Two weeks have gone by. Two weeks of me training with the U17 team. Two weeks of me being bored.
I do not mean to sound cocky, but I expected a challenge. Things are different, that is for sure. The pace is better. The defenders are better. Players read the game better. But, I am still dominating.
My pace and dribbling are at a level that is above the youth teams. That alone makes me a threat. Add in my vision and countless hours of football analysis from my past life, I am just not being challenged enough.
Do I make mistakes? Yes. Absolutely. Am I giving away the ball more than at the u15 level? Yes. People are stronger and quicker. And I need to adjust my power and passing through the lines.
I am looking to impress people with my all round play, being a goal threat and a playmaker. So, I had to let go of many chances, and pass the ball to players in a better position. This comes with its own issues, players I pass to need to be on the same wavelength as me.
It has happened already, that many times nothing comes out of my passes. I take the risk and put in a great ball, and either people have not made the run or did not make use of the space and pass or score.
Once or twice, I decided to take things into my own hands and go at it alone. I was able to dribble through, but there were a couple of occasions where I was tackled. I got reprimanded a bit as well, for trying to go at it all alone in a couple of games.
And I knew that it would get harder once I started on the team. This was just an audition, once I got in the team I would be expected to follow instructions strictly. I was not demotivated strictly, but I can't wait to develop more and get into the first team. Quality will be multiple times higher there and I would be properly challenged but also have teammates that I could rely on.
I know that realistically I am being on a bit of a negative thought cycle. But, you can't exactly blame me. There are countless examples of teenagers who got into the first team and dominated. Be it Owen, Cristiano, Rooney, Messi, Yamal, Saka and a lot of others.
And thanks to the system, I already know that I am on that level. But I cannot exactly force a move now and start all over again somewhere. Or can I? I will need to talk to my father and see. I know that they would want me to stick to the club here since the family is here, and I am getting promoted to the U17 team.
I released a sigh and decided to let this train of thought go and just go ahead and dominate the U17. If I was giving my 100%, now I want to push even more. I will put up numbers so high that they cannot wait to start me in the team.
I wish there was a function in the system where I could just grind and increase my stats and there was a time skip to first team football.
But, this is the best I have got. And I have to do it all.Like a certain merc with a mouth would say "Maximum Effort".
Tomorrow is my first match with the U17 team. New missions have not popped up yet in the system. I want to know when it resets.
But I reset my own missions. I thought I would be okay with taking it slow, and now that I realised that it is not fun being on the sidelines, I want to dominate and win everything in the Brazilian league. The league, the cups, the Libertadores. I will drag this team to all the championships.
In the past timeline, people didn't know Kaká before Milan. Not too much anyway. This time, they will know. They will remember the time Kaká lit up Brazilian football.
I checked my stats to take my mind of this.
**********G.O.A.T System**********
Stats Missions Training Cards
**********G.O.A.T System**********
Stats
Name: Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (Kaka)
Age: 15
Height: 177.2cm
Weight: 70.9kg
Position: Attacking Midfielder/ Winger
Preferred Foot: Right
Weak Foot: ***
Skill Moves: ****
Work Rate: ****
Overall Rating: 78
Potential: 92
Pace: 86
#Acceleration: 87(+1)
#Sprint Speed: 85(+1)
Shooting: 74
#Positioning: 81.8(+1.8)
#Finishing: 71.4(+1.4)
#Shot Power: 73.8(+1.8)
#Long Shots: 75.6(+1.6)
#Volleys: 68.4(+0.4)
#Penalties: 79.5(+1.5)
Passing: 75
#Vision: 81.8(+1.8)
#Crossing: 70(+2)
#Free Kick Accuracy: 70.8(+0.8)
#Short Passing: 77.8(+1.8)
#Long Passing: 77(+3)
#Curve: 74.7(+0.7)
Dribbling: 83
#Agility: 86.2(+0.2)
#Balance: 82.6(+0.6)
#Reactions: 75.4(+1.4)
#Ball Control: 81.8(+1.8)
#Dribbling: 84.8(+0.8)
#Composure: 63.6(+1.6)
Defending: 38
#Interceptions: 32.5(+0.5)
#Heading: 55.5(+1.5)
#Defensive Awareness: 40.6(+0.6)
#Stand Tackle: 32.6(+0.6)
#Slide Tackle: 36.6(+0.6)
Physical: 54
#Jumping: 62.8(+0.8)
#Stamina: 66.6(+1.6)
#Strength: 51.8(+1.8)
#Aggression: 46
Traits:
#Speed Dribbles
#Playmaker
#Technical Dribbler
My stats are good enough to dominate in the first team. So, that's what I am going to show them. Training wheels are off.
