The contract signing ceremony at Camp Nou on July 15, 2012, represented more than just a professional milestone for fifteen-year-old Mateo - it was a statement of the club's belief in his potential and a validation of the extraordinary journey that had brought him from the orphanage to the pinnacle of world football.
The ceremony was held in one of the stadium's executive suites, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the pitch where some of football's greatest moments had unfolded.
The room itself was elegant and professional, with polished marble floors, leather furniture, and walls adorned with photographs of legendary players who had worn the club's colors with distinction.
Present for the ceremony were club president Sandro Rosell, sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, and academy director Carles Folguera, along with representatives from the media and several first-team players who had come to witness this historic moment.
