God Of football

Chapter 46: Prelude to first game and Concerns

The Sun was shining brilliantly and the sound of a ball hitting a net could be heard at the valencia training complex.

The ball had just hit the post and rustled the net and Izan seemed to be the culprit of this scene.

Izan and Marmadashvili were both going at it in training. Izan had been training his freekicks and what better way against a good keeper like Marmadashvili.

”You really are going to be a nightmare for goalkeepers this season” he said to Izan after the last shot went in.

Izan had scored 13 out of 15 freekicks and the 2 were only denied by Marmadashvili’s otherworldly reflexes.

”Thanks for the compliment I guess” Izan said, walking away.

[Coaching room]

”So what did you want to talk about Marco” Baraja said to the head physio.

”Well its about Izan” he said drawing the attention of Baraja.

”What about him?” Baraja asked with a perplexed expression. ”Well we have to manage him well” Marc said.

Baraja nodded,urging him to explain further. ”Well his stats after we did the medicals show he had started to undergo his growth spurt”.

”His has come rather early as most athletes hit this growth spurt from age 18 to 23”.

”If not managed well,he could be riddled with injuries and that would not be good for both the club and the player”.

”So what do you suggest” Baraja asked Marco. ”Well,we will have to limit his playing time so he doesn’t get injured in the first place” Marco answered.

”Also we have to manage and monitor his growth so as to prevent the situation where his form,both running and dribbling get affected by his growth”.

Baraja nodded clearly understanding what the physio meant. ”Well I guess the club will have to halt their poster-boy program” baraja said with a smirk.

The club had been trying to push Izan to the footballing world so as to hype him up and sell him for a huge amount due to the boy’s talent.

They had actually told Baraja to give him plenty game time not caring about the fact that the player was just a 16 year old kid.

Now Baraja could use this as an excuse to decline that project. Baraja was all smiles and Marco could also understand why.

”Well you’re in-charge of him since you know best so i’ll listen to your advice on when to play him and when not to” Baraja said.

Marco nodded. ”Oh and how did the new arrivals look to you during training ” Baraja asked.

”They were fine,Cenk Özkacar was looking very good and sharp and I don’t think there will be any problems even if he starts on Saturday ” Marco said.

”Okay Marco you can leave and thank you for what you do” Baraja said with a smile.

Marco nodded before leaving the room leaving Baraja to his thoughts.

Izan after training had to take a taxi home. Mainly because his mum had yet to arrive from Japan.

Izan didn’t wait for long as the car he had called approached. Izan got on the car and soon found himself on the way home.

Izan after arriving home quickly took a cold bath before wearing some comfortable clothes.

Dinner was what followed after he changed into his clothes. Izan was actually decent at cooking and made on of the Valencian delicacies, a paella.

Izan after dinner decided to catch up on some of his favourite shows. Ultimately he was bored after a few hours and decided to play some FIFA.

The feud FIFA had with EA had Ultimately caused both sides to split ways and now the new game that was coming would be named FC 24 and Izan couldn’t wait.

He hadn’t been on FIFA 23 and couldn’t wait for his first card on FC 24. Izan after playing for a while decided to call Olivia.

It had been a while since the two talked. The phone rang for a while before It connected but a different voice came through.

”Um who is this” the voice said. ”Hi,is Olivia around ” Izan asked before proceeding to explain a bit about himself.

”Oh yeah,so you’re Izan” the feminine voice said. ”Well sorry but Olivia went out and I think she forgot her phone”.

”Oh okay,I guess I’ll call later” Izan said before hanging up. It seemed Olivia was busy nowadays.

Something stirred in him but he didn’t know what. Izan got rid of the feelings and cleared his head.

The season opener would start in a few days and he couldn’t afford to be distracted.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The door opened as soon as Valerie ended the call with the boy called Izan.

Olivia stood at the doorway and entered with a puzzled expression seeing Valeria with her phone.

”Izan called ” Valerie said in a teasing tone. Olivia quickly snatched the phone from her hand and looked at the logs.

”Did you talk with him” she asked. ”Yeah,I did” Valerie said suggestively.

”Didn’t say anything though, just told him you weren’t here” she added.

Olivia called Izan back but it seemed he had just switched off his phone. She sighed before falling on the bed.

”So he’s the reason ” Valerie said drawing a look from Olivia.

”Are,you dating him” Valerie asked making Olivia’s eyes go wide. ”No,no,he’s younger than me” she said.

”Didnt stop me ” Valerie said in a joking manner.” But Wow,didn’t know you were the sugar-mommy type” Valerie joked.

”Ok how young” she added after Olivia didn’t laugh. ”He’s turning 16 this year” Olivia answered. ”And you’re turning 19 this year so a 3 year age-gap” Valerie said.

”Not that bad” Valerie added.” Once again there’s nothing going on and why are you jumping to conclusions” Olivia ranted.

”He’s just a friend from my childhood and that’s it ” Olivia recited saying the last part a bit softly.

Valerie couldn’t help but laugh at her friend who couldn’t even see what was happening to her.

”Then what about Juan” Valerie asked.

”What about him” Olivia returned with an annoyed expression.

”Well he did ask you out,so what are you doing about him” Valerie said.

”I’m just going to ignore him” Olivia said

”You think it will work ” Valerie pointed out.

Olivia could only look at her friends face with a wry smile. Juan was someone who had been pestering Olivia to date him ever since he saw her but the latter did not give in.

And judging by Juan’s possessive attitude and ’I want it all attitude’ it was going to be tough.

The days passed and Izan was invested in his training. He had been informed about the growth spurt and how that would limit his game time.

Izan was sad at first but he couldn’t complain about a natural thing such as a growth spurt.

And he knew that the club was taking a gamble on him by playing around him since he wasn’t that mature yet for consistent 1st team football.

The only thing limiting Izan now was actually his age.

He could only pray that he would get over this hurdle quickly. Izan was the same as always in training.

His passes were sharp and the new players who had just arrived couldn’t help but wonder how a kid was that good.

Cenk Özkacar, a Turkish defender who had arrived from lyon was having it rough today.

He had been assigned to mark Izan today but the kid had proved to be a challenge and had seen firsthand how good that kid is.

Coach Baraja stood on the touchline with a satisfied expression. He had been trying new combinations for the new season and they all seemed to work out well.

And in all those combinations, Izan seemed to be the gel that kept it together.

He was also satisfied by Cenk’s defending. Although the latter had been used by Izan today,he had done well because Izan wasn’t easy to stop in the first place.

If he was the,club wouldn’t place their hopes on a kid who wasn’t yet 16.

Baraja clapped his hands after a while to end the scrimmage. Izan had been productive today too making 3 assists and scoring a goal.

”Okay you guys are looking sharp for the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow’s training will be light so stay out of anything that could injure you,also stay out of trouble” Baraja said before ending the session.

[Valencia Boardroom]

”Lets take the money first” one member spoke. ”He’s good but how sure are you that he won’t flop” he added.

”Most of the offers are from the English Premier league which means he can’t leave until he’s 18. They could only take him to their academy and do you think someone who had tasted first team football would be satisfied by that” another said.

”Well its all up to you” a voice spoke prompting the members to look at the Club president .

The tension in the room could be felt and the silence that rang through the room was eerily uncomfortable.

The president finally spoke after what seemed like an eternity ”HE WON’T BE SOLD!!!

A/n:Cliffhangers are sheit don’t worry i don’t do that. Enjoy