They haven't increased by much though inspite of all the practice, a 0.2 here and a 0.3 there. It is getting repetitive and stagnant. I need to jolt it awake with some performances in the competitive matches and up my stats more. I am greedy.
The current U17 world championship for 1997 was held in Egypt. Ronaldinho is a part of the Brazilian team that won it. In many ways, I feel that our paths are similar. He was born in 1980. I was born in 1982. He started out at U17 level, winning the world cup, then going on to play in the Brazilian league for a few years. He played for Gremio, embarrassed Brazilian international players with his skills, won some trophies, signed with PSG in 2001.
I cannot help but notice the parallels. I am on the same track. I want to win the 1999 U17 world cup. I want to star in Sao Paulo's team and win trophies. I am aiming high and I want to win the Libertadores. And by 2002, I should secure my move to Milan.
We will see how the butterfly effect impacts things in the future. But, I cannot wait to play alongside the legend. Be it national team or club football, it would be an incredible partnership. He scored almost 60 goals for Gremio. In around 120 odd matches. I want to double that.
That is my goal.
Sunday. October 5th, 1997
The break was over for the U17 teams and the competitions started in full force.
Andrey, a defender for Sao Paulo U17 was a part of the winning squad.
The thing about football in Brazil is that it is a religion. Even though it is a fifa U17 world cup, news spread wide and far. This was Brazil's first trophy at this level. And knowing that one of Sao Paulo's players won it, people came to watch the first match after that.
CT training ground hosted our U17 matches. Around 300-400 people came to see the match this day. This was very impressive.
I started on the bench as expected. Our U17 team was doing well this season. We had a decent team and our chances for winning a trophy are pretty high. And with me in the team, I am going to bring in the X factor.
I missed out on the initial matches, but I want to show them that those few matches that I missed, won't stop me for winning the golden boots.
The match started at a high speed, and by 40th minute we were leading 2-0. Oscar started the game but didn't have much impact yet.
They scored two quick goals right after half time, and it was 60th minute. Our attack hasn't shown much promise, midfielders put in the work and they looked tired.
Finally, in the 62nd minute, the moment I have waited for came. I was asked to warm up to get on in 3minutes.
I quickly checked everything, gave a nod to my family in the stands, and got ready near the touch line.
I am usually smiling and in a good mood for all the matches and training.
Today, there was a fire underneath. I didn't show my excitement or nerves. If people could see me, they would think that I am getting ready to sub on in a UCL knockout match. I was super focused and barely listened to the instructions.
Once the swap was made, I ran into position. For two weeks, I have been like an arrow that has been nocked. The pressure on the strings is high. And today, it is time for all the pent up frustration to be released.
With my fresh legs, I went for it from the moment game restarted. I pressed and chased after the ball and took the opposition by surprise.
I won possession in our half, quickly passed it to our DM and ran forward. One thing that came out of my practice sessions is that they knew how I played.
So, even though the play style was a little different with others, they trusted me enough to quickly release the ball into space.
I have earned enough trust in practice that they knew that with my pace I would make it and have the skills to back it up.
I ran like a cheetah and pounced on the pass. I reached it just as their midfielder tried to cut me off. I flicked the ball inside and pushed him aside. My strength was decent enough that at that pace, I could push him aside and take control of the ball again in space. There were three players around me and the forward, with two midfielders closing us in.
