw-dropping talent, most clubs turned him away because they didn't want to pay the costly treatment fees.
This is the moment, Juninho thought.
If Morecambe were to approach now — offering to cover his medical bills and provide a professional pathway in Europe — the chances of landing Messi were shockingly real.
Juninho scribbled the name down on the first line of his scouting list:
Leo Messi (Youth Recruitment)
But he knew Messi wouldn't be ready for the senior team anytime soon.
He was a long-term project — two, maybe three years before he could make his debut.
To get promoted this season… I need firepower now.
Juninho paused, tapped the pen against his lips, then smiled.
Zlatan Ibrahimović.
The name alone evoked chaos and charisma.
Ibrahimović wasn't just a striker — he was a storm in boots. Known for his height, swagger, and flair, Zlatan was the kind of player who didn't follow the game — he rewrote it.
"In 2000… he should be 19," Juninho recalled. "Still playing in Sweden, hardly getting minutes. The calm before the storm."
Ibrahimović's breakout would come in 2001 when Ajax snapped him up and launched his meteoric rise.
That meant Juninho had a narrow window — this summer — to make a move before the rest of Europe caught on.
"Offer him a solid salary, playing time, and a vision for the future…" he muttered. "With the right pitch, he might just say yes."
He added the second name to the list:
Zlatan Ibrahimović (Immediate Starter)
With that, the foundation was set.
One player for the future.
One player for now.
Juninho leaned back in his chair, a glint of ambition in his eyes.
The plan had begun.
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