The late August sun cast a warm, golden hue over the training grounds of Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper. The hum of boots brushing the grass, balls being pinged across the field, and the occasional shout of encouragement blended into a rhythm that had become familiar to Luca Herrera over the past month.
Today was the final practice before the Primera Federación league began. For Luca, this wasn't just any training session—it marked the beginning of everything he had dreamed of. But to truly understand what this moment meant, it was worth rewinding to what had happened after the Villarreal game.
One Month Earlier – After the Villarreal Friendly
The stadium lights had barely cooled down from that intense game against Villarreal B. Though Luca had only played one half, the buzz around him afterward had been electric. Social media clips of his footwork were making the rounds. Pundits called him "A spark of magic waiting to explode."
But he didn't let it go to his head.
The next morning, while the rest of the squad took a recovery day, Luca was already jogging at dawn. Push-ups, pull-ups, core work—he went back to the basics. The system was there with him too, offering small XP boosts, tracking muscle improvements, helping him refine the Ronaldinho template with precision.
The coaches noticed.
Coach Rafa Márquez, head of Barça B, had taken a keen interest in Luca. While initially skeptical of the young teen from La Masia's U17 squad, he was now convinced Luca wasn't just a talent—he was a project worth developing.
In the following weeks, Luca trained with laser focus. He learned from veterans like Marc Casadó, played practice matches against seasoned defenders, and slowly grew stronger. His dribbling became tighter. His vision sharper. He even started to lead short passing drills and earn nods of approval from the staff.
Back to Present – August 30th, 2024
"Alright boys! Big week ahead!" Coach Márquez clapped his hands. "This is the final push before our first league match. I want intensity. I want rhythm. And I want communication!"
The team huddled up. Around Luca stood a mix of young blood and rising stars. Aleix Garrido, Unai Hernández, and Noah Darvich all smiled with quiet confidence.
The drills began. Short passing, positional rondos, and transition games.
Luca looked sharper than ever.
His touch? Clean. His movement? Crisp. His dribbling? Untouchable in 1v1s.
Even the older players couldn't help but whisper about him.
"The kid's got magic in his boots," one defender murmured. "It's like he's floating—have you seen that balance?" another said, eyes wide.
During a full-pitch scrimmage, Luca picked up the ball on the left wing. He danced past the right-back with a smooth elastico, glided inward, and slid a no-look pass into the feet of Aleix Garrido, who chipped it over the keeper.
"¡Golazo!" Coach Márquez shouted. "That's how we do it!"
He blew the whistle and called everyone in.
"This group… is special. You've all worked hard. And tomorrow, it begins. We start the league against Cornellà. I want intensity, I want unity, and I want fire in your hearts!"
Everyone clapped and huddled up.
Post-Training – Locker Room
As the team showered and joked around, Luca sat with his boots in his hands, staring down for a moment.
He took a deep breath, remembering his father's words from earlier that morning:
"You're not just making it for yourself, Luca. You're making it for us—for your mom too."
He smiled.
Opening the system interface mentally, a notification popped up.
[SYSTEM UPDATE] – New Chapter Begins➤ League debut approaches.➤ Bonus Objective: Impress in first 3 matches – Reward: 'Speed Boost Lv.1'➤ Current Stats:
Dribbling: 84
Vision: 80
Passing: 78
Shooting: 77
Technique: 85
Physical: 70
Stamina: 72
Mentality: 81
Speed: 79