The city still hummed when the players returned to Paterna the night after the match. Streetlights cast long shadows across the quiet streets, but inside the Valencia CF academy, the aftershocks of the 2‑0 win over FC Cartagena were palpable. Even in the locker room, laughter and conversation lingered, carried in half-finished words, in shouts of celebration, and the subtle thrum of excitement that only a young, successful squad could generate.
Álex Castillo, trophy resting by his bag, sat alone for a few moments longer, letting the silence wash over him. The stadium lights and applause had faded, but the reality of the performance was sinking in. He had come off the bench, entered the game in the 72nd minute, and transformed a scoreless match into a commanding 2‑0 victory, both goals credited to him. His mind replayed every touch, every pass, every glance at the goalkeepers' positioning, the defenders' movement, the way he had threaded that perfect through-ball to Javi Torres before spinning past the last defender to finish himself.
And now, the world was watching.
By the time Álex returned to his room, notifications were piling up on his phone. The academy Wi-Fi struggled under the load of social media activity as clips from the match went viral.
Twitter feeds were ablaze: "Valencia's new star? 14-year-old Castillo with a brace from the bench! MIC Tournament MVP follows up with a spectacular División de Honor debut. ⚽🔥 #ValenciaU18 #NextGen"
Instagram clips highlighted every moment: Javi Torres' reactions, the chest-thumping after the second goal, and the slow-motion replay of Álex's decisive dribble past Cartagena's defense.
Even YouTube uploaded a highlight reel: commentators from regional sports channels narrating the goals, praising the youngest player in the league this season.
Álex scrolled, eyes wide. Every clip, every mention, carried with it both the warmth of recognition and the weight of expectation.
"He's still fourteen?" a commentator's voice said over a highlight reel. "Two goals, controlling the midfield, scoring off the counter, assisting… Valencia's youngest División de Honor starter may already have a La Liga future."
He replayed the commentary again. The words echoed in his mind. La Liga. Future. Responsibility. Pressure. It was intoxicating—and terrifying.
He noticed that even the smaller outlets had picked up the story. Valencia CF's official academy channel had posted a statement:
"Álex Castillo, fresh from his MVP performance at the MIC Tournament, demonstrates his continued growth at Juvenil A level. Both goals from the bench today highlight his potential as a playmaker and finishing threat. Paco Cuenca notes his maturity and composure under pressure."
The text glowed on his phone. Potential. Playmaker. Composure. He repeated the words silently. Words that now needed action to match them.
The following morning, the academy staff convened in Paco Cuenca's office for an internal review. The walls were lined with screens displaying heat maps, passing accuracy, tactical formations, and performance metrics. A projector displayed highlights from the match against Cartagena: defensive recoveries, build-up play, counter-attacks, and Álex's movements.
Paco began, calm but precise.
"Last night's performance is exceptional. Not just for the scoreline, but for the impact of the youngest player in the squad. Castillo entered in the 72nd minute, and his positioning, decision-making, and execution were all at a level beyond his age."
He pointed to a screen showing Álex's heat map. Red areas highlighted where he dominated space: left of the center circle, diagonal runs into the box, and precise touches at the edge of the opponent's penalty area.
"Notice the spatial awareness," Paco continued. "He anticipates the defenders' movement. He reads the gaps before they even appear. His first goal was not just a finish—it was the culmination of awareness, patience, and technique."
Vicent Abril leaned forward. "His passing accuracy was also remarkable. He completed 89% of his short passes in those twenty minutes, with the decisive through-ball to Torres leading directly to the assist."
"Exactly," Paco said. "And his composure under pressure. Look here: he receives the ball near midfield with Cartagena pressing. Instead of panicking, he scans, shifts, and executes a perfect diagonal. That's mental maturity we don't see in players that age."
Rodrigo Gamón, the senior central midfielder, added thoughtfully, "He's also connecting well with the squad. I watched how Torres and Johan reacted to his movements. They trust him, and that trust amplifies everyone else's performance."
Paco nodded. "Which brings us to development focus. We'll continue tactical integration, but we also need to expand his physical resilience. More stamina, more strength to compete at this level consistently. His technical growth is phenomenal, but physical development must catch up."
Charts, projections, and notes were passed around. Álex's status window flashed before his eyes showing his current ratings.
[STATUS – POST MATCHDAY 2]
Name: Álejandro Adeyemi Castillo
Age: 14
Height: 170 cm
Position: Attacking Midfielder (CAM)
Technical Potential: Very High
Tactical Awareness: Stabilized
Physical Development: Accelerating
Mental Resilience: Tempered
Current Standing: Juvenil A Squad – Active Player
[OVERALL RATING]
OVR: 65
[PHYSICAL]
Acceleration: 66
Sprint Speed: 63
Agility: 67
Balance: 61
Jumping: 55
Reaction: 60
Stamina: 64
Strength: 52
[MENTAL & TACTICAL]
Positioning: 63
Vision: 65
Decision Making: 64
Composure: 63
[TECHNICAL]
Ball Control: 70
Crossing: 62
Dribbling: 71
Finishing: 68
Short Pass: 66
Long Pass: 58
[SPECIAL ATTRIBUTES]
Weak Foot Strength: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
Skill Moves: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
[SKILLS POSSESSED]
• Stepover – Level 3
• Body Feint – Level 2
• Curved Shot – Level 1
• First Touch Control – Level 1
[POTENTIAL]
Projected OVR: 86
Trajectory: World Class Attacking Midfielder
Meanwhile, in the locker room after review, Álex was still absorbing attention from teammates. Javi Torres nudged him jokingly: "Careful, Castillo. Keep scoring like that and you'll steal all my spotlight."
Pablo Reyes smirked. "We've got a sniper on our hands. Don't tell me you plan to take all the corners too?"
Yaroslav Boyko shook his head. "He's only fourteen. And look at him—he's already running circles around the seniors."
Dominykas Taučas, stretching, muttered, "He's a little whirlwind. Can't catch him if you tried."
Álex laughed softly. The camaraderie wasn't boastful; it was warm, grounding. Even as the spotlight of media and academy scrutiny pressed on him, these voices reminded him that he was still part of a team.
Later that night, after the academy evaluation, Álex called home. His parents answered quickly, worry turning instantly to pride as he recounted the match.
"Mama, Papa… it happened again," Álex said, voice thick with emotion. "Two goals and MVP…"
His father's laugh was a rumble of relief. "Alejandro, you keep proving it, pero remember, it's not just about the goals. It's how you carry yourself."
His mother added softly, "And about staying true to yourself. That's what matters most. We're proud no matter what, corazón."
Álex paused, looking at his room, the trophy from the last match at the corner of his desk, the quiet hum of the academy around him. "I know. I'll try, mama. I'll keep working."
By the next morning, headlines across Valencia and Spain featured Álex's name:
Marca: "Valencia's Teenage Sensation – Castillo Shines Off the Bench"
AS: "División de Honor Star: 14-Year-Old Castillo Earns MVP with Two Goals"
Valencia CF Official: "Álex Castillo Continues His MIC Momentum in Debut Season"
Videos on social media loops repeated the highlights endlessly: the first goal, a counter-attack from a misplaced pass, Álex's eyes scanning, spinning, and finishing with ice-cold precision; the second goal, a mesmerizing run that cut through Cartagena's midfield before calmly slotting the ball home.
Fans began speculating online about La Liga potential, the next MIC Tournament appearance, and whether he would start in the following match.