The winter of 2011 marked a period of extraordinary technical development for fourteen-year-old Mateo. His skills had reached a level that impressed even the most experienced coaches at La Masia, with his first touch, passing accuracy, and dribbling ability now comparable to professional players. The pursuit of technical perfection had become both an obsession and an art form.
The transformation was most apparent during training sessions, where Mateo's execution of even the most basic techniques had reached a level of precision that seemed almost mechanical in its consistency.
His first touch was perfect regardless of the speed, angle, or pressure of the incoming pass. His passing accuracy had reached 98% in training, with even his most ambitious through balls finding their targets with surgical precision.
The morning air at La Masia carried the familiar scent of freshly cut grass and the distant hum of Barcelona traffic as Mateo arrived for another day of training.