Oscar made a great fake run, which took two defenders away, I had three players to beat, so I ran with the ball, very close to my feet, and dribbled past the first player, when the second player put in the tackle, I flicked the ball up above his legs, and jumped, and was able to land and control myself and the ball, and I was at the edge of the box with two players staring me down, the goal keeper was in a wrong position, he was covering the near post, thinking that I would make the run there, to not give me any space, big mistake.
Today, I had no intention of passing. I took the ball away from the defenders and into the centre, there were 4 players in the box, and I hit a shot perfectly in between them into the far post. The ball rattled the post, but went inside.
Goal. 3-2. I didn't even celebrate. I just got the ball and went to the centre.
Coach Martinez gave me a nod of approval.
The game restarted without any break, and it was the same drill again. Midfielders win the ball, pass it to me, either in space or I drop deep to collect the ball.
I had formed a decent partnership with the other midfielders, so they know that when I have the ball, they're safe to run into spaces because I would find them. This time, I sent a through pass, completely dismantling their defensive line, and my team's midfielder Gavião, made the perfect run, stayed on side and was one on one with the keeper. He beat him pretty easily and scored.
4-2.
No celebration from me again.
We went again! We didn't stay back and park the bus. I was very demanding and asked for the ball, and my team obliged.
In the next 10minutes, we scored two more. I scored one and assisted one.
By the time the match ended, I ended up with 2 goals and 2 assists. We won 6-2. From being 2-2 at the end of 60minutes, we won 6-2.
Coach Martinez pulled me aside after the match and asked "Is everything okay Kaká? You look very serious, and didn't even celebrate anything."
"Nothing is wrong coach, I was just tired of waiting on the sidelines. Even though I agree with all the reasonings in theory, when it came to it, somehow something clicked. And I went down a spiral, I wanted to prove that I belong in the first team. So, I went for it extra hard."
"It is like a constant pressure building up inside and a tiniest spark could cause a chain reaction. My boredom was that spark. And it lit everything up."
"We agree that you have talent in spades. What you showed us today is exactly what we expect. We may be wrong in holding you back a little longer, but stick with the plan for now. Play the U17 level properly, and you will be recognised by the higher ups."
"It has been only 4 months since you started showing signs of being this good, it could be the physical transformation or some other thing that clicked, but to everyone at the club this is new. You are under observation for that specific reason. We give you time so that you don't crash out and burn too soon. We want everything to settle down. You're still just 15 Kaká, have some patience and faith."
"We will talk more about this tomorrow. Go and enjoy the splendid performance for now. Clear your mind, and know that we all want the best for you. We are not putting the club's needs before yours, we are trying to protect you. Just like your family. Remember that. Good job today."
With his piece said, he didn't even wait for my response.
I let out a breath that I didn't realise I was holding.
But, the spark was lit. I am not going back now.
I am going to dominate.
Author's Notes:
These conversations about the MC being held back might sound repetitive, but they are needed to show his impatience and the thinking of his coaches in my opinion. It took 3 months to skip U15 level. And this time, a break caused something to snap in Kaká's head.
Combine that with the current U17 team winning, and his thoughts about Ronaldinho and others, he felt like he was playing at a lower level than he deserved. It is fair, but a 15 year old kid allowed to react, to throw a tantrum. In his case, the tantrum was a serious and dominant performance. No taunting or no fighting.
I wanted coach Joao and Martinez to be good characters, who want the best for Kaká. I want them to protect him from getting into competitive football too soon.
People look at his stats and think he deserves game time, but a 15 year old kid, still growing, cannot be put into that environment. It always ends up causing injuries. And from many many examples, the injuries young players pick up before their development finishes, end up being recurring injuries. I feel so sad that the world football couldn't see Michael Owen perform at his peak for more than 3 years. He recently said that he was playing with only one hamstring since he was 19.
It is my wish fulfilment, but I want to see Kaká perform at his peak for a long time, without injuries bothering him, so I have put in these chapters where he is still managed, reduced game time, and slowly promoted to the first team.
Let me know what you think